HONDA HAS LONG been a confusing brand, mixing a legacy of pioneering tech and vehicles and huge motorsport success with a line-up that tends to major on the safe and sensible. It’s hard to think the Jazz (which, to be fair, is well honed to a large army of loyal buyers) is from the same firm that produced the NSX and powered Ayrton Senna’s Formula 1 title winners.
As with other Japanese brands, going electric has proven to be a challenge for Honda. The tiny E was brilliant in many ways, but its cost and small battery hamstrung it. And the e:Ny1 SUV has struggled to stand out from the pack, with none of the innovation and performance the brand has long been known for. A firm that has so often been an automotive pioneer is seemingly playing catch-up.