# Honda e — Used Car Buying Guide

AutoScout's analysis of the Honda e on the UK used-car market. Backed by 33 million DVSA MOT tests, current AutoTrader pricing, and depreciation curves derived from CAP/Glass's Guide data.

Live interactive report: https://autoscout.fyi/cars/honda-e

## Verdict

- **Best value year**: 2020
- **Ideal trim**: Advance
- **Target mileage**: 30,000–40,000 miles
- **Max previous owners**: 2
- **Target price**: £12,000

## Why this model

The Honda e is a fantastic choice if you're looking for a stylish, quirky, and well-built electric city car. It's super easy to drive in urban environments, has a surprisingly nippy acceleration, and its unique retro-futuristic design really stands out. Honda's reputation for reliability carries over to their EVs, and the liquid-cooled battery means it should hold up well over time, with an expected degradation of only about 1.8% per year. Just be aware that its limited range means it's definitely a second car or a dedicated city commuter, not a long-distance cruiser.

## What you should pay

Used Honda e prices have fallen significantly in line with the broader EV market, making them a great value buy right now. A 2020-2021 Advance model with around 30-40k miles is typically found for about £12,000. This is a sweet spot, as the initial depreciation hit has been absorbed. The 28.5kWh usable battery, being liquid-cooled, maintains its health well, with typical 5-year-old models expected to retain around 91% State of Health (SoH), or about 25.94kWh remaining. This means you're getting a reliable battery that's still very capable for its intended city use.

## Which trim to buy

The 'Advance' trim is definitely the one to go for. It gives you a bit more power (152hp vs 134hp in the standard model), larger 17-inch alloy wheels, and handy features like the Parking Pilot for easier manoeuvring, a heated front screen, and a premium sound system. The price difference between the 'Standard' and 'Advance' on the used market isn't huge, so the extra features and slight performance bump make the 'Advance' a much better value proposition.

## What to check before you buy

- Limited real-world range (around 100 miles) makes it unsuitable for long journeys.
- Slow DC rapid charging speed (max 50kW) compared to newer EVs.
- Small boot space.

## Running costs

Running a Honda e is very affordable, especially if you can charge at home. Based on a real-world efficiency of about 3.8 mi/kWh: if you're on a standard home electricity rate (around 24.5p/kWh), it'll cost you about 6.5p/mile, which is roughly £653 a year for 10,000 miles. However, if you switch to a smart EV tariff like Octopus Go or Intelligent Octopus (around 9p/kWh overnight), your costs drop to about 2.4p/mile, or just £240 a year for 10,000 miles – that's a saving of over £400 annually! Road tax is free until April 2025, after which it will be £195 per year. Insurance costs are generally moderate for a city car, but always get a quote specific to your circumstances.

## Key stats

- **Fuel Type**: Electric
- **Horsepower**: 152 hp (Advance model)
- **Mpg**: 3.8 mi/kWh (Electric equivalent)
- **Reliability Score**: Excellent
- **Safety Rating**: 4/5 Stars (Euro NCAP 2020)

## Trim comparison

| Trim | Price new | Price used | Key features |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Honda e (Base) | £26,160 | £10,500 | 16" alloy wheels; Single pedal driving; 8.8" driver display |
| Honda e Advance | £28,660 | £12,000 | All Base features; 17" alloy wheels; More powerful 152hp motor |

## Depreciation forecast

| Year | Estimated value | Retention |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | £12,000 | 100% |
| 2027 | £9,800 | 81.7% |
| 2028 | £8,000 | 66.7% |
| 2029 | £6,500 | 54.2% |
| 2030 | £5,500 | 45.8% |

The Honda e has already taken a significant depreciation hit since new, especially with the general softening of the used EV market. Buying a 2020-2021 model now means you're entering the market at a 'sweet spot' where the steepest part of the depreciation curve has passed. While it will continue to lose value, the rate should be more gradual, offering good value retention for its segment over the next few years.

Total value lost since new: 54.2%.

## Alternatives to consider

- [Mini Electric](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/mini-electric.md)
- [Fiat 500e](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/fiat-500e.md)
- [Renault Zoe](https://autoscout.fyi/cars/renault-zoe.md)

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Source: AutoScout (https://autoscout.fyi). Part of a review of the UK used-car market across 500+ models.