Honda E

The Honda E is how Big Red announced its entry into the electric car market in the UAE. Where other manufacturers are focusing on big, bulky crossovers and SUVs in the EV space, Honda chose to go small with the 2021 Honda E. It’s an urban hatchback that drives on electric power. An electric motor sits over the rear axle, sending it 132hp and 315Nm. Honda claims the E can sprint to the ton in eight seconds flat, which should make for a spirited drive. Apart from the obvious, the 2021 Honda E is an epitome of modern technology. You get cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, all-LED lighting, enormous screens inside, a host of electronics for safety and driver assistance, and a cabin which focuses on sustainability through the use of unconventional materials. Although design is subjective, the Honda E does look cutesy with its round lights, almost no overhangs on either end, gloss-finished front fascia where the grille would have been, and an air of playfulness to it that’s hard to resist. The car’s rear bench does not have a split, folding down to unlock more cargo space. Colour-matched seat belts and centre console along with faux wood on the dashboard make the cabin a lively place to be in. Out of the dashboard’s four screens, the outermost ones work as rear-view mirrors. The monolithic screen in between is split into a driver instrument cluster and infotainment centre, with other crucial functions accessed via neatly laid-out buttons on the flat dash top as well as the centre console. Overall, the 2021 Honda E looks like something that will set the tone for future urban hatchbacks in the UAE.