Why Lease The e Hatchback?
by: Donna KellyDonna Kelly has over 14 years of experience in the motoring industry, writing, test driving and tweeting about cars. Her weekends are spent trackside, covering racing events.
Honda e Review 2022
Honda's first electric car – the Honda e - stands out in the competitive electric car segment thanks to its quirky exterior style and upmarket interior.
Rivals to the Honda e include the Renault Zoe, Peugeot e-208, MINI Electric and BMW i3.
Our Honda e review covers:
Honda e Key Features
- Unique retro style with cameras instead of door mirrors
- Futuristic interior dominated by an infotainment screen
- 35.5kWh battery with two power outputs and 136-mile range
- 171-litre boot with underfloor storage
- Two trim levels, including Honda E and Honda E Advance
Design, Practicality and Boot Space
Visually striking, the Honda e certainly stands out on the road. Similar in style to the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show concept model, the Honda e features a unique, retro style, with a curvy shape, circular headlight design, gloss black exterior cladding, flush door handles and cameras instead of door mirrors.
Despite its dinky dimensions, the Honda e is surprisingly spacious inside, with room enough for up to four adults. Space at the front is decent, while space at the back is roughly on a par with the Renault Zoe and offers more leg and headroom than the MINI Electric or Seat Mii. There are, however, only two seatbelts in the back, so carrying five people is out of the question.
Shame then that the Honda e's boot is tiny. At just 171 litres, it's only capable of carrying a couple of carry-on cases and is smaller than rivals such as the Mii Electric, Zoe and Peugeot e-208. The rear seatbacks fold down, however, for when you need to carry more than just a couple of bags, and there is underfloor storage for the charging cables.
Interior and Trims
Inside, the Honda e's futuristic design continues. The cabin is dominated by an infotainment screen that spans the full width of the dash. A sizeable 8.8-inch TFT panel serves as the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, displaying your speed and range, while two 12.3-inch touchscreens make up the main infotainment display. This is flanked on both sides by 6-inch screens that show a live feed from the futuristic camera "door mirrors".
Overall, the screens help the interior look sleek and über-modern, with wood finishes and cool grey cloth upholstery completing the look. The result is a more upmarket feeling than the Seat Mii Electric, but it's not as plush as the Mini Electric and Peugeot e-208.
Two trim levels are available from launch, including the Honda E and Honda E Advance, adding little luxuries like a heated steering wheel, a self-parking system, adaptive cruise control and Honda Connect nav with CarPlay and Android Auto.
Power and Performance
The Honda e is powered by a 35.5kWh battery with two power outputs - 134bhp for the entry-level Honda E and 152bhp for the pricier Advance model. Unfortunately, the Honda's e modest 136-mile range doesn't match up to its rivals with the Renault Zoe and Vauxhall Corsa-e going much further for a lower price tag. Charging from 10-80% with a rapid charger takes 30 minutes or six hours using a 7kWh home charger.
On the road, the Honda e's unique looks are backed up by a genuinely fun driving experience. Its light steering feels nippy around town, and its tight turning circle makes light work of small parking spaces.
Leasing vs Buying
Prices for the new Honda e start from £36,500.00 OTR* or to lease from £445.37 per month.
Leasing the Honda e offers many benefits over buying. All lease deals with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts come with breakdown recovery, road tax, and the manufacturer's warranty as standard, making it often the cheaper alternative to buying. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts will also deliver your brand-new Honda e direct to your front door for free, provided you are situated on the GB mainland.
*'On the road' price is correct at time of publication and typically includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Always check with the manufacturer.