Last Call: The Honda e is adorable and I want one

Colby Buchanan

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Comments

This car was revealed a while ago now but I want to see what you guys think of it. It’s cute and it does a pretty good job of making modern retro not look weird. I’ve said it before but when you try and make something old new it often doesn’t come out right. In this case, however, they’re simply taking it’s something new with older elements added on. I especially like the circular lights and the minimalistic interior looks great.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we will be getting it in the States (as with many good cars) but maybe someday. It honestly seems like it would be a great daily for a lot of people. Could you see yourself in one of them?

Last Call indicates the end of Hooniverse’s broadcast day. It’s meant to be an open forum for anyone and anything. Thread jacking is not only accepted, it’s encouraged.

About

Colby Buchanan

Colby Buchanan

My name is Colby Buchanan and I love all things car-related all the way from rusted 240sx’s to McLaren Senna’s and of course I have a soft spot for American Muscle. You can spot me in my bone stock ’06 350z named MackenZ.

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26 responses to “Last Call: The Honda e is adorable and I want one”

  1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
    Wayne Moyer

    It’s not that close but I am getting a very Nissan Figaro vibe from it.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ab62d814c13013c05be5015b8d6e9ad0da232b94bdeff317fed06b7537700e36.jpg

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I get this vibe from it:

      https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jKjaoMFEfCs/maxresdefault.jpg

      And I have to wonder if the designers drew inspiration from it.

      Reply
      1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
        Wayne Moyer

        Now the Vibe we aren’t getting from it is this.

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4f54fb61910582d19b3b0f7344789bcaa5771b95599f38e9d9ecd90dec6e465a.jpg

        Reply
        1. Zentropy Avatar
          Zentropy

          Decidedly not!

          Reply
      2. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        That was clearly the look they were going for. Probably the scale, too, which is why they aren’t planned for the US.

        Reply
      3. Scoutdude Avatar
        Scoutdude

        I agree that is what the inspiration was, including some interior elements from what I’ve seen.

        Reply
      4. William Byrd Avatar
        William Byrd

        I would imagine, that’s got similar lines. I dig the Honda e, we need some small, fun to drive, hatchback EVs.

        Reply
    2. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Even stronger Nissan BE-1 or Pao vibes, but definitely could have been one of their Pike cars (although Zentropy is right that it’s heavily aping old Hondas). Just in general, hearkens back to peak Japan (including being a great, beloved car that’s not particularly cheap).

      https://www.nissanusa.com/content/dam/Nissan/us/experience_nissan/newsevents/pike-cars/classic-nissan-cars.jpg.ximg.l_12_m.smart.jpg

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        It’s hard not to look at these and smile. I sincerely wish modern car designs weren’t so angry looking. I think part of my interest in the new Ford Bronco is that it doesn’t look pissed off or ready to swallow something whole. Hopefully no one makes “angry eyes” for it like they do the Wrangler– I hate those grilles.

        Reply
  2. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Kachadurian posted about the Honda e this past winter, and it seemed to be received favorably here. I would seriously consider buying one if they sold them in the States.

    A Honda e plus a new Bronco might just have me satisfied for decades… at least as new cars go. I’d definitely still want to tinker with old iron on a regular basis.

    Reply
  3. I_Borgward Avatar
    I_Borgward

    Yes, I would consider the e (what an odd sentence). Perfect size for a runabout, decent range, good charge times. It and doesn’t give the impression that it would be a compromise to either drive or own.

    It’d be a nice thing to have during fuel shortages. Not that those ever happen.

    And, it has round headlights.

    Reply
  4. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    I love it. Despite us being rural fools, not the marketed-to city dwellers, it is the one car we would currently consider buying new. Maybe apart from the MG ZS, which is just super cheap and fits our commuter needs, but it is also something else entirely.

    This was my cue, too. The only other owner of an Equus/Centennial – 2nd gen though – just self-identified himself on Facebook. Some might remember I spread the listing for the car whereever I could. We might need to meet up one day.

    https://i.ibb.co/djVnMNV/IMG-20200805-094201.jpg

    Reply
  5. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    I love it. Despite us being rural fools, not the marketed-to city dwellers, it is the one car we would currently consider buying new. Maybe apart from the MG ZS, which is just super cheap and fits our commuter needs, but it is also something else entirely.

    This was my cue, too. The only other owner of an Equus/Centennial – 2nd gen though – just self-identified himself on Facebook. Some might remember I spread the listing for the car whereever I could. We might need to meet up one day.

    https://i.ibb.co/djVnMNV/IMG-20200805-094201.jpg

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I didn’t realize those were so uncommon.

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        There are quite a few in the US, but hardly any in Europe. My first gen specimen is one of 2 V6s in Europe, and there are 35 2006 V8s, too. Not sure about the second generation. A guy in Sweden was checking out importing a 2nd gen Equus to Sweden and was quoted 500$ a month by the only insurance that would even insure the car.

        The guy who bought the embassy car above had to pay import taxes, too, so it was a very expensive undertaking for him, I guess. I had send the car in to some media in order to help the embassy find a new owner. Very happy it is in collector’s hands:

        https://www.tv2.no/a/11542058/

        Reply
  6. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Z#/media/File:Honda_600.jpg

    I suspect that the progenitor is mostly likely the Honda Z from 1973

    It came in a 360 cc version and a 600 for export models. I had a Z360 in 1978 in Tokyo and it was a hoot

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Z

    Reply
  7. nanoop Avatar
    nanoop

    The Honda E is “available” in Norway for 266kNOK (that’s about 29kUSD in non-metric currency). Available means that they’ll take your money already now, but you’d still have to wait a couple of weeks for a test drive.

    Reply
  8. njhoon Avatar
    njhoon

    I love it. I would buy one if they imported/sold it here but alas I cannot. I get exasperated that we cant have the cool stuff. I’m in the market for a new or newer car and this would be perfect since I live in a city. A hybrid or a full EV would be great but I’m not too crazy about anything out currently.

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      What are the options you’re currently looking at?

      Reply
      1. njhoon Avatar
        njhoon

        I like the new Honda Insight but the strongest contender is a new Kia Soul. We currently have a Soul so with all of the incentives the price is impossible to beat. We live in the city so the #1 priority is size and utility. Like I mentioned a hybrid or EV would be great and to me makes sense but its not the be all and and all.

        Reply
        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          Sounds like a good choice. So you’re talking about the EV Soul then? I know quite some people who have it, and they’re all very happy. One of my neighbours is the only one I am aware of with issues; his accessory battery – the ordinary car battery – goes flat occasionally. Then the car won’t start and they haven’t really identified the issue yet, at least as I am aware of. Apart from that, very smartly designed cars of great quality and reliability.

          Reply
  9. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Looks like the main difference from the concept is substantially smaller diameter wheels and tyres. “Meanwhile back in the real world” stuff, but it makes a big difference.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Agreed. The concept gave stronger impressions of “Golf GTI”, with more European proportions.

      Reply
    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Agreed. The concept gave stronger impressions of “Golf GTI”, with more European proportions.

      Reply
  10. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Z#/media/File:Honda_600.jpg

    I suspect that the progenitor is mostly likely the Honda Z from 1973

    It came in a 360 cc version and a 600 for export models. I had a Z360 in 1978 in Tokyo and it was a hoot

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Z

    Reply
    1. Scoutdude Avatar
      Scoutdude

      I’d say it more closely resembles the N600 and N360 than the Z versions with the big back side windows. I had a N600 for about a year, it is kind of like driving a go cart on the street.

      Reply