How the £18,995 Honda Super-N Stacks Up Against the Hyundai Inster

Honda has returned to the small electric car segment with the Super-N, a UK-market re-engineered version of Japan's N-One kei car. Priced at £18,995, it uses a 29.6kWh battery for an official 128-mile range. UK buyers get one well-equipped Advance trim, with optional contrast roof, decal packs and black badges.

Its natural rival is the Hyundai Inster, which arrived in 2025 based on Korea's Casper. The Inster starts at £23,755 and offers 42kWh or 49kWh batteries with up to 223 miles of range, plus 01, 02 and Cross variants. The top-spec Inster Cross costs £29,005.

On the road, the Honda feels agile and alert in town, with a 14.5-second 0-62mph time that feels quicker at low speeds. The Inster is more stable and quieter on the motorway. The Super-N is shorter and narrower, with 162 litres of boot space versus the Inster's 238 litres, and both are four-seat city cars with 50:50 split-folding rear seats.

Running costs also differ: Honda returned 4.7 miles per kWh in testing, 0.6mi/kWh better than the Inster, but its three-year service plan costs £700 against £376 for the Hyundai.

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Where Each Urban EV Wins — and Where It Falls Short

Honda Super-N: Town-Car Fun With a Real Range Ceiling

The Super-N's appeal rests on its kei-car bones and £18,995 entry price. It is more efficient in the real world: 4.7 miles per kWh is 0.6mi/kWh better than the Inster's figure in Auto Express testing. But 128 miles of official range means this is better read as a second car or urban runabout. The motorway verdict favours the Hyundai for stability, quietness and comfort. The Honda's Boost button adds low-speed character, but the 14.5-second 0-62mph sprint underlines its city brief.

Hyundai Inster: More Money Buys Range, Space and Long-Distance Ability

The Inster starts £4,760 higher, but that gap buys up to 223 miles of range, a roomier cabin, 238 litres of boot space and sliding rear seats. The Inster is described as a plausible single-car choice, where the Honda falls short. Its weak point is usability: Auto Express found the infotainment slow and menu-heavy.

Where the Sums Get Uneven

Honda's service-activated warranty can extend to eight years, but its standard warranty is three years/90,000 miles and its service plan is £700. Hyundai counters with a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty and a £376 three-year service plan. On safety, the Inster has a four-star Euro NCAP rating from 2025, while the Super-N is unlikely to be tested in Europe; its Japanese N-One base scored four stars from JNCAP in 2021.

Buying a Super-N or Inster: What UK Buyers Should Weigh

  • If the Super-N is your only car, check the 128-mile official range against your weekly driving; Auto Express positions it as better suited to a second-car role.
  • Budget beyond the £18,995 list price: Honda's service plan is £700, a contrast roof adds £300, white paint £325, and vehicle-to-load with smartphone key is £500.
  • Space-sensitive buyers should note the Inster offers 238 litres of boot space to the Super-N's 162 litres and adds sliding rear seats, making its £4,760 higher entry price easier to justify for family duties.
  • For motorway commutes, the Inster is the more stable and quieter choice; for tight urban routes, the Honda's nimble steering and 4.7mi/kWh efficiency are the stronger argument.
  • Warranty-conscious buyers should weigh Hyundai's five-year/unlimited-mileage cover against Honda's three-year/90,000-mile warranty, extendable through servicing up to eight years.