What exactly is N-Van? Introduced in 2018, this Honda commercial vehicle was developed to meet the criteria of the kei car segment. In other words, it’s very small. The little workhorse measures just 3,395 millimeters (133.7 inches) long, 1,475 mm (58.1 inches) wide and 1,950 mm (76.8 inches) high, with a wheelbase of 2,520 mm (99.2 inches). It was also advertised for families as the upright and boxed vehicle seats up to four people.
It was offered with a naturally aspirated, turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a displacement of less than 0.7 liter and up to 64 hp (47 kW) and 104 Nm (77 lb-ft). Manual and CVT gearboxes are available, along with a choice between front- and all-wheel drive. Since its introduction, it has turned into a cute camper and even a custom-built hill-climbing vehicle. Starting in spring 2024, it will also get an electric version.
Announced today in Japan, the N-Van EV promises to offer a range of 124 miles (200 kilometers). That might not seem like much, but it’s a pretty decent number considering there isn’t much space to fit the battery. Honda says the pint-sized electric van is versatile enough for both commercial and personal use. Featured by the Japanese automaker for reference is the inside of a petrol model with the front passenger seat folding down to maximize cargo space.
The good news about the N-Van EV is its price tag as Honda will be pricing in a million yen, or about the price of the cheapest ICE powered vehicle. At the current exchange rate, that would be around $7,300. The recently introduced and mechanically related Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X electric kei cars are priced at around $14,000 after factoring in EV-related incentives.
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Speaking of Mitsu, it’s selling the MiEV Minicab in the Land of the Rising Sun starting at 2,431,000 yen ($17,700) with a 16-kWh battery that’s good for 83 miles (133 kilometers) of range in a WLTC cycle. It comes in 2WD flavors with two or four seats. However, the vehicle has aged rapidly since the sixth generation Minicab was launched in 1999.
