The Honda e is dead. Long live its memory.

[insightman]

Motor1 reported that production of the Honda e is ending in January 2024. The article correctly points out the car's two major sales impediments: price and range.

The Honda e was a technical marvel with its 5 video screens extending across the entire dashboard and its video side-mirrors. However, even though Honda started with a clean sheet of paper, the Honda e ended up heavier and slower than the electric retro-fit of MINI's gas-powered F56. The Honda e provided only slightly more range than the MINI Electric.

I wrote many letters to Honda, begging them to sell me a Honda e in the US. Sadly, Honda realized the US market wants larger SUVs and trucks, not smaller, economical, easy-to-park, easy-to-afford, fun-to-drive cars.

Now Honda has shown off its electric "Honda 0" (Honda Zero) concept cars, the Saloon and the Space-Hub. These cars, in my opinion, are not good looking. The stylists of the spunky Honda e must have been relocated to offices in Honda's basement.

I hope Sony's joint venture with Honda doesn't morph into something like these two concepts.

 

[Devavella]

I always loved how bold it looked inside, all those screens making it feel playful and futuristic. Even with its flaws, it showed how fun small electric cars could be.

 

[insightman]

I always loved how bold it looked inside, all those screens making it feel playful and futuristic. Even with its flaws, it showed how fun small electric cars could be.

And a turning circle of only 28.2 feet!

Sales of the Honda e across the pond never met Honda's expectations, so I must assume it wouldn't have been a success here in SUV-land either. I was probably the only person sending letters to multiple Honda executives, begging for a Honda e.

I'm grateful MINI bucked the SUVs-only trend because Honda and all other manufacturers refused to sell a small, sporty BEV in the US. My MINI Cooper SE is the most fun car I've owned in 60 years of driving sporty cars.

I did steal a feature from the Honda e and add it to my MINI. I like knowing when my car is activating the brake lights on its own due to regen braking. The Honda e had a dashboard icon that lit up along with the brake lights. I added a brake-light LED I can see in my MINI's rear-view mirror. It helps me tailor my driving so the MINI's brake lights aren't flashing on and off frequently.