Peter Lyon
April 15, 2025
Following its teaser preview at last year’s Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show, Honda’s first-ever electric vehicle—the e:N1—has just landed in Honda Malaysia showrooms and is now open for bookings.
Although the exact price has not yet been disclosed, industry analysts suggest that it should cost between RM160 to RM170,000. Honda tells us that the crossover will officially launch in Q2 2025.
Though the company claims that it is constructed on a different EV-specific platform obscurely named the e:N Architecture F, Honda’s e:N1 is the EV equivalent of a Honda HR-V, with the exception of a few millimeters in length and height.
The platform’s suffix denotes front-wheel drive, and the Honda e:N1 has a single electric motor that can produce up to 204 horsepower and 310 Nm of torque.
The Honda crossover is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds, can reach a top speed of 160 km/h and has an EV driving range of up to 500 km (NEDC) when paired with a 68.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Although the Thai variant, which should have most of the same specs as the Malaysian version, lists its AC charging capacity at 11 kW and DC fast charging at 78 kW, exact charging information were not provided.
In terms of design, the e:N1 is distinguished by a few EV-only features, such as the signature front fascia without a grille, which conceals the charging ports, 18-inch aerodynamically optimized wheels, and white “H” badges all over the car (and key fob).
Instead of a Honda badge at the rear end, the hatch door employs a spread-letter “Honda” badge featuring a new typeface, which the company suggests “further accentuates the premium feel of the Honda BEV.”
The e:N1 and HR-V differ most significantly in their interiors. In fact rather than having a screen on top of the dashboard, the EV crossover has a large 15.1-inch touchscreen display that is positioned in the middle of the dashboard in portrait mode.
The large touchscreen is connected to a separate 10.25-inch digital instrument screen for the driver – although the rest of the dashboard design remains basically unchanged. On the centre console, the standard gear lever has also been replaced with Honda’s recent signature row of buttons for gear selection.
According to Honda Malaysia, the e:N1 will have a number of cutting-edge driver assistance technologies, such as a blind spot monitoring system, which is a first for a Honda Malaysia car. Under the Honda Sensing umbrella, additional features include lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and Cross Traffic Monitor.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Although this Honda EV seems a few years late to market, especially given other rivals like Tesla, and the three German powerhouses are already on sale, the e:N1 arrives with sharp looks, competitive range and a reasonable price.
