Honda Super-N review: Pocket rocket city EV with serious smiles per mile

We drive one of the biggest surprises of the year – the award-winning Honda Super-N

Once in a while a new car comes along with relatively little fanfare, yet it’s so good that it literally blows you away.

The all-electric Honda Super-N is one such vehicle.

The Japanese car maker is back in the EV game with this car, priced aggressively from just £18,995.

Things could have be so different had the cool 2020 Honda E been a success.

Sadly, it was too expensive and its range was limited, so it ceased production in 2024. Range apart, it’s still a fantastic city EV, oozing with tech.

The forgettable Honda e:Ny1 compact SUV was next up in 2023, so it’s no wonder that the Super-N is such a breath of fresh air.

Back in Japan, it qualifies as a ‘Kei car’. These are ultra-compact light vehicles which must strictly conform to maximum dimensions and performance caps.

However, before I start, it’s worth saying that the Super-N is aimed at the urban market.

With a range of 128 miles (Honda claims it’s good for up to 199 miles in the city), it clearly isn’t ideal for longer journeys.

That said, the tiny 29.6kWh battery charges from 15-80% in 30 minutes via a 50kW charger, so more ambitious trips are possible if you factor in stops.

Oh, and remember to use to use the regen paddles on the steering wheel when braking downhill, for instance, to claw back vital miles of charge.

For the record, it seemed efficient during my week with the car, so expect 100 miles of real-world range in mixed driving – more in the city.

The fact is that whether it’s used as an urban runabout, a second car, or a main car which occasionally ventures further, it’s rare to find so many positives packed into such a compact vehicle.

Inspired by the boxy 1983 Honda City Turbo II, the Super-N features retro-futuristic hot-hatch styling.

Flared wheel arches, round LED headlights, a tailgate spoiler, purposeful aero ducts, and a wide stance, give it far more presence than most cars this size.

Despite measuring just 3,599mm long, clever packaging means it can carry four adults comfortably. You also get a cosy 162 litres of boot capacity with the seats up, or 967 litres with them folded down – and it comes with Honda’s excellent flip-up Magic Seats in the back.

On the road, the Honda Super-N is an absolute hoot. Weighing in at just over a tonne, it feels light, agile, and wonderfully planted. In short, it puts a smile on your face, which is such a rare sensation in these days of homogenous, family-sized electric SUVs.

A doddle to drive in town, there’s also plenty of fun to be had on faster, more challenging roads.

It’s a proper go-kart experience with ample grip and light steering, staying remarkably flat in faster corners.

The standard 63bhp setup is perfectly adequate for everyday driving, but if you hit the glowing purple ‘Boost’ button on the steering wheel, you unlock 94bhp, slashing the 15.5-second 0-62mph time to 9.2 seconds, summoning a proper old-school hot-hatch spirit.

That’s not all, there are also steering-wheel paddles that simulate a seven-speed manual gearbox (in Sport and Boost modes), complete with synthesized engine note (including addictive downshifts as you decelerate from speed). While it’s not quite as polished as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s system, it’s great fun.

Naturally, the Super-N has regular drive modes (Econ, City, Normal and Sport), and while Boost/Sport are good for short bursts, they use extra charge, so it’s best to stick with City or default Normal for a balance or efficiency and performance.

Honda hasn’t skimped on technology either. There’s just one trim level (Advance), so every Super-N comes fully specified.

In other words, there are heated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel, a full suite of safety and driver assistance tech, keyless entry, a reversing camera, parking sensors, a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 7.0-inch driver display, and an eight-speaker Bose sound system.

The infotainment system is easy to use and responsive. If I had to nit-pick, I’d say it’s a shame that there’s no built-in sat nav (instead, you have to connect your phone wirelessly with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto), and there are too many hard black plastic interior surfaces.

The Super-N’s growing number of small EV rivals in the £20,000 price bracket include the Renault Twingo, Hyundai Inster, Geely EX2, BYD Dolphin Surf, Leapmotor T03, Dacia Spring – and even the Renault 5.

And if you’re looking for peace of mind, the Super-N comes with a three-year warranty/90,000-mile warranty as standard. This can be extended up to eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Additionally, the battery is guaranteed to retain at least 70% of its original capacity for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Verdict: The Honda Super-N is a revelation. An affordable, surprisingly spacious pocket rocket of a city EV that delivers serious smiles per mile.

Review in association with AutomotiveBlog