Honda to launch new electric SUV in UK, at same price as Model Y

Honda is a car maker that many of us know well. What it’s not known for is EVs, given it’s yet to launch a mass-market electric car into many parts of the world, including Europe and the Australian market.

That’s about to change with the upcoming arrival of the new Honda e:Ny1. This new model’s pricing and specifications have been revealed in one key European right-hand-drive market and, simply put, it’s pricey.

Starting at £44,995 for the base trim known as the Elegance variant, it’s equivalent to $A87,000. That is the same price as a Tesla Model Y RWD in the UK market.

The top-of-the-range Advance variant is £47,195 in the UK, making it over £13,200 dearer than the top-spec MG ZS EV Long Range, which is £33,995 driveaway.

For this price, you get a powertrain fed by a 68.8 kWh battery pack with 11 kW AC charging on offer. This will provide a WLTP range of 412 km on a single charge.

It can also be fast-charged at speeds of up to 78 kW. At the right fast charger, Honda claims it can get from 10 – 80% in around 45 minutes which is quite slow given a Model Y has a 170 kW DC charging capability and can get there in 25 minutes.

When it comes to the powertrain, only one 150 kW motor is on offer that produces 310 Nm of peak torque, helping to propel the car to 100 km/h from a standstill in 7.6 seconds. Tops speed for both variants is also set at 160 km/h.

For the same price, the Tesla Model Y RWD has a more powerful 220 kW motor and a faster acceleration time.

On the dimensions front, the Honda e:Ny1 is 363 mm shorter than the Model Y, coming in at:

• 4,387 mm in length
• 1,790 mm in width
• 1,584 mm in height

There is also a 15.1-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on offer. This is one of the larger portrait screens seen in an EV from a Japanese brand.

The Honda e:Ny1 is expected to go on sale in the UK by October and as much as it’s aimed for the “mass-market”, it’d be hard not to consider compelling EVs from Tesla and MG that have a proven track record in the car market.

There are no current plans for Honda to bring this or any other EV into Australia this year, but that position may change. The only real question would be whether it comes in time and at the right price.