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This might be Japan’s largest new automobile launch in years!
Meet the 2027 Honda Super-One, a bit electrical automobile with huge coronary heart.
Based on the Japanese-market ‘N-One e:’ kei automobile, the Super-One is a specialised model for export markets, boasting the identical cutesy appears however with a wider observe, higher efficiency, and bespoke chassis tuning, making this pocket-sized EV match for city driving duties in locations like Australia and Europe.
The Super-One was launched to loads of fanfare ultimately 12 months’s Tokyo motor present, the place yours actually noticed the near-production ‘Prototype’ for the primary time. Spoiler alert: it is just about precisely the identical because the grey-painted car I noticed at Honda’s Tokyo present stand.
So, what’s new? Well we all know the worth – from $36,900 drive-away – which is probably a bit decrease than some could have anticipated, but it surely’s nonetheless removed from making it the most affordable within the business, given BYD’s bigger Atto 1 electrical hatch is presently going from $19,990 drive-away, however the Japanese model says it is littlest mannequin goes onerous on enjoyable.
With the primary run of round 130 models bought out inside hours, and wait occasions stretching out to just about 12 months relying in your color of selection, we obtained a primary steer on native roads to see if this little cutie patootie is worthy of the huge hype.
The verdict? Well, you understand the drill – learn on!
How a lot does the Honda Super-One price?
As famous earlier, the Honda Super-One is priced from $36,900 drive-away, with just one trim stage accessible and only one extra-cost possibility – a single two-tone paint scheme that provides one other $500.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2027 Honda Super-One Mono | $36,900 |
| 2027 Honda Super-One Two-Tone | $37,400 |
Similarly sized EVs embody the BYD Atto 1 (from $19,990 drive-away presently), and the Hyundai Inster (from $35,990 drive-away).
The Super-One’s pricing strains up with bigger options just like the BYD Dolphin (from $29,990), GAC Aion UT (from $31,990), Geely EX2 (from $30,990), and MG 4 EV Urban (presently from $29,990).
Not solely are these rivals from China bigger in measurement each externally and internally, however additionally they all supply bigger batteries with extra driving vary – value noting if these features are key issues for you.
To see how the Honda Super-One strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What is the Honda Super-One like on the within?
Kei vehicles are well-packaged, however the Super-One appears like a compact automobile, notably width-wise.
The tall, skinny dimensions imply there’s heaps of headroom up entrance and a stunning stage of legroom within the second row, however for those who’re driving two-up up entrance you would possibly discover it a contact pokey.
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I’m a contact over 6’1″ and shared the drive program with another journalist of similar height, and there was the odd occasion where we may have brushed shoulders. That said, the eye-catching front sport seats are comfortable and form-hugging, provided you’re not ‘Super-Wide’, and the simple and thoughtful ergonomics mean everything is within arm’s reach.
Ahead of the driver is a 7.0-inch colour digital instrument cluster, which has been styled “as a tribute” to the Honda City Turbo II’s analogue-digital dash. It offers a number of different layouts, including a triple-dial view, and packs a lot of information in.
Further, while the interior materials are typical entry-level city car in their hardwearing nature, the solid and tactile actions to all of the buttons, dials and toggles throughout the cockpit are all class, and pretty much all nicked from Honda’s larger models.
Front and centre is the 9.0-inch Honda Connect infotainment touchscreen, offering the full suite of features and services available higher up in the range, including Google Built-in and Honda Connect Gen2 online connectivity, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
As we’ve experienced in other Honda models, it’s simple and slick to use, with the native tiled interface easy to navigate and snappy to respond to touch inputs. Google Built-in services are good to have if you don’t want to rely on your smartphone, and there are third-party apps available in the Play Store.
Hooking up your smartphone is quick and easy in our experience, and the tiled interface and flat menu structure is easy to navigate. The hard buttons for Home, Back and Skip functions as well as the rotary volume dial are also welcome and tactile in their operation.
Also noteworthy is the standard eight-speaker Bose premium audio system with subwoofer. 7+1 speakers are dotted about the cabin and have been optimised for the Super-One’s size, while the 13.1L subwoofer under the boot floor helps to add some thumpy bass – it’s certainly an elevated audio experience for this class of vehicle.
The second row is likewise impressive and segment-busting. While a strictly a four-seater by design, the boxy dimensions and relatively long wheelbase make for good headroom and legroom, even for taller passengers like 6’1″ me, in a car that is extra compact than a Kia Picanto.
Even higher, the Super-One picks up the model’s signature Magic Seats, which supply folding backrests and flip-up bases for as much as 18 completely different seat configurations. It makes the a lot of the Super-One’s 967L cargo capability behind the entrance seats, and might be configured to turn out to be a cellular cinema for those who fold the entrance seats again and set up a streaming app on the infotainment system.
Further facilities are on the lighter facet, which is anticipated given the phase, however there is a map pocket behind the entrance passenger seat, door bins, and each ISOFIX and top-tether factors for little one seats.
However, not like the Hyundai Inster, which just like the Super-One relies on a kei-sized car, the rear seats don’t slide fore and aft to open up extra boot house or legroom.
The Super-One affords a modest 162L of cargo capability with all 4 seats in use, which expands to 618L measured to the decrease window line with the rear seatbacks folded, or 967L to the roof.
You will not discover a spare wheel of any type beneath the boot ground although, simply the aforementioned subwoofer for the Bose sound system.
| Dimensions | Honda Super-One |
|---|---|
| Length | 3582mm |
| Width | 1573mm |
| Height | 1616mm |
| Wheelbase | 2520mm |
| Cargo capability | 162L – Rear seats up967L – Rear seats down, to roof |
To see how the Honda Super-One strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Honda Super-One matches its teeny-tiny dimensions with a teeny-tiny electrical motor teamed with a teeny-tiny battery.
| Specifications | Honda Super-One |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 29.6kWh lithium-ion |
| Power | 47kW – Standard 70kW – Boost mode |
| Torque | 162Nm |
| Drive kind | FWD |
| Weight | 1093kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | – |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 12.1kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 202km – WLTP 253km – NEDC |
| Max AC cost price | 6.6kW – Single-phase 10kW – Three-phase |
| Max DC cost price | 50kW |
The Kei-class 47kW determine is the usual output within the car’s commonplace modes, with the Boost mode operate upping that to 70kW.
Honda says the 29.6kWh (nominal) li-ion battery is nice for simply over 250km on the older NEDC check cycle, or simply over 200km in keeping with the newer and extra correct WLTP technique.
Using a DC fast-charger, the Super-One will cost from 10 to 80 per cent in “approximately 30 minutes” at its quoted 50kW most price.
Our restricted time behind the wheel did not yield a significant as-tested vitality consumption readout, although after our comparatively quick drive program – which was in all probability solely about 15-20km in whole – the car was nonetheless exhibiting about 180km of indicated vary.
To see how the Honda Super-One strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How does the Honda Super-One drive?
Honda’s method to the Super-One’s drive program was as left-field as its design, targeted virtually totally in and round Melbourne’s CBD to showcase its city-centric on-road behaviour.
From peak-hour site visitors to metropolis laneways and suburban streets, the Super-One was subjected to all of the surfaces you might anticipate of Australian inner-city residing.
I’ll be the primary to name out the Super-One’s meek outputs on paper – 47kW/162Nm is very miniscule in as we speak’s day and age, at the very least in Australia – however fortunately, the on-road expertise is something however.
The immediacy of the electrical motor’s torque supply makes the little Honda really feel peppier than it ought to, helped little question by its comparatively gentle sub-1000kg kerb weight.
Sure, it isn’t fairly quick, however you should not have any points maintaining with metropolis and concrete site visitors as much as 60-70km/h.
The Super-One affords a number of driving modes together with Econ, City, Normal, Sport, and naturally, Boost. The first 4 are all toggled by way of the drive mode toggle change on the centre console, whereas Boost mode is activated by the brushed metal-look purple button on the multifunction steering wheel.
Econ naturally prioritises most driving vary, numbing acceleration response and ‘restraining’ deceleration to “encourage economical driving”. Using the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, drivers can regulate regenerative braking by way of at least six completely different ranges.
City mode is mainly the Honda’s one-pedal profile, optimised for the city grind and stop-start site visitors. It’s one of many higher single-pedal modes I’ve sampled of late, with predictable and intuitive regen braking as you raise off the throttle, which like Econ mode might be adjusted by way of the paddles, however solely throughout 4 ranges on this mode.
Normal is the ‘balanced’ setting, returning to six-stage adjustable regen and offering a extra linear response to throttle and brake inputs. Sport sharpens accelerator response by way of a “steeper torque curve”, with stronger acceleration and deceleration really feel – even higher, the paddles swap out regen adjustment for a simulated seven-speed transmission, accompanied by a faint, synthesised powertrain sound performed by way of the audio system.
Finally, there’s Boost mode. The e-motor up entrance ups its max energy output to 70kW, and the accelerator and simulated transmission really feel are sharpened additional.
The cabin shows and ambient lighting promptly flip purple as effectively, with the driving force show specifically switching to a set of triple digital dials for battery temperature, ‘RPM’ and energy.
Further, the ‘Active Sound Control’ powertrain noise is extra distinguished and extra paying homage to a combustion engine. Honda says that is all designed to make the Super-One “feel like something you’d choose to drive quickly”.
Even higher, the seven-speed simulated transmission might be put into a completely guide mode by holding down the left paddle, which means that on the transfer you’ll be able to truly hit a faux ‘rev-limiter’.
So how does that each one come collectively behind the wheel? Well throughout our comparatively quick time behind the wheel in city-centric situations, the Super-One actually did turn into fairly enjoyable.
City mode is ideal for peak-hour commuting, with intuitive one-pedal driving mixed with clean and linear throttle response. The cabin can also be surprisingly serene.
Even in its commonplace drive mode, the Super-One affords glorious steering really feel and a formidable ride-handling stability. It’s surprisingly mature in its chassis tuning, with a barely sporty really feel however well-managed bump absorption for a small, entry-level automobile.
It definitely lives as much as Hondas of late, that are all fairly well-renowned for his or her virtually European-like really feel behind the wheel. I’d go as far to say the Super-One appears like a shrunken-down Civic on this respect.
Pressing the purple ‘BOOST’ button definitely livens issues up too, and never simply the purple-fied inside atmosphere however the best way it tangibly adjustments up the Super-One’s already enjoyable character.
I actually loved the guide mode greater than I ought too, as a result of aside from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N I’ve actually by no means skilled such a practical digital transmission earlier than in an electrical car.
The powertrain sound – which on this mode is supposed to be paying homage to the Integra Type R of the Nineteen Nineties – can even make you smile. On paper all of it would possibly sound a bit naff, however in apply it actually provides to the fun-loving expertise.
That additional marketed energy and urgency is felt from the get-go too, although accelerating with foot to the ground on a Citylink on-ramp revealed that the Super-One actually tapers off as you method 80km/h.
The Super-One’s teeny dimensions make it a cinch to drive within the metropolis although, with a type issue that’s dwarfed by even city-road lanes, permitting it to suit into any parking house.
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I really like the steering response, which makes it really feel eager and chuckable, whereas the widened observe (+50mm) and good grip from the premium Yokohama Advan 185/55 R15 rubber guarantee its tall and thin profile would not really feel top-heavy.
Showcasing this properly was a enjoyable little carpark motorkhana problem wherein journalists engaged in some pleasant competitors to set the quickest time. Not solely was the stickered-up Super-One like driving one thing out of Mario Kart as a result of its dartiness and enjoyable issue, it is impressively adept at altering route and preserving understeer and wheelspin to a minimal.
Even higher, yours actually was the winner of the problem.
Further, the Super-One will get a bespoke chassis in comparison with its N-One e: donor automobile, with model-specific suspension and steering programs, wider entrance and rear tracks, upgraded entrance disc and rear drum brakes, along with bespoke spring and damper settings.
There are additionally aluminium decrease entrance arms, strengthened hubs and uniform-rigidity driveshafts to maintain torque steer in examine and keep an “honest” steering really feel, whereas the rear torsion beam suspension system has been bolstered to extend stability beneath load.
Honda says all this, and a low centre of gravity helped by the battery pack within the ground, give the Super-One its enjoyable and dynamic really feel behind the wheel, and we consider it.
As for the Honda Sensing help suite, it is all just about the identical as within the Japanese model’s bigger fashions.
Adaptive cruise management with Traffic Jam Assist and lane-centring works nice for stints on the freeway, with or with out bumper-to-bumper site visitors.
The blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are useful, too, however the Super-One already affords nice outward visibility by way of its tall and sq. glasshouse. The reversing digicam additionally does what it says on the tin.
To see how the Honda Super-One strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What do you get?
The Super-One is out there in only one decked-out trim stage in Australia.
2027 Honda Super-One tools highlights:
- 15-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- Power-retractable facet mirrors
- Smart entry
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 9.0-inch Honda Connect touchscreen
- Honda Connect Gen 2 companies – 3 years
- Apple AutomotivePlay, Android Auto – Wireless
- 7+1-speaker Bose premium audio incl. subwoofer
- Front sports activities seats
- Heated seats, entrance
- Heated steering wheel
- Interior ambient lighting
- Active Sound Control
- Paddle shifters
To see how the Honda Super-One strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
Is the Honda Super-One secure?
The Honda Super-One hasn’t acquired an ANCAP or Euro NCAP security score as but. The model’s native group additionally mentioned it has “no plans” to submit the car to impartial crash-test authorities for certification.
Standard security options embody:
- 6 airbags
-
- Dual entrance
- Dual front-side
- Dual facet curtain
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Lane-keep help
- Post-collision braking
- Road departure mitigation
- Traffic Jam Assist
While it hasn’t been subjected to impartial security evaluation, Honda says the Super-One has been developed to passenger automobile requirements regardless of its kei-class origins.
The Super-One will get a bolstered physique construction in comparison with the N-One on which it is primarily based, together with inside facet impression crash-testing at speeds of 32km/h somewhat than the 26km/h for kei vehicles.
It’s additionally the primary compact Honda to characteristic post-collision braking, which robotically applies the brakes after the airbags have been activated in a collision.
Honda has additionally fitted a protecting body across the floor-mounted battery pack to assist shield it from being broken in a facet impression collision.
To see how the Honda Super-One strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How a lot does the Honda Super-One price to run?
The Super-One is roofed by Honda’s commonplace five-year, unlimited-kilometre new-vehicle guarantee, which might be prolonged to eight years by way of the Honda Extend program if the car is serviced at a Honda Service Centre for the preliminary guarantee interval.
| Servicing and Warranty | Honda Super-One |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, limitless kilometres – Standard Up to eight years – Service-activated 8 years or 160,000km – EV battery |
| Roadside help | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years or 50,000km |
| Average annual service price | $199 |
| Total capped-price service price | $995 – 5 years |
Further, the Super-One’s high-voltage battery is roofed for as much as eight years or 160,000km, in keeping with the Japanese model’s e:HEV hybrid fashions.
While the Super-One’s service intervals are 12 months or an oddly quick 10,000km, Honda’s One Price Promise caps its yearly upkeep at $199 each year, totalling $995 over 5 years.
To see how the Honda Super-One strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Take on the Honda Super-One
This automobile is so foolish, however a lot enjoyable on the similar time.
It actually should not make sense, and on paper or on the accountant’s workplace it in all probability would not. But when you drive and expertise the Super-One, it’ll make numerous sense.
This automobile hasn’t been designed to be essentially the most sensible, most spacious, or most attainable electrical car in the marketplace – Honda is fairly sincere about that. It’s meant to be enjoyable and fascinating for the discerning automobile fanatic.
It will not be as low cost because the Atto 1 or as sensible because the Hyundai Inster, nor does it supply as a lot driving vary as both of these Chinese or Korean rivals (not to mention bigger EVs for a similar cash), but it surely certain makes up for many of that with a vibrant character, cool Japanese design aptitude, and loads of driver engagement.
Honda has completed a superb job at preserving the texture of its bigger merchandise – specifically the Civic – on this shrunken-down micro-car bundle.
The irks with the quirks? It’s a premium proposition which when it comes to money-for-metal places this EV a step or two behind all of its most direct rivals, not to mention these within the phase above.
It additionally would not have all that a lot vary, even when it has been designed as a city-slicker, and the inside finishings aren’t all that plush for a micro-car costing the higher a part of $40,000 in your driveway.
But the Super-One’s cutesy, boy-racer appears, fun-to-drive really feel, and high-end spec inclusions go an extended method to offset all that, particularly for these searching for a small electrical automobile that is truly fascinating to drive.
My coronary heart says ‘Excellent’, however my head says ‘Very Good’ – go drive one for your self and you will see what I imply.
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