Street-wise battery baby in two $40k choices.

A COMPACT Honda electric car designed for city use will price with the big boys here.

The Honda Super-ONE stands as the first export-ready battery-fed car designed to meet the size restrictions required to meet Japan’s Kei micro-car class requirements.

However, here it has priced well above past ‘kei’ models, mostly from Suzuki and Daihatsu, that were stickered to appeal to budget-minded first car buyers and often stood as the cheapest new cars sold here.

Pricing that went live on Honda NZ’s website today shows the Super ONE won’t achieve that status.

It will come in two choices - a standard car and a Kuro model with styling embellishments, that will cost $41,900 and $44,900 respectively.

That puts in well below the electric MINI, the Mini-e, which commands $72,990 but also well above the Fiat 500e, which currently sells for $37,990 (this being a substantial discount on its full RRP of close to $65k) and the BMY Atto 1, which is a $30,990 car.

Super-ONE stands as Honda New Zealand’s second all electric pitch here, following a larger car, the e:N1.

That HR-V adjacent was a limited count consignment that slotted in at $52,000, which was special price well below that asked in other markets it sold in.

Super-ONE effectively takes the baton from the now-defunct Honda e, which also pitched as an A-segment (micro/light) electric hatchback, but is taller and more boxy. The Honda-e only came to NZ as a grey import.

Unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the production Super-ONE evolves from the Honda Super EV concept.

Honda’s four-seater measures less than 3.6m long and less than 1.6m wide and is promised as a playful drive experience standing as a fun and unique option for city-living people.

The city ethos is expected to be taken seriously: The car is totally tailored for dense urban environments, with tight-turning agility and light steering suited to narrow streets and busy parking spaces. The compact proportions and short overhangs are designed to make the car easy to manoeuvre while maintaining a confident stance.

Super-ONE has a 47kW single motor driving the front wheels and can manage roughly 270km on a charge.

It features a “Boost Mode”, allowing the driver to temporarily increase power for rapid acceleration. In a nod to traditional performance cues, the system also generates synthetic engine sounds that rise with the simulated gear shifts, creating a more engaging driving experience despite the EV drivetrain.

Battery capacity is unclear but it can hook up to a 50kW DC fast charger. It also features vehicle-to-home (V-2-H) capability.