2026 Honda Super-N EV detailed ahead of New Zealand debut

The Honda Super-N has been unveiled for the UK market, previewing production-ready versions of the small electric city car that has been locked in for a New Zealand launch later this year.

Set to go on sale in the United Kingdom from July priced at 'under £20,000' (NZ$42,000), the UK-spec Super-N provides a strong indication of what could be offered locally when it arrives in the second half of 2026.

Honda says the city-focused five-door hatchback EV has been developed with a strong emphasis on driving fun, blending retro-inspired design with new tech aimed at making electric driving more engaging.

The Super-N draws inspiration from the 1980s Honda City Turbo II, with a boxy shape, wide stance, and iconic styling elements including chunky bumpers and aero ducts.

It rides on a platform derived from Honda’s Japanese-market kei cars, helping keep weight down – a key factor in delivering what the brand describes as an “infectious sense of fun”.

Inside, the cabin continues the retro-modern theme with blue highlights and ambient lighting that changes colour when performance modes are activated. Overseas buyers will also be offered extensive personalisation options, including two-tone paint finishes and body graphics.

Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor producing between 47kW and 70kW, depending on the drive mode. While those figures are modest on paper, Honda is aiming to differentiate the Super-N with its ‘BOOST Mode’. This temporarily lifts output to 70kW and pairs it with a simulated seven-speed transmission and artificial engine sound.

The idea is to replicate the experience of a petrol-powered hot hatch, similar to what Hyundai has achieved with the Ioniq 5 N.

Honda UK says the system delivers “the instant response of an EV with the emotional connection of a combustion engine vehicle”.

In UK specification, the Super-N offers up to 320km of city driving range, with a combined WLTP range of 206km when traveling at higher speeds.

Honda do not currently offer a full electric model in New Zealand after the e-N1 SUV sold out and has not been restocked or replaced.

More details on the New Zealand-spec Super-N, including pricing and launch timing, are expected closer to its local arrival in the second half of 2026.