Honda E Advance: UK owner thoughts + point-of-view driving and charging

We've had out Honda E Advance a few weeks and I wanted to share my thoughts and early impressions. I talk about what makes the car special, why it is awesome to drive, which aspects of it are irritating and why I prefer it to a Tesla Model 3 Performance (at the moment).

[@sloot69x]

People just seem to look at this cars negatives more than I think any other EV.It seems a great Car to me futuristic,stylish full of tech.In a boring world of SUV blandness its a breath of fresh air.

[@patrickfaleur6346]

My wife doesn’t like one pedal driving, so thanks, Honda for that button!

[@Peanutbutterjelly87]

Thank you, that was a really honest review. Cant wait for mine.

[@DaviDeXtA]

Regarding the flappy paddle issue. Hondas thinking goes something like this: they treated the paddles as direct replacements for an ICE with a semi automatic gear box. As you approach a corner, you smash down the gears using the “minus” paddle therefore increasing engine braking. If you think about it this way, it makes sense.

[@alanbenham4139]

Thanks for a super informative video

[@bd1586]

Thank you, very nice review! Can you please do a video about semi autonomous driving features like ACC, Lane Keep assist, etc.

[@nooooddy]

Yes! Will do this weekend.

[@simoenriquez6736]

Thank God for Honda E

[@chrisleeworthy6779]

Great video, thanks. You've had the E and the BMW i3, which do you prefer?

[@nooooddy]

I think the i3 is more refined but the Honda is more fun. The tech and build of the Honda feels marginally inferior to the BMW, the driving position of the i3 is a little higher and for me felt a little better. The i3 feels a little faster 0-30mph. However the Honda feels more planted and stable. The actual driving characteristics of the E feel more playful and fun. The i3 feels kinda studious and serious- which is fine if you just want something well behaved but I like the mischievousness of the E and the fact it has real driving character. It’s a hard comparison to make as they feel like very different cars but my wife has said she would prefer to have the i3. Maybe that’s ‘grass is greener’? Maybe she’s forgotten what it’s like to drive. I’ll try and make more E-related videos talking about it’s character and charm!

[@noiseboy395]

Such an awesome review...

[@marcs1212]

Its a city car so whats the point of saying the range is not like a Tesla - very irritating. Its not rushed out infact this car was already developed and made before the supposed launch of the Urban E, the car on the Honda stand was actually made for the show only as the E was already ready for production, Honda don't rush things to market.

[@nooooddy]

I will address these comments (and your irritation) in a further video. Irrespective of the market segment and average miles driven by folk, 100 mile range at this price point is not competitive. Comparing it to Tesla is extreme and I’m grateful for the extra info re production of the E. Thanks for commenting.

[@garden-Railway]

Really thinking of getting one , given that the camera rear view is a gimmick, given 240v socket is also , I can live without heated steeringwheel. The only things worth the extra ( advance ) brings is parking pilot and bigger wheels is it worth £2500 as neither are available as option . In particular the ride on 16inch wheels ?

[@curmudgeon_OG]

Great question. The standard is £1000 advance payment on motability and the advance is £2500, so an extra £10 per week (ish) over 3 years.

[@raptorpome2577]

I think you should call the car bonnie ..... Does it have active battery cooling / heating What speed does it charge at on the rapid charger KW plus what is the range if you travel at 70mph and does it have an heat pump for the heating in the winter. Thanks for your review 😉

[@sharpy2222]

I drove one at the dealer today and without pressing that one pedal driving button the pedals on the wheel did in fact activate it. Maybe yours needs an update?

[@curmudgeon_OG]

Using the paddles will increase or decrease the regenerative braking which is similar to one pedal mode but less severe. It is more like dropping down gears in a manual and using engine braking to slow but not stop you.

[@googlereviewer2743]

Did you have a chance to test drive the Mini Cooper Electric? I had a chance to test drive both the Honda-E as well as the Mini SE and I am completely torn between the two. I am currently driving a Tesla Model S (2018) and compared to these two cars I just cannot wait to get rid of my Tesla and get one of these but just trying to decide which one should I get? I live in London and it will be 90% city driving for me and my partner. Tesla as nice as they are but IMO are over-rated and the only thing I will miss about them is the supercharging network, other than that they're just soul-less and dull. AP is a joke to be honest! Great review btw.

[@Lorryquai]

Best review of them all. Now I have to consider if it’s worth it buying one.

[@02semiata]

Much rather have one pedal off so I’m glad it’s off by default. As EV try to go mainstream manufacturers want them to feel like a normal car

[@nooooddy]

Maybe an option in the menu to choose whether on or off by default would suit everyone?

[@curmudgeon_OG]

@@nooooddy Just like the memory function for different drivers. ps I think the minus is for use less fuel?

[@steve00alt70]

How do you afford such leases? People think too much about range

[@droneviking]

Don‘t quite understand why you bought it

[@Blueburger1]

Should of ordered the 16 inch 20% increase in range

[@garden-Railway]

Did you go for 16 inch wheels

[@Blueburger1]

Bought them separately

[@ripkorduk]

Honda say 10 miles more where you getting 20%

[@thathairyguy]

Why did you go over 80% though?! Bloody monster!! x

[@jsouto77]

I would only buy this because it looks quirky just as I did with a suzuki carry I once had, a smart roadster I once had , a ducati diavel that Ive had for the last 7.5 years (Its that good!!)..... this is just way expensive just for a bit of quirkiness and nothing else. All those screens are way overkill and do not justify the price tag. The tesla which we also have as a single screen that does all that and more with my only gripe is not having CarPlay.

[@James-rc1uu]

Just be grateful you can afford it, many can only wish of owning one.

[@nooooddy]

Pardon? What do you mean James?

[@plugsocket9432]

@@nooooddy You know exactly what James means. He is saying that you should be grateful that you can afford a £29,660 car even though you probably bought the car on PCP in which case the finance company actually owns the car. Other people don’t want to borrow money for a car and would rather buy a car used with cash after depreciation has taken place and they own the car out right. This means that if anything happens in people’s lives that the car on the driveway is theirs and can’t be taken away by Bailiffs. Autocar published an article today (16 November 2020) saying the ban on car repossessions will end on 31 January 2021 therefore there will be an increase in car repossessions by the finance companies due to people unable to make car payments (due to the virus). Other people just have different priorities in life and this isn’t being nasty. Have a nice day.

[@nooooddy]

@@plugsocket9432 Thanks for the clarification. In the video I make clear it’s a privilege that’s not wasted on me and that I’m mindful that my griping about little things is insignificant in comparison to the suffering that people are enduring with Covid, physically, economically, socially and psychologically. That being said I made the video of my thoughts. I didn’t invite people to comment on what they think my situation may be or to school me on gratitude or financial risk nor the horrors that are to come for a great many people in the coming months. For future reference. If I’m talking about something I don’t like about a car, how would you prefer I do it in a way to acknowledges my gratitude for being able to drive it?

[@curmudgeon_OG]

@@nooooddy You shouldn't even begin to justify why you are a 2 car family or how you spend your money. We as viewers don't know what you or your wife do for a living and neither should we. Great review of a car that you can afford and sláinte (health) or "sláinte is táinte" for the brave in pronunciation. In English we normally say health to enjoy when someone gets a new car.

[@blademanx]

@@plugsocket9432 23k now

[@jasonpickford4123]

The hilarious part of the title was that a Tesla is fun 😂😂😂

[@GeordiLaForgery]

thanks for this, love the way it looks but the range is too small.

[@sandokan66]

Much "personal nonsense" in this clip (sorry to say that). Also, the review could be for sure about 10 mins shorter if speaking was faster and without so much lag :P

[@nooooddy]

Thanks for the insightful comment and contributing to the internet being a great place to be. Keep up the great work and thanks for your interest and support 👍

[@sandokan66]

@@nooooddy ...well, otherwise you did a (almost) good job in this review :)

[@x675]

Omg’s, how much can one person nag? Pfff, man 😅 This is not a review anymore

[@s__c__o]

What did I just watch. Criticism is important but starting the first 15 mins of a video with is too much. And every word/sentence is overcomplicated. This gave me a headache.

[@nooooddy]

I hope your head feels better 😁

[@MartinHannett_]

This was hard to listen to - how cynical can one person be? Why did you bother buying it if all the quirks that make the car cool are just another thing for you to turn your nose up at? Moaning about things that don't really matter but doesn't mention the worst thing that plagues all new cars - all these cameras but there's no built in recording for crashes.