Honda Super-N Test Drive Reveals Pocket EV With Retro Flair and a Boost Button That Changes the Mood

Honda drew from its Japanese kei car roots and stretched the formula just enough for European buyers. The result is the Super-N, a compact electric hatch that measures about 3.6 meters long, sits low, and carries a purposeful stance. It arrives this summer priced at £18,995 and aims straight at drivers who want efficiency without giving up all sense of fun.

The crazy, head-turning City Turbo II of the 1980s serves as a model for styling. Aero ducts, chunky bumpers, wide flaring fenders, and that little rear spoiler all seem to say, “I’m ready to go,” giving it the appearance of being square on the ground and poised to attack. With its round headlights and subtle asymmetrical grille, the front end is quite stylish. A purple test automobile demonstrates the extent to which a striking color choice can make an object truly stand out.

The power comes from a single front-mounted electric motor, which draws from a 29.6 kWh battery. That yields a reasonable 63 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque, more than enough for a leisurely trip. The top speed is 84 mph, and you can get to 62 mph in 14.5 seconds. Officially, a single charge can get you 128 miles, but if you’re just driving around town, that mileage quickly rises to 140 or more. When you push the purple ‘Boost Mode’ button on the steering wheel, magic happens, and you get what feels like a new second gear. The added power results in 94 horses and a more aggressive midrange delivery. It also activates a simulated seven-speed transmission, allowing the engine note to sound more like a true sports car, and the active sound management adds a little of background hum that’s meant to evoke memories of previous Honda performance vehicles. It gets you to 62 in around 9-10 seconds, which is a lot more enjoyable than the conventional version.

Inside, you’ll find a simple horizontal layout with actual buttons for climate control and volume. Then there’s a large 9-inch touchscreen for navigation and your phone. The seats are made of sporty materials with nice blue accents, and they are actually pretty supportive for the car’s size. The driving position is ergonomic and low, and the steering wheel feels natural in your hands. Front-seat passengers have ample of legroom, although larger persons may find the headroom a little tight. Then there’s the Magic Seat rear seats, which can be flipped up for storage or folded flat for extra cargo capacity. The tailgate is also quite tall and wide, making it easy to load a variety of stuff up there.

The Super-N, weighing 1,097 kg, isn’t a track-day beast, but it still handles admirably. The wider track, enhanced brakes, and faster steering all help to provide remarkable cornering and abrupt direction changes. Charging is fairly common, as you can reach 80% in about 30 minutes with a 50 kW DC rapid point or in around three hours with a 10 kW AC charger at home or at work. If you’re just driving around town, the 4.8 miles per kWh efficiency rating suggests that the home or office charger should suffice for your daily commutes.