What Car? gets an early look at the Honda Super N before UK showrooms open in July. Built on the bones of the Japanese N-One E city car, the Super N runs wider, sits lower, and promises something the N-One E very much does not: genuine driving fun.
The Super N's name traces back to the Honda N360, Honda's first family car from the 1960s. The "N" comes from the Japanese word norimmono, meaning conveyance or vehicle. The new car shares visual DNA with both the N360 and the discontinued Honda e, though Honda is clear it is not a replacement for the latter. The Honda e was beloved for how it drove and looked, but criticised for its short range and high price. The Super N is aiming to fix both.
Under the surface, it uses the same platform as the N-One E, a Japanese K-car designed to strict dimensional limits for crowded urban streets. In Japan the N-One E costs around 3 million yen (roughly £14,000). The Super N will cost a bit more, but Honda says it will come in under £20,000, undercutting the cheapest Fiat 500e. That puts it in a class with the BYD Dolphin, Dacia Spring, and Leapmotor T3, though the upcoming Renault Twingo could undercut it on price.
The performance story is where things get interesting. A boost button unlocks the single electric motor from 63 horsepower to 94 horsepower. Paddles behind the steering wheel simulate a seven-speed sequential gearbox, modulating acceleration and power delivery as if you were changing gear manually. An active sound system recreates an engine note to match each simulated gear. Ambient lighting switches from blue to purple when boost mode is active.
The spiritual ancestor here is the Honda City Turbo 2, known in Japan as the Bulldog. That 1980s hot hatch took a mundane city car and turned it into something far more exciting. The Super N is attempting the same trick with electrons instead of a turbocharger. Honda says the suspension has been tuned on a variety of road surfaces in both Japan and the UK.
Despite being roughly the same size as the Fiat 500e, the Super N is more than 100 kg lighter. The battery sits below the floor, giving it a low centre of gravity that should help in corners. There are sports seats with pronounced side bolsters, a 9-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a nine-speaker stereo with a subwoofer.
Honda quotes a combined range of 128 miles. That just beats the cheapest 500e, but falls short of the BYD Dolphin and Dacia Spring. Honda also says urban driving could yield closer to 200 miles. Charging time details have not yet been released.
Fans of the Jazz will recognise the magic seat function, which folds the rear seats in multiple configurations. Five exterior colours are available, including a Boost Violet Pearl. A two-tone option and graphics packages are also in the mix. UK showrooms from July 2026.