You might remember Honda as the company that actually brought the first hybrid to market with the 1999 Insight (nope, not Toyota).

But when it comes to bringing a full electric vehicle down under, Honda has taken its sweet time. 

Until now. 

Honda has finally confirmed pricing for its very first battery-electric car, what it's dubbed the "super-fun" Super-ONE. And looking at the adorable, retro-inspired, toaster-shaped box on the wheels, they're not wrong about that descriptor.

Measuring a mere 3.5 metres long and tipping the scales at barely over a tonne (1,093 kg), the Super-ONE is rooted in Japan's iconic kei car culture - ultra-compact, lightweight micro-machines created in 1949 to help resurrect a war-ravaged country.

And the appeal is clearly still strong. Over 6,500 Aussies have already registered expressions of interest for the Super-ONE, before pricing was announced - even outpacing interest in the ferocious Civic Type-R.

The Honda Super-ONE in 'Boost Violet Pearl'. Photo: Honda Australia.

The details

The Super-ONE inherits its four-seat platform and proportions from the the Japan-only N-One e, with cute styling cues like its enlarged wheel arches, roof spoiler and black wheels pinched from the 1980’s Honda City Turbo II.

Underneath is a 29.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, good for estimated range of 253 km, and with 15% to 80% fast-charging sorted in about 30 minutes.

A special "BOOST" drive mode will deliver on its name, almost doubling power output from 47 kW to 70 kW, and adding a simulated 7-speed transmission that mimics shift feel from a traditional gearbox and an "Active Sound Control" system to play synthesized, engine-like soundtrack through the speakers.

Silly, but undeniably cool.

While it is strictly a four-seater, Honda says "Magic Seats" allow the rear seat bases to fold completely upward or flat to accommodate tall cargo.

“Honda Super-ONE ... is distinctive, stylish, affordable, and most of all, fun, seamlessly translating Honda’s joy to drive, joy to own philosophy into the BEV era," Honda Australia director of automotive Robert Thorp said.

The Super-ONE weighs only 1,093 kg. Photo: Honda Australia.

The troubled history of kei cars in Australia

If you’ve followed Japanese imports in Australia, you might remember the great Kei Car Catastrophe.

In 2024, hundreds of tiny imported EVs (including grey-import Honda N-Ones) were abruptly stranded at ports or banned by the Federal Government. 

It turns out they failed Australian Design Rule 85 (ADR 85) - a strict 32 km/h side pole-impact crash test that Japan’s local rules didn't require, meaning they couldn't legally be sold in Australia. 

A fortunate few kei cars were fine, due to the angle of the seat to the front wheels which exempts them from ADR 85. Those already on the road were deemed okay, too, even if they were technically non-compliant.

But some importers had to pay up to $10,000 per car just to ship them back to Japan.

The good news? 

The Super-ONE isn't a grey import. Honda Australia is bringing it in officially, meaning zero red-tape nightmares, full local compliance, and a target 4-star ANCAP rating. 

The Super-ONE is strictly a four-seater. Photo: Honda Australia.

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Pricing and buying

The Honda Super-ONE launches in two grades, the base available from $36,900 drive-away and the two-tone grade - which adds a special "Violet Boost" paint job with a blacked-out roof - from $37,400.

That means it undercuts rivals like the Hyundai Inster (which starts at $39,000), while offering Honda's 5-year warranty.

Preorders have officially opened this week at Honda dealerships across the country, but not many Australians will be getting them this year.

Initial global supply is so tight that fewer than 130 units are allocated for Australia in 2026, before larger shipments arrive in early 2027. Customer deliveries start on 1 October.

"Since Honda Super-ONE made its Australian debut earlier this year, we have been inundated with interest,"  Mr Thorp added.

"We look forward to seeing Honda Super-ONEs darting about our cities and demonstrating how fun an EV can be.”