We wanted to love this... | Honda e review

The Honda e has a few too many caveats for us to fall in love with it.

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Honda delivered the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle in 1999 with the launch of the rather odd-looking two-seater Insight, and has rolled hybrid tech out across its range in the years since. But, it took until 2020 for the first pure electric Honda car to emerge in the shape of the e hatchback.

The small, five-door EV is aimed squarely at taking sales from the MINI Electric, the PSA Group’s Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa-e, plus the electric Fiat 500. Power for the Honda e comes from a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery, with a rear-mounted electric motor that drives the rear wheels. This set-up provides either 134bhp or 152bhp, with a maximum range of up to 137 miles.

There are just two equipment levels - Standard and Advance, with the entry trim matched to the lower powered car and the top-spec kit only offered in tandem with the more potent power option.

Honda hasn’t scrimped with on-board tech in the e - there is an 8.8-inch display in front of the driver, along with two 12.3-inch screens taking care of the infotainment system. The system operates much like a smartphone, with large tile icons for various features (from power flow to activating the car’s onboard wi-fi hotspot), pinch-and-zoom functionality and the ability to switch information from one screen to another. There's plenty of tech then, but is it enough to win us over? Nicola Hume finds out in this full review.

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