The compact Honda electric car with retro styling and rear-wheel drive was the Honda e.
Honda developed the e as a purpose-built urban electric hatchback, previewing its friendly, squared-off design with the 2017 Urban EV Concept. The production version appeared publicly in 2019 and entered production in October 2020. Its styling deliberately recalled early Honda Civic hatchbacks and other small cars from the 1970s and 1980s.
Unlike many small EVs, the Honda e used a rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels. That layout helped Honda preserve compact proportions, improve steering articulation and create a near-even 50:50 weight distribution. The car used a 35.5 kWh battery and was sold in Japan and Europe, but not in the United States.
A common mix-up is confusing the Honda e with the Honda Clarity, a larger family of plug-in hybrid, battery-electric and fuel-cell cars sold mainly in North America and Japan. The Honda e was a distinct, city-focused model and was produced through January 2024.