Honda e:NY1 vs. Volvo C40: The results are clear

In its 9/2024 issue, Auto Motor und Sport (AMS) sent two compact electric crossovers Volvo C40 as Recharge Single Motor Ultimate and Honda e:Ny1 in a direct comparison competition. In the end, according to testers, one of the two models is better than the other in almost all aspects. And especially when it comes to payment performance, the authors find strong words for this: “Very Good vs. Unacceptable”.

The Volvo comes with more power and is powered by 185 kW (252 hp) at the rear axle. The front-wheel drive car from Japan, on the other hand, has 150 kW (204 hp) and at 4.39 meters is slightly shorter than the C40 at 4.44 meters. The Volvo battery has a total capacity of 79 kWh, while the Honda battery has a capacity of 62 kWh. Interestingly, the e:Ny1 is more economical in the test with a consumption of 25.4 kWh than the C40, which requires 26.9 kWh – although the WLTP values ​​suggest otherwise.

That doesn’t seem bad for Honda at first, but at the charging station test users found the charging performance very slow with the Japanese. While the Volvo charges with 209 kW at its peak and from 10 to 80 percent with an average of 134 kW, the Japanese only manages a maximum of 72 kW and an average of 64 kW. While the C40 recharged at a distance of 100 km in 8 minutes, the e:Ny1 needed 21 minutes. Honda’s charging behavior should protect the battery, but it certainly does not save the nerves of those charging.

At least Honda is cheap

In the last bill, Honda sees almost no country. From the point of view of the testers, the Volvo performs better in terms of handling, comfort and safety, and is also ahead in terms of bodywork and driving behavior. Although Honda didn’t intentionally create an electric car so that passengers wouldn’t get sick that quickly, Honda recently revealed to us their approach to things that is at least unusual. With 355 to 310, the property rating goes clear to China-Sweden. At least the Japanese got a draw in the environmental category – and finally, a small win in the cost category. At just under 48,000 euros, the Honda is at least slightly cheaper than the Volvo, where the test car costs more than 61,000 euros.

In conclusion, AMS gives the Japanese manufacturer a little hope that its crossover with a hard-to-pronounce name can sell more: “The new E:Ny1 has no chance against the C40. What’s clear: even a lower charging capacity will greatly reduce its popularity.”

Source: Auto Motor und Sport (9/2024, pp. 48 to 55) – “Second start”