Honda e:Ny1 - Electric motors, performance & drive

The Honda e:Ny1 has the well-judged control weights we expect from a Honda, but the electric motor’s refinement and calibration aren’t up to scratch. Immediately after moving away, you notice the intrusive whine from the electric motor – manoeuvring at low speeds in an EV should be a peaceful affair, but the e:Ny1’s setup somehow manages to drown out the pedestrian warning sound, which itself is hardly subtle.

Then you pick up on the jittery low-speed ride. It improves as your speed builds, but on particularly broken urban surfaces, the Honda struggles to settle – this was only emphasised by our photographer’s camera kit rattling about in the boot. The 18” wheels - the standard size on all models - also contributed to the fidgeting we experienced at motorway speeds.  

The Eco driving mode shows the car in its best light. We found it challenging to rein-in the power of the single 201bhp front-mounted motor in Normal or Sport modes, with hard acceleration away from junctions resulting in a surprising degree of torque steer. Rear-driven rivals seem more adept at transferring drive to the road – indeed, you’ll not suffer the same sort of wheel spin in the (much more affordable) MG4. 

Once you’re up and running though, body control is well contained and the e:Ny1 handles rather neatly. The steering is precise but light enough for easy urban driving and the brake pedal offers a seamless transition between the regenerative braking system and the physical one. We’d like a little more force from the regenerative braking system, however – especially as it’s so intuitively controlled via the paddles behind the steering wheel. There’s barely any tangible difference in the various levels; those who prefer the one-pedal style of driving will need to look elsewhere because no setting is strong enough to slow the car sufficiently. 

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

There’s only one powertrain option with the Honda e:Ny1. Power from the battery under the floor drives a single electric motor on the front axle, making the e:NY1 front-wheel drive. The 201bhp power output and 310Nm of torque of the e:Ny1 are much greater than a Peugeot e-2008, but the 1,750kg Honda can struggle to put its power down efficiently. If you can manage the power without turning the tyres into smoke, a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds is better than a traditional petrol or diesel SUV, but not quite up there with the best EVs. The top speed is 99mph.