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.

Honda N-ONE - 2018 minor change

Honda's chic kei car, the N-ONE, is now on its 2018 model year and it has gained a facelift to make sure the stylish member of the N cars remains as stylish as it was first launched four years ago. So, what's new with the 2018MY N-ONE?

2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

With this new minor change, the new N-ONE now comes with four unique styles to choose from starting from the simple N-ONE variant which features a simple design and interior that is basic indeed for an entry-level model, then followed by the N-ONE Select featuring a retro-inspired exterior design and a wooden trim on the interior, the Premium with a stylish front face and a dark interior that matches its premium styling, and the sporty RS model featuring a racy exterior design and an interior a budding car enthusiast would get started with.

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

All new N-ONE models now come with 2 charging USB jacks to charge your favorite mobile devices, UV-proof windows, and sound insulation on the front windscreen, making this kei car more convenient than ever. As always, the 660cc engine remains untouched and it returns a fuel efficiency from 25.8km/L for turbocharged models up to 28.4km/L for non-turbo models, which is still fuel efficient as the customers hoped for, although it still won't cut its rivals from Daihatsu and Suzuki. As for handling, it still as above average as before and when you prompt for the Lowdown variant, it's even more livelier in the bends which dealing with a possible consequence of thudding while going over the speed humps, which is either a blessing and a curse.

If you go for a safety package, the N-ONE will provide some safety features such as City Braking Active System, side seat air bag system for front seat, and side curtain air bag system. Couple this package with the Emergency Stop Signal and Hill start assist function, the result is a much safer car that is a certified Safety Support Car S Basic.

The 2018MY N-One starts at 1,200,960 Japanese Yen (Php 533,000), which remains a fair value for kei car standards. So, which N-ONE will you pick?

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda N-ONE

Can I talk about the Honda N360 now? Good. You see, over the years, Honda's first ever kei car, the N360 is quite a charm when it was launched in the 1960's. Now however, Honda Motor Co., Ltd made themselves that what we called it "the Honda N360 of the 21st Century"

This isn't it. It's still the N360...

Actually, the one we've pictured above isn't it. This is the Honda N360 from the 1960's. Produced from 1967 to 1972, the N360 is the brand's first kei car; small in size but big on fun. The N in the N360 name stands for norimono, which is Japanese for vehicle. The design of the N360 though looks similar to the classic and original Mini, perhaps this is more of a Japanese take on the Mini Cooper in the 60's.

2013 Honda N ONE

2013 Honda N ONE

This is the new version. Honda says that they took some inspiration from the old one. This is known as the N-ONE, the next chapter of the Honda N series kei cars since the Palette-rival N BOX and the more convenient N BOX+. The N stands for "New Next Nippon Norimono" and that's because Honda's trying to change the kei car paradigm. Come to think of it, when you put the classic N360 to the modern N-ONE together, they look exactly the same, except for one thing.

The old car, the N360, is smaller, which means, within my height, I can't fit inside because the N360 has 1346mm of height. Happily, the new N-ONE is taller than the N360, meaning I can fit myself in and take it for a joyride. Bye!

I've actually saw one of these in last year's Tokyo Motor Show but that was just a concept. This is the 1,150,000 Yen finished product that Japanese customers would actually buy. Under the hood lies the 660cc inline 3-cylinder water-cooled horizontal position (S07A), which produces 58PS of power, mated to a CVT and an idling stop system that promises a JC08-rated fuel consumption of 27.0km/L. That's a Daihatsu Move territory if you know what I mean. Get it? It's TNP27! It has the same fuel economy of the Daihatsu Move! Don't get too conscious though, because they did have a different variant of the N-ONE called the N-ONE PREMIUM, a more stylish version of the N-ONE and also, both the standard and the Premium variants does offer a turbocharged version of the S07A engine.

2013 Honda N ONE interior

2013 Honda N ONE interior

Just like the old N360, this is like a college student who realized a dream of becoming a representative of the  famed basketball team of his college. It feels a bit more civilized inside and out. And it's easy to park too as well because it's small. Considering it as a poor man's modern Mini, the N-ONE still looks like the modern Mini and when you parked them together, it does look a bit similar. Sure, because of its 1,150,000 Yen pricing for the entry-level model, that's about pricey-wicey than the entry-level Mira Cocoa and the Suzuki Lapin but they're like fashion statements from Shibuya. Eccentric, strange, odd, and cool.

If I'm driving one of these with optional features, especially the one with the i-MID on it, I would never ever get out of it right until the part that I ran out of petrol. Still, I love this modern version and I would never ever get out of it. A modern take of the N360 with the TNP27 fuel economy. Simply clever for this norimono.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.