Second-generation Honda N-ONE

The Honda N-ONE, a chic and casual kei car that mimics the iconic N360 of the past, is now on its second generation and this new model picks up where the previous model left off while taking advantage of its new style, new interior, and new tech that will cater the youth demographics looking for a small car to live with.

The new Honda N-ONE, priced at a reasonable 1,454,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, is the second generation of the neo-classical kei car that caught the attention of many since the previous model made a surprising appearance of, well, let's say a blockbuster that involves a boy and a girl who can change the weather. Did you get it? No? Okay, let's talk about the new model.

The new model is almost as similar to the previous model it replaces, meaning it still carries the same N360-inspired design as the original so you can't really tell the differences between them. Like most kei cars offering different styles to choose from; the new N-ONE is available in three different flavors; the base and vanilla-ish Original, the more luxurious Premium variant, and for the first time, a sporty RS variant for those who want some more fun. Either way, it's still the new N-ONE you are facing now.

Step inside and you will notice that the new interior now boasts a minimalist approach which rather worries some drivers behind the wheel, but don't worry though, you can still toy around the buttons around the car because user-friendliness is what the new N-ONE is made for. For the first time, the new N-ONE features a rear seat notification displayed on the dashboard so you will get notified about what's going on at the back, which is somewhat weird for some drivers. On the comfort side, it still fits up to four people and it has decent boot space for groceries and deliveries.

Depending on the variant, the new N-ONE is mated to an S07B 660cc DOHC 3-cylinder engine in naturally aspirated and turbo configurations. All variants are mated to a CVT gearbox that results in a 23kmpl combined fuel economy per WLTC Mode standards while the RS is mated exclusively with the 6-speed manual gearbox that delivers a 21.6kmpl of combined fuel economy per WLTC Mode standards.

What about handling? With the MacPherson struts on the front, Torsion bar stabilizers all over, Rack and Pinion Electric Power Steering, and other stuff underneath it, the new N-ONE works and feels like what a kei car should and in terms of safety, the new N-ONE now comes with Honda SENSIS functions as standard, corresponding to Support Car S Wide standards. The RS variant, meanwhile, now comes with Adaptive Cruise Control and LKAS for the first time in a 6MT kei car.

Is the new N-ONE better than the previous model it replaces?

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.