Local testing of Honda Australia's first electric vehicle, the Super-One, has begun ahead of the model's showroom arrival in 2026.
The 2026 Honda Super-One has arrived in Australia for local testing and validation ahead of its launch in the second half of next year.
Based on the Honda N-One e 'kei' car, but bigger in size and exceeding the 47kW output limit, the Super-One will be classed as a fully-fledged passenger model, and meet design requirements of such vehicles.
Still clad in a camouflage wrap, the Super-One will be Honda Australia’s first production electric vehicle (EV) available to buyers, and measures “less than 3.6 metres long and less than 1.6m wide”, according to the brand.
This makes it smaller than potential rivals like the BYD Atto 1 (3990mm long, 1720mm wide) and Hyundai Inster (3825mm long, 1610mm wide), and even tinier still than a Fiat 500e (3631mm long, 1683mm wide).
However, unlike the 500e, the Honda Super-One feature four doors and a more practical, box-like body that liberates more rear-seat headroom.
Honda is yet to detail powertrain specifics, but the Super-One will be powered by a single electric motor that drives the front axle.
Battery size and driving range are also still to be confirmed, but as a city-focused EV, driving distance is expected to be lower than 300km.
For reference, the N-One e features a 30kWh battery for a 300km driving range, but only produces a 47kW output.
Key to the Super-One’s feature set – and not matched by any other outside of the $115,000 before on-road costs Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, is a simulated gear shifter that promises to increase driver involvement.
The Super-One will also pipe in fake engine noise to increase aural sensation.
While all cars undergo a level of Australian tuning, to ensure the correct advanced driver safety systems calibration and small tweaks like radio tuning, the Super-One will feature ride and handling changes informed by local conditions.
According to Honda, the brand is “committed to ensuring the fun and nimble EV is the right fit for Australian roads”.
“Honda is renowned for our attention to detail and reliability,” said Honda Australia President and CEO Jay Jospeh in October when the Super-One was confirmed for local showrooms.
“That’s why the Honda Super-One will launch in Australia following completion of a local testing program.”
Full details of the 2026 Honda Super-One, including pricing, will be announced closer to the model’s on-sale date in the latter half of next year.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
