With EVs trickling down to more affordable segments though, some are seeing value in offering products that would be desirable regardless of powertrain. Perhaps the best example yet is the new Honda e Advance, which packs more personality than any other car in its class and features an interior layout unlike anything else on the road.
The Honda e Advance is a fully electric compact car designed first and foremost to appeal to style-conscious city dwellers. A next-gen look with a nod to the past, the Honda e is designed to impress. And impress it does. With its appalling exterior, the Honda e looks like no other. It is a car that never fails to attract attention, looking almost the same at the back as it does at the front with its circular lights and lack of a grille.
Interior Design of Honda e Advance
Having a sneak at the interior, we have the dual-screen digital dashboard that keeps us informed, entertained, and connected to the things we love, giving an intuitive control over a range of intelligent applications and services. The screens can also be personalized for ultimate usability. There is no center console, so the interior feels even wider. This sense of spaciousness is enhanced by the walk-through flat floor in the front and rear of the cabin. Settle into the comfortable seats and enjoy the full-screen instrument panel, it really feels like a smooth journey. The trim is simple but effective. It’s a combination of the faux wood on the dashboard, plastic, and material on the seat covers and door cards that feel like the best bits of a DFS showroom. At the extreme edges, you have two screens for the digital wing mirrors. They do take some getting used to, but they provide more angles of viewing for the driver, so they are not too bad. Honda wanted to make the cabin more like a lounge, with its comfy seats and soft fabrics and other materials, making it a very relaxing place to be.
Exterior Design of Honda e Advance
The minimalist flush door handles and lack of wing mirrors, enhance its sleek looks. So does the smooth surfaces, especially the stepless A-pillars and crease-free panels. The round LED headlights are thoroughly modern, but at the same time feel quite retro. They give the car a friendly face and plenty of personalities. The charging port is mounted on the glass panel above the bonnet. It is more convenient in that location, but Honda is also making a statement with this design element about the car’s electric nature. The contemporary feel continues to the cabin.
Engine And Battery of Honda e Advance
There’s a single motor on the rear axle, paired with a 35.5 kWh liquid-cooled battery pack in the middle. There is a sportier sensation coming through, just as the motors add 154 PS and 315 Nm of torques into the mix. It is not actually that fast, but the Honda e Advance sure does have some poke when you need it. You can improve the response by choosing to drive it in ‘Sport Mode’. At its best, you can leap from 0 to 100 km/hr in 8.0 seconds with a top speed of 160 km/hr.
Honda has done a fine job at getting the 50:50 weight distribution spot on, which means these provide you with plenty of zesty driving moments if you’re on a decent road. You can get an 80% charge in around 30 minutes using a CCS2 DC rapid charger and stream a movie onto the dashboard screen while you wait. It has a ridiculously tight turning circle, again, perfect for those city streets, but it is no slouch on the motorway either. It can keep up with traffic without a problem. The lack of engine noise and wind rushing past the exterior mirrors make the experience quieter and more relaxing than in most cars of this size, adding to the easy and enjoyable driving experience.
Features And Specs of Honda e Advance
The dashboard totally subverts any expectations, being hugely screen-heavy with a driver display, two 12.3 inch touchscreens, all bookended by two displays for the feeds from the rear-facing cameras that replace wing mirrors. Honda’s Connect system, satellite navigation come as standard, as well as DAB radio, Bluetooth, and, most importantly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Internet browsing is also possible. We can also plug our game console in and play games on the Honda e’s screens. There are numerous ports for connecting various devices too, from power sockets to HDMI ports and the usual USB interfaces. The front wheels can turn up to 50 degrees, facilitating a turning radius of 4.3 meters at the wheels, or a full U-turn in 8.6 meters kerb to kerb. The safety kit is impressive with a comprehensive range of measures including a full set of airbags, a stability program, and assisted braking.
Price of Honda e Advance
Honda asks for the basic version of the e at least ₹ 30.8 lakhs. The Advance version with 154 hp costs ₹ 33.5 lakhs. It’s an ideal city car that can also hold its own when venturing out of its urban habitat, but its limited range won’t suit everyone. From the cute round headlights and taillights to the short front and rear overhangs, it’s got hints of retro design but looks completely futuristic.
