If you thought electric cars had lost their sense of humour, Honda would like a word. Specifically, it would like you to meet the utterly grin-inducing Honda Super N — a pint-sized EV that might just be the most characterful thing heading to UK roads this year.

But don’t let the wide-eyed looks and retro vibes fool you. Beneath that playful exterior lies a surprisingly serious attempt to inject some proper fun back into everyday driving.

Inspired by the iconic City Turbo II of the 1980s, the Super-N leans heavily into nostalgia, with a squat stance, chunky bumpers and cheeky aero details that hark back to the golden days of  hot hatch, even if this one plugs in rather than fills up.

Honda has fitted the Super-N with something called BOOST Mode, which cranks power from a modest 47kW to a punchier 70kW when you’re feeling fruity. That might not sound like much on paper, but this is one of the lightest EVs around — meaning it should feel properly nippy in the real world.

Better still, it comes with a simulated seven-speed gearbox. Yes, really. Much like the system seen on Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, it mimics the feel of shifting gears, complete with an accompanying synthetic engine note via Active Sound Control. It’s all entirely unnecessary… and exactly why we love it.

“It will bring Japanese Kei car energy with properly usable tech”

Range is equally city-friendly, with up to 199 miles claimed in urban driving and around 128 miles combined — more than enough for the daily grind, with a bit left over for weekend mischief. Finally, Honda has brought a teeny EV to the table with a usable range.

Inside, the fun continues. Blue accents nod to its retro inspiration, while ambient lighting shifts to a moody purple when BOOST Mode is engaged.

Priced from under £20,000 and arriving in the UK this July, the Super-N feels like a bit of a throwback in all the right ways. It will bring Japanese Kei car energy with properly usable tech.

In a world of increasingly serious EVs, this might just be the one that remembers that driving is supposed to be fun.