Seriousness of evolution confirmed by riding the new "N-ONE"
The price of the new N-ONE ranges from 1,599,400 yen to 2,022,900 yen. Grades are Original/RS/Premium/Premium Tourer (photographed by the author)
Honda's new light car "N-ONE" released on November 20th has become a hot topic for "a full model change that does not change the exterior design significantly". The new N-ONE, which has undergone a major specification change for the first time in about eight years since the first model was introduced in 2012, has almost no changes in its appearance, and has been updated in terms of driving performance and advanced safety performance. I wonder if it is. I have had the opportunity to test drive, including the newly added “RS” grade equipped with a 6-speed MT, so let’s report.
The N-ONE belongs to the Honda "N Series", which has the light super height wagon "N-BOX", which is now the best-selling light wagon in Japan (In addition, the light tall wagon "N-WGN" and the light commercial vehicle " N-VAN”). It is a model that has been well received for its retro and lovely design and light and stable running due to its low overall height for a light tall wagon.
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The N-ONE, in particular, has been well-received by long-time Honda fans for its form inspired by the N360, which was a big hit in the 1960s. In addition, the fact that the grade "RS" with improved driving performance is set is also reminiscent of the N360, which once boasted overwhelming power performance. is recieving.
In particular, the specification that combines the FF turbo engine and 6-speed MT, which was added in this full model change, is a line apart from the N-BOX and N-WGN, which are now synonymous with popular cars. Although it belongs to the category of light tall wagon, it can be said that it is a special model that is strongly conscious of Honda's "driving".
N-ONE's new car sales, including registered cars, have been No. 1 for 3 consecutive years until 2019 and No. 1 for mini vehicles for 5 consecutive years (No. 1 for the first half of 2020). far from it. However, the setting of a light tall wagon that is “fun to drive” stands out as a unique presence that is unparalleled in the lineup of other manufacturers.
In this test drive, we had the opportunity to ride the sporty grade RS CVT equipped with a turbo engine and a 6-speed MT, as well as the base grade Original equipped with an NA (naturally aspirated) engine. got Both are FF cars.
The rear styling of the new N-ONE. The photo is an RS grade CVT model (photographed by the author)
The first thing that comes to mind when looking at the styling is the exterior design that Honda calls “timeless design”. The form that follows the basic configuration of the first model, such as "round (headlight), square (side form), trapezoidal (rear design)", is exactly the N-ONE that you always see on the street.
According to Honda's developers, they tried various new designs, but when they pursued the character of the N-ONE, which originated from the N360, they ended up "inheriting the silhouette of the first model." It is said that
There are some changes though. For example, the lower part of the front and rear bumpers has been changed to a slightly three-dimensional shape, creating a "struggle feeling" to express the fun of driving (although it is a change that you will not notice unless pointed out).
The shape and size of the front grille are slightly different between the original and the RS, but the RS grille, which has a larger mesh part and is surrounded by a plated molding, gives a more fearless impression. In addition, the shape of the fog lamps located on the left and right sides of the bumper has also been changed on the RS, giving it a more sporty look overall.
The yellow vehicle in the back of the photo is the RS 6MT specification, and the photo is the RS CVT specification. It features a sporty design (photographed by the author)
The headlights are easier to understand in terms of making you feel "changed". The lovely round eye lens is the same, but a new "daytime running lamp" is built in. The ring-shaped LED lamp not only lights up during the day, but also doubles as a blinker. Also, when lit at night, the central projector light also shines, and the expression (lighting) of the round eyes changes from time to time, which is interesting. Although you can't see it while driving, if you see an N-ONE running in the city, it will certainly be one of the points to distinguish between the previous generation and the new model.
What I would like to mention in the interior is the separate seat. The materials and colors differ depending on the grade, but all three specifications I tested this time were very comfortable to sit on. The cushions on the backrest and seat have moderate firmness, so the lower back does not sink easily. When I sit on a "soft" seat that sinks my waist and drive for a long time, I get chronic back pain. Then you can't concentrate on driving. In that respect, the N-ONE's front seat holds the back straight, so there is no need to worry about that.
RS sheet. The sporty coloring of black and orange gives a high sense of hold (photographed by the author)
It seems that the side support of the backrest is also improved from the seat adopted in the previous generation, and the feeling of holding it during cornering is also good. By the way, the driver's seat is also equipped with a "height adjuster" that can be adjusted in a range of 25 mm up and down, and it is possible to set the position according to the driver's physique. In addition, there is sufficient legroom, including in the rear seats, so even tall people can ride without feeling cramped.
The area around the instrument panel, which has a "minimal" design that eliminates waste, is very simple. A sense of unity and spaciousness are produced. The gauges are equipped with a tachometer and speedometer on the left, and a 3.5-inch TFT color multi-information display on the right.
The liquid crystal display on the right side displays various information such as possible distance, fuel consumption, outside temperature, etc. One of them is the "rear seat reminder" that was first adopted in the new model. It is a function that records the opening and closing history of the rear door, and if there is a history, it is a function that calls attention to misplacing luggage, etc., but it is surprisingly convenient. It is easy to prevent careless mistakes, such as leaving valuables in the luggage compartment while on the go, or leaving shopping items such as ingredients in the car for a long time.
G meter can also be displayed on the LCD monitor to the right of the meter. It is a function unique to the sporty RS (photographed by the author)
In addition, the RS is also equipped with functions that make driving more enjoyable, such as displaying the "G meter" that displays the acceleration of gravity during driving and the "boost meter" that indicates the boost pressure of the turbo.
In addition, the navigation monitor, which was moved to the top of the instrument panel and increased in size, shortened the distance to move the line of sight, making it very easy to see. In addition, it is also attractive that it is equipped with various convenient functions such as a fast charging compatible USB jack that can charge two smartphones at the same time, a tray and a small item box between the driver's seat and the passenger seat.
First try to run RS CVT specification. The installed engine is a 3-cylinder turbo that exhibits a maximum output of 64ps and a maximum torque of 10.6kgf m. The response of the accelerator is good, and it accelerates without stress from the start. The growth of the vehicle speed is so good that it does not make you feel that it is a 660cc kei car.
The suspension is stiff, but it doesn't feel bumpy even when driving over manhole covers or bumps in the road in the city. The same is true when turning left or right at an intersection, and the ride is surprisingly not bad. The feeling of contact between the tire and the road surface is easy to understand, and the setting has a solid feeling, and it is a seasoning that I personally like.
RS/CVT interior. The interior, which is based on black and decorated with orange, has a great texture (photographed by the author)
On highways, the RS really shines. When you step on the accelerator at the confluence and accelerate, the tachometer needle rises at once with the unique turbo engine sound, and you can easily reach the speed limit. Acceleration does not slow down even on steep climbs, and you can ride the flow of cars with plenty of room.
The suspension, which felt a little stiff in the city, shows its true value on highways where the speed range is high. Even when changing course at a certain high speed or turning a corner, the suspension is firm and there is little body roll, giving you a sense of security. Also, since the car body responds obediently to the rudder angle of the steering wheel, it is also nice to be able to trace the desired line.
This is probably due to the effect of the newly designed high-efficiency body based on Honda's unique platform "Center Tank Layout", which is also used in N-BOX. This patented technology, which places the fuel tank under the driver's seat, has achieved a low center of gravity that you wouldn't expect from a light height wagon. Combined with the torqueful engine performance, you can enjoy the light running like a small sports car.
Surprisingly, compared to the previous generation RS, the spring rate (hardness) of the spring has been lowered by 15% to make it softer. For that reason, by improving the roll rigidity by installing stabilizers in the front and rear, it has a comfortable ride while firmly following the road surface.
Both the RS and the Original are available in the S range, which allows you to enjoy sporty driving. The photo is around the shift of the original (photographed by the author)
All grades of the new N-ONE CVT-equipped model are equipped with the "S range" that improves accelerator response, and the RS also has special settings. I tried using it on the highway as a trial, but the running became much sportier.
Especially in the RS, the response from the start of stepping on the accelerator is more agile than in the D range by increasing the speed up to the middle accelerator opening. The original S range, which I rode later, also has a better response, but compared to the relatively mild setting, the response is clearly faster. If you like driving, you will be able to enjoy the agile driving style that makes good use of the accelerator on and off, such as on winding roads.
The "brake operation step-down mechanism" that supports shift down in conjunction with brake operation is also interesting (photographed by the author)
In addition, the "brake operation step-down mechanism" adopted for the first time is also excellent. When decelerating before a corner, this mechanism that downshifts simply by operating the brake pedal makes re-acceleration such as corner rise very smooth.
Finally, get on the attention-grabbing RS 6-speed MT specification. The area around the instrument panel is almost the same as the (RS) CVT specification, but the shift lever with the same design as Honda's sports car "S2000" creates a more sporty look.
The engine feeling and lightness of the body are the same as the CVT specification, but if you make good use of the 6-speed manual shift, you can enjoy a more lively drive. The touch of the shift lever is clicky, and the operation feeling is very direct.
The 6MT specification is attracting attention in the new N-ONE (photographed by the author)
Similar to the S660, a light 2-seater sports car, it has a close ratio up to 5th gear, so even the low 2nd gear can cover a speed range of about 30-60km/h, making it look like a sports car. You can feel like you are riding.
However, even with a turbo, the 660cc engine still has less torque than a sports car that exceeds a liter. I couldn't try it this time, but if you want a sporty ride on a steep uphill winding road, you may need to change gears frequently. However, the clutch pedal is very light, so even if you shift a lot, you won't feel tired.
The newly established "auto brake hold mechanism" is also a more convenient function for the 6-speed MT specification. This is a system that keeps the stopped state even if you take your foot off the brake pedal when stopping, and is standard equipment on all models. It is less tiring in traffic jams and waiting for traffic lights in the city, and the idling stop is also effective, so fuel efficiency is not sacrificed. This is a great feature especially for 6-speed MT specifications that operate three pedals such as accelerator, brake, and clutch.
"ACC (adaptive cruise control)" and "LKAS (lane keeping support system)" are operated with the switch on the left side of the steering wheel (photographed by the author)
In addition, the 6-speed MT specification is equipped with the first "ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)" and "LKAS (Lane Keeping Assistance System)" for 6MT mini vehicles. In particular, ACC, which accelerates and decelerates while measuring the distance to the vehicle in front, should be quite effective in traffic jams.
In addition, the tachometer of the 6-speed MT specification is equipped with a "shift indicator" that prompts you to shift up / down if the gear does not match the speed during ACC operation. As mentioned above, the area around the instrument panel is deceptively simple. However, in fact, detailed equipment for "running comfortably" is placed everywhere. This kind of user-first creation is probably one of the attractions of the new N-ONE.
The running of the base grade Original is impressive with its supple suspension. The seasoning is quite different from the sporty and crisp RS. However, the roll of the car body is not large at corners, etc., and there is no anxiety because it feels like it will stick firmly. Like the RS, this is probably due to the large effect of the stabilizers attached to the front and rear suspensions.
Original, which has a cute impression compared to RS, is equipped with an NA engine (photographed by the author)
The output characteristics of the NA engine installed are mild overall compared to the RS. The 660cc 3-cylinder engine, which employs the valve control mechanism "VTEC", delivers a maximum output of 58ps and a maximum torque of 6.6kgf・m, and excellent fuel efficiency of 23.0km/h (for FF vehicles) in WLTC mode overall. have
The response to the accelerator opening is not bad, but it feels like it accelerates relatively slowly compared to the RS. Of course, in areas where the speed range is not so high, such as in the city, you will not feel stress. It can easily ride the flow of traffic, and combined with the small body, it can easily run even in narrow alleys.
However, when merging on a highway or accelerating on a steep uphill slope, there are also scenes where you feel that it is a small displacement engine of 660cc. I got on the RS first, but there are times when the torque is unsatisfactory. However, when cruising at a constant speed, comfort is quite high due to the supple suspension characteristics mentioned above.
RS 6MT specification. It's the perfect machine for casually enjoying winding and sporty driving (photographed by the author).
The RS is exhilarating to drive, but some drivers may find it too responsive. On the other hand, in the case of the Original, it can be said that it is for those who enjoy leisurely and leisurely driving.
The new N-ONE RS (CVT and 6-speed MT) and the Original that I tested this time have the same body, but the running seasoning is quite different. With the RS's CVT specification, long-distance driving is sure to be fun thanks to its generous engine output and solid suspension characteristics. In addition, the 6-speed MT specification of RS can enjoy more sporty driving on winding roads and circuit driving. In addition to being ideal for people whose hobby is "running by car", it has a depth that corresponds to leisure such as travel.
In addition, Honda's light car that you can enjoy sporty driving includes the S660 mentioned above. However, since this is a two-seater open car, the load capacity is small. With the N-ONE, if you fold the rear seats forward, you can load a lot of luggage, so it is suitable for long trips by car, such as a couple and two adults traveling slowly.
Original luggage space. It's spacious enough for shopping and traveling (Photographed by the author)
Original, on the other hand, is for people who want to run comfortably and comfortably. The ideal driving for those who use the car mainly for daily city driving, such as commuting to work or school and shopping, and the retro and charming style match well with the city commuter usage like a small European car.
In recent years, it is said that the number of cases where elderly people over 60 years old purchase light cars is increasing. Such people are "downsizing" from minivans that are used by families, such as when children become independent, to smaller cars that are more compact and easy to handle even in the city.
The N-ONE has become a new model and is equipped with the safe driving support system "HONDA SENSING" as standard on all models.
Eight advanced functions (some of which are only available in CVT vehicles), such as collision mitigation brakes, false start suppression functions, pedestrian accident mitigation steering, and auto high beams, are pedals for the elderly who have become a social problem. Many of them also deal with serious accidents caused by stepping on the wrong foot. Whether you choose the RS for driving or the Original for fun in the city depends on your preference, but the N-ONE can be said to be one of the best options for those who want to enjoy driving, even for the elderly.
Even if the appearance is almost unchanged, the contents are renewed. When I took it for a test drive, it made a lot of sense. However, in developing a new model, not changing the exterior design seems to be quite an adventure in terms of sales strategy. For example, was there any opposition from the sales side?
On that point, Mr. Wataru Miyamoto of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., who is responsible for the development of N-ONE, said, "About 20% of the total are opposed (to the direction of not changing the design), and nearly 80% are in favor. He said. Keeping the appearance of the exterior design was highly appreciated by the sales department that actually sells the cars.
This is proof that the style of the predecessor N-ONE, which originated from the famous N360, has already received sufficient recognition and evaluation in the market. We didn't make any changes for the purpose of a full model change, and we didn't dare to change anything that was highly rated... Such courage gave birth to the new N-ONE.
However, Mr. Miyamoto also says, "I was able to do it because it was N-ONE." This is because the monthly sales plan for N-ONE is 2000 units, which is about 1/10 of N-BOX. It tends to be talked about collectively in the N series, but as an icon of the N series, the N-ONE is a light car that Honda created in pursuit of the ideal, regardless of the number of sales. This is possible because there are popular N-BOX, N-WGN and N-VAN, and each character has been established.
Even after a full model change, the appealing design is recognizable as an “N-ONE” at a glance (photographed by the author)
There are many small cars that have been sold for a long time without changing the exterior concept, such as the Fiat 500 and Mini, which are common in European cars, but not so common in domestic cars. It will be interesting to see if the N-ONE will be supported by people who love cars for a long time as a traditional Japanese "basic car" like those European cars.
The price (including tax) is 1,599,400 yen to 1,732,500 yen for the Original, and 1,999,800 yen for both the CVT and 6-speed MT specifications for the RS. It is an advanced grade equipped with genuine leather steering etc. Premium with NA engine is 1,779,800 yen to 1,912,900 yen, and Premium Tourer with turbo engine is 1,889,800 yen to 2,022,900 yen. It has become.
