Honda e:N1 launched in Malaysia – 204 PS/310 Nm EV HR-V with 412 km WLTP range; one variant, RM149,900

Honda Malaysia has launched its first all-electric vehicle in the country, with the e:N1 making its official debut earlier this morning. The B-segment SUV, which was first shown here last December at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS), arrives here as a CBU unit, built by Dongfeng Honda Automobile in China.

We’ve driven the Honda e:N1 – read our first drive report on the battery-electric model, here.

First up, the pricing – the Honda e:N1 is priced at RM149,900, on-the-road without insurance, with the battery and entire EV drive system covered by an eight-year/160,000 km warranty. While an exact number was not specified, HM said that the e:N1 will be available only in a limited quantity, with the above pricing being on a first-come, first-served basis.

Measuring in at 4,380 mm long, 1,790 mm wide and 1,592 mm tall, with a 2,610 mm-long wheelbase, the e:N1 is almost identical to the HR-V in terms of dimensions. It sits on the automaker’s front-wheel drive e:N Architecture F platform, which features a high rigidity body structure and a low centre of gravity in its design.

Honda e:N1 launched in Malaysia – 204 PS/310 Nm EV HR-V with 412 km WLTP range; one variant, RM149,900

Design-wise, the e:N1 looks very similar to the HR-V, save for the closed front end that houses the charging port door, a new white “H” badge to symbolise electrification and a Honda script on the rear tailgate in place of the usual brand mark.

Exterior equipment includes multi-spoke 18-inch dual-tone alloys (wrapped with 225/50 profile tyres), auto on/off LED headlights, LED DRLs and LED front fog lamps. The kit list also includes front LED sequential turn signals, LED rear combination lights and a tail light strip as well as a shark fin antenna.

Motive power is provided by a front-mounted AC synchronous motor. The three-in-one unit, which integrates the motor, power drive unit and gearbox, produces 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 310 Nm of torque from 0-4,621 rpm. With drive sent to the front wheels, performance figures include a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.

The motor is juiced by a 96-cell 68.8 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, which sits on the floor of the vehicle. It offers up to 412 km of WLTP-rated travel (500 km on the NEDC standard). In terms of charging, the e:N1 supports DC CCS2 charging at up to 78 kW, where it takes around 45 minutes for the battery to be brought from a 10% to 80% state-of-charge.

As for AC, the Malaysian Honda brochure lists 10 kW as the maximum charging rate (it’s 11 kW for the OBC on the base European e:Ny1), with which it will take six hours to completely fill the battery. Other relevant numbers are a 1,662 kg kerb weight, which makes it 269 kg heavier than the hybrid HR-V, and a boot space offering 344 litres of volume, with the rear seats in place.

Inside, the e:N1 features leather seats, with the front driver’s seat being an eight-way powered unit. While the cabin retains most of the HR-V’s general lines, the centre console has been redesigned to accommodate a vertically-oriented 15.1-inch Advanced Touch Display Audio touchscreen panel with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

The display integrates a three-section presentation to ensure seamless connectivity and user-friendly operation. The top section houses essential infotainment features, while the middle zone provides access to vehicle status information and audio controls, with the bottom section dedicated to air conditioning settings.

The e:N1 also gets a 10.25-inch TFT multi-information display, with the cowl from the regular HR-V omitted. Other items include dual-zone air-conditioning with rear AC vents, an auto dim rear view mirror, ambient lighting and door line illumination.

The car is also equipped with a six-speaker audio system, a 15 watt wireless mobile phone charger and four USB ports, two located in front (one Type-A, one Type C) and two at the rear (both Type-C).

As for safety and driving assistance kit, the e:N1 is equipped with six airbags (dual front, side and side curtain) airbags. n), VSA, hill start assist, front/rear parking sensors, a reverse camera and an reverse auto tilt feature for the side view mirrors.

There is of course Honda Sensing, which brings along Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW), Auto High-Beam (AHB), Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (ACC with LSF) and Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN).

New to the Sensing suite is rear cross traffic alert, and the automaker’s LaneWatch camera-based system has been replaced by a blind spot monitor, making the e:N1 the first Honda here to be equipped with it and RCTA since the Odyssey.

Three exterior colours are available for the e:N1, these being Platimum White Pear, Aqua Topaz Metallic and Urban Grey Pearl. For Malaysia, there are two interior colours, black and an off-white scheme, the latter specific to the Aqua Topaz Metallic.

There’s also a small set of optional accessories available for the car. These range from door visors, rear panel lining and door handle protectors to a 11 kW Kineta wall box AC charger.

As previously reported, the e:N1 will only be available from eight dealerships across the Peninsular, and they are Accord Auto, HZN Cars and Tiong Nam Motor in Selangor, Peringgit Sri Motor in Kuala Lumpur, Ban Hoe Seng Auto in Perak, Vivahill Auto in Penang, Ban Lee Heng Motor in Negeri Sembilan and Kah Motor Co in Tebrau, Johor.