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2026 Honda Super-One review: Quick drive

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Honda’s electrifying a down-under icon! We snagged a sneak peek – a ridiculously brief, utterly tantalizing steer – of their upcoming Super-One EV at Honda’s top-secret Japanese proving ground. Imagine a pocket-sized powerhouse, a boxy bolt of lightning set to redefine urban cool in Australia. First impressions? Prepare to be charmed.

WATCH: Paul’s Honda Tech Day video, including Super-One drive!

Forget another quirky Kei car destined only for Japan. This Honda concept is a sneak peek at Australia’s electric future! Confirmed: what you see here is the blueprint for Honda’s very first fully electric vehicle, hitting Aussie shores in the latter half of 2026. Prepare to be electrified!

"From the land of impeccable engineering and understated brilliance, a seismic shift: This Japanese automaker, a name synonymous with fuel-sipping hybrids and family-friendly SUVs, is ripping up the rule book and betting big on… well, something utterly unexpected."

Three laps. That’s all we got. Three tantalizing, tightly-leashed circuits to answer one burning question: Can this spark plug of an EV charm its way into Aussie hearts (and wallets), resurrecting a brand in the process? Forget sensible shoes; does this box of electric tricks actually deliver a thrill?

"Or is it a misguided moonshot, destined to crash and burn in a land ruled by budget-friendly behemoths from the East?"

How much does the Honda Super-One cost?

Honda Australia is playing coy with the price tag, a familiar tactic. Officially, all they’re whispering is: expect it to undercut the Civic.

Forget "cheaper." The 2025 Honda Civic e:HEV L demands $49,900, ready to roll. To even sniff at competition, the Super-One needs to obliterate that price point. We’re talking a different universe of affordability.

The true electric showdown isn’t against a $50k hybrid. It’s a head-to-head clash with the affordable EVs flooding the market, a battleground where China currently reigns supreme.

Forget gas prices! The electric car revolution is heating up, with BYD’s Dolphin Essential leading the charge at a stunning $29,990 (before on-roads). MG’s 4 Excite enters the arena at $36,990, but hold on! BYD just dropped another bombshell: the Atto 1, starting at a jaw-dropping $23,990 plus on-road costs. The future is electric, and it’s suddenly way more affordable.

Honda Australia risks a swift burial for the Super-One if they dare price it north of $35,000. At that point, it becomes a showroom ghost. Why settle for Honda’s compact offering when a slightly longer walk unlocks the doors to spacious, Chinese-made EVs boasting superior range, all for the same price? The Super-One’s fate hinges on staying competitively priced.

Forget "cheaper than a Civic." That’s marketing fluff. To actually compete, this car needs to undercut the MG 4’s price point. Otherwise, it’s DOA.

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What is the Honda Super-One like on the inside?

The cabin in our prototype drive is expected to be very close to the final production car.

Imagine a cockpit sculpted entirely around you. The first clue? Aggressive, body-hugging sports seats. In the concept car, they flaunted a durable, two-tone fabric, but with a mischievous wink: an asymmetrical blue pattern splashed acrossyourside only.

The dashboard is a sleek, horizontal expanse, offering an unobstructed panorama of the road ahead. Gone are the traditional dials, replaced by a vibrant, all-digital display. A compact screen houses a sporty triple-gauge cluster right in front of the driver, while a central, floating tablet provides seamless infotainment access.

Thank heavens, Honda hasn’t surrendered to the touchscreen overlords! Climate control gets real, tactile knobs and buttons – a refreshing blast of common sense in a world of digital distractions. The steering wheel? Familiar Honda, yes, but spy that glorious, oversized purple "BOOST" button nestled right where your thumb craves it. Prepare for liftoff.

As for practicality? Forget it.

"Think of it as a stylish escape pod for four. The rear seats? Best for quick jaunts; upright posture encouraged. This ride’s built for zipping, not sprawling."

The boot? Let’s just say packing light is non-negotiable. Think designer handbag, not weekend getaway. This is a champion of city streets, not cross-country expeditions.

However, the SUV craze often lacks a rational basis. For city dwellers prioritizing practicality and efficiency, a more compact car simply makes sense.

What’s under the bonnet?

Honda’s playing it close to the vest, keeping the juiciest details under wraps. The burning questions remain unanswered: How big is that battery beast? What kind of raw power are we talking from the motor? And just how fast can we juice this thing up?

This is the core information buyers need to make a decision, and without it the Super-One is just a concept.

Think of it as a Japanese ‘Kei’ car, unleashed. Born from that efficient mold, this export model sheds the constraints of its origin. Imagine it, stretching just beyond the Kei car’s tight borders to a nimble 3.6 meters in length and a slender 1.6 meters in width. The best part? It throws off the shackles of Japan’s 47kW power limit and roars to life.

Get ready, Aussie drivers! The highly anticipated Honda Super-One is blazing a trail to Australia, slated for release in the latter half of 2026. But before it hits showrooms, Honda Australia is putting it through its paces on local roads. This rigorous testing program ensures the Super-One’s ride, handling, and cutting-edge safety systems are perfectly calibrated for Aussie conditions. Prepare for a driving experience engineered for down under.

Forget horsepower figures for now. Honda’s electric prototype boasts a "Boost Mode" – a digital playground where a simulated seven-speed gearbox meets a piped-in engine roar. Will drivers embrace this auditory illusion, or crave tangible performance? Most are probably waiting to see how far this electric dream can actually travel.

Whispers on the wind hint at a 295km range, a tantalizing possibility! But until Honda unveils the official WLTP figure, it remains just that a captivating whisper.

How does the Honda Super-One drive?

We had a very brief, three-lap drive of a pre-production Super-One at a private proving ground.

Our brief track dance was… a head-scratcher. Let’s be clear: this machine isn’t chasing lap records. Power? Adequate. Sluggish? Not quite. Think of it as a pocket-sized smile generator, a grin on wheels. Quirky? Absolutely. Endearing? Without a doubt. It’s a lovable oddball that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you.

Honda just unleashed its inner beast. Forget subtle enhancements – the new Boost Mode is a shot of pure adrenaline, ripped straight from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s high-octane philosophy. This isn’t a polite power nudge; it’s a full-throttle sensory overload. Prepare for liftoff.

The cabin awakens with a surprisingly cool, synthetic engine note a sonic deception that’s undeniably engaging. Suddenly, you’re in command of a phantom gearbox, its simulated gears dancing beneath your fingertips via steering-wheel-mounted paddles.

The simulated downshifts aren’t just sounds; they’re ghostly echoes through the frame, a phantom pulse mimicking a beating heart beneath the metal skin. It’s pure fabrication, yet utterly captivating.

Its Kei-car DNA screams from its boxy silhouette. You’d wager it’s tippy, ready to roll at the slightest curve, but surprise! A low-mounted EV battery and subtly widened stance deliver a surprisingly grounded and agile experience.

The prototype clung to the asphalt with tenacious grip, while the torque surged instantaneously, transforming the Boost Mode into a warp drive. Piloting this quirky contraption was an exercise in gleeful absurdity.

Squeezing into the driver’s seat felt a tad like wrestling with a stubborn glove. Each turn of the wheel brought my elbow into a rather intimate encounter with the door. It was a quirky sensation, like piloting a shrunken Land Rover Defender, its narrow frame struggling to contain seats positioned a hair too wide for comfort.

"The real verdict? We’ll need to unleash it on Aussie asphalt for a proper flogging before we can truly understand its soul."

Is the Honda Super-One safe?

The Honda Super-One has not been crash-tested by ANCAP.

Honda Australia is aiming for nothing less than a four-star safety rating – a bold yet attainable goal, considering the vehicle’s compact size and projected affordability.

Crucially, Honda has confirmed the Super-One will be a full-factory import, engineered to meet all Australian Design Rules (ADRs).

Forget the grey market gamble! Unlike those ‘grey import’ Kei cars now tangled in red tape over safety standards (ADR 85), Honda’s bringing this one in legit. No compliance headaches, just pure driving pleasure.

We expect a full suite of modern safety aids, but Honda has not yet confirmed the final list.

childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Honda Super-One

Forget practicalities, forget fuel economy. The Honda Super-One? Pure, unadulterated driving bliss.

In a world of numb, heavy, and appliance-like EVs, this thing feels like a go-kart.

Forget sterile silence. The "Boost Mode" isn’t just some tacked-on tech demo; it’s a shot of adrenaline straight to your senses. On paper, the simulated engine roar, ghost shifts, and vibra-tingling chassis sound utterly ridiculous. But behind the wheel? Pure, unadulterated fun. It’s a playful rebellion against the appliance-like feel of its competitors, injecting a crucial dose of raw, visceral connection that they simply can’t match.

Beneath its Kei-car silhouette lurks a surprising agility. The tall, narrow frame belies a planted feel, thanks to a low-slung EV battery and aggressively flared, wide-track stance. Forget breakneck speeds; this is about extracting maximum joy from every mile. Prepare for a grin-inducing commute – this EV is a masterclass in "slow car fast" thrills.

Forget the adrenaline rush of those three perfect laps. Forget the test track fantasy. Here’s the cold, hard truth: all that roaring fun evaporates the instant Honda slaps a ludicrous price tag on this thing.

VFACTS delivers a knockout punch. Honda’s taken a 20% year-to-date beating. The EV passenger car segment they’re bravely entering? It’s cratered – a staggering 53.6% dive. Forget sedans; everyone’s chasing SUVs. The sole survivor in the micro-car arena? The Kia Picanto, fueled by petrol and one irresistible draw: its bargain-basement price.

Forget playful electric runabouts. The Super-One enters a cage fight with the BYD Atto 1 (from $23,990) and MG 4 (from $36,990). They boast five seats, practical cargo space, and reliable range figures. The Super-One? A cozy four-seater with a glorified laptop compartment for luggage.

To escape footnote status, this Honda needs audacity, not sensibility. Forget undercutting the Civic. Price it at $38,000, and watch buyers stampede towards the MG 4’s siren song of space and range, leaving Honda in the dust.

The Super-One’s fate hangs on a razor’s edge: price. To truly ignite the market, it needs a sticker shock that throws down the gauntlet. Imagine buyers wrestling with this choice: the sensible, cavernous allure of a Chinese EV, or the pulse-quickening thrill of the Super-One, both vying for the same $30,000 in their wallet. Miss that mark, and it’s destined to be a niche novelty, a plaything for a select few die-hard Honda enthusiasts.

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