The Return of the Lightweight, Affordable Fun Car
For the past few years, the electric vehicle market has felt like an arms race of excess. Manufacturers have focused on building massive, heavy, and eye-wateringly expensive SUVs packed with screens and battery packs large enough to power a small village. But in 2025, the tide is finally turning. Drivers are demanding smaller, lighter, and crucially, more affordable electric cars.
Enter the Honda Super-N.
Starting at an estimated £19,000, this retro-futuristic city car is aimed squarely at the upcoming Renault Twingo EV and the Dacia Spring. But while those cars focus almost entirely on budget utility, Honda has injected something else into the Super-N: pure, unadulterated driving joy. After a week of throwing this pint-sized hatchback around tight city streets and twisting B-roads, we can confidently say that the Super-N is one of the most exciting cars of the year.
Design and Aesthetics: Retro-Futurism Done Right
If you loved the look of the lamented, short-lived Honda e, you will adore the Super-N. Honda has taken design cues from its classic Japanese kei cars—specifically the N-One—and modernized them for 2025. It features a boxy, upright silhouette, short overhangs, and circular LED headlights that give it an incredibly friendly, almost animated face.
By ditching the heavy, expensive side-camera mirrors of the original Honda e and opting for traditional, aerodynamically optimized physical mirrors, Honda has managed to shave thousands off the production cost. The car sits on 15-inch steel wheels with stylish retro hubcaps as standard, though our test model featured the optional 16-inch multi-spoke alloys. It is compact, incredibly easy to park, and turns heads wherever it goes.
On the Road: How Does the Super-N Handle?
Honda’s engineers had a clear mission with the Super-N: make it light, make it rear-wheel drive, and make it handle. Weighing in at just under 1,200 kg—a featherweight figure for a modern EV—the Super-N feels remarkably agile.
Power comes from a rear-mounted electric motor producing 134 bhp and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with a modest 40 kWh battery pack. While a 0-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds won't break any land speed records, the instant electric torque makes the Super-N feel incredibly punchy off the line.
Because the front wheels are freed from driving duties, the steering is delightfully pure, light, and boasts an incredibly tight turning circle of just 8.6 meters. You can dart through city traffic with the precision of a go-kart. Out on country lanes, the suspension setup—which is surprisingly firm but never harsh—keeps body roll to an absolute minimum. It grips tenaciously, and the rear-wheel-drive setup allows you to power out of corners with a level of balance and poise that front-wheel-drive rivals simply cannot match.
Cabin Tech and Everyday Usability
Inside, Honda has embraced a philosophy of 'functional minimalism.' Gone is the overwhelming five-screen dashboard of the old Honda e. Instead, you get a clean, fabric-draped dashboard featuring a single 10.1-inch central touchscreen and a smaller digital instrument cluster for the driver.
Crucially, Honda has kept physical buttons and dials for the climate control system, a decision that deserves a standing ovation. The infotainment system itself is snappy, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
While the plastics lower down in the cabin are undeniably hard to the touch—a necessary compromise to hit that £19,000 price point—they feel durable and well-textured. Space in the front is excellent, thanks to the flat floor and airy glasshouse. The rear seats are tight for taller adults but perfectly adequate for kids or short trips to the supermarket. Boot space is modest at 210 liters, but folding the rear seats flat expands that significantly.
As for range, the 40 kWh battery delivers a claimed WLTP range of 165 miles. In real-world testing, combining city driving with some dual-carriageway cruising, we easily achieved 140 miles of range. With 100 kW DC fast-charging capability, a 10% to 80% top-up takes just 26 minutes.
The Battle of the Budget EVs: How the Super-N Compares
To see where the Honda Super-N fits into the 2025 landscape, let's look at how it stacks up against its closest rivals in terms of price, personality, and performance:
* Dacia Spring (approx. £14,995): The absolute cheapest way into a new EV. While the Spring is incredibly value-focused and practical, it feels cheap, slow, and lacks any sort of driving dynamics. It is an appliance; the Honda Super-N is a driver's car. * Renault Twingo EV Concept/Production (approx. £17,500): Expected to launch late this year, the Twingo is the Super-N’s closest rival in terms of retro charm. However, early indicators suggest the Twingo will be front-wheel drive and more focused on urban utility than sporty driving characteristics. * Hyundai Inster (approx. £22,000): A slightly larger, more rugged-looking micro-SUV. It offers more rear passenger space and a slightly longer range (up to 220 miles), but it lacks the agile, fun-to-drive character of the Honda. * BYD Dolphin Active (approx. £25,000): A larger family hatchback that offers more space and features for the money, but it is heavier, less engaging to drive, and sits in a higher price bracket.
Our Verdict: The Bottom Line
The Honda Super-N is a triumph of restraint. By stripping away the unnecessary, expensive gimmicks that bloated the price of previous small EVs, Honda has delivered a back-to-basics electric hatchback that is affordable, stylish, and genuinely brilliant to drive.
It proves that you do not need 500 horsepower or a 300-mile battery to have fun behind the wheel. If you have a driveway, do most of your driving locally, and want a car that puts a smile on your face every time you round a roundabout, the £19,000 Honda Super-N is the absolute benchmark for 2025.