Honda e ZC7
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The Honda e was a design statement and a commercial flop — Honda ended EU sales in late 2023. Retro looks, five screens across the dash, rear-wheel drive and surprising fun in town, but a short range. With the MCF5 (around a 35.5 kWh battery) real-world range is often just 150–200 km, and far less in winter without a heat pump. A second car and city runabout for design and tech fans, not for long trips.
Test-drive checklist: The main theme is the 12V battery and its charge management — the weak factory battery is prone to deep discharge, after which the door handles won't open. Ask for a workshop test and a replacement receipt. The infotainment screens shut off sporadically (also a recall topic) — test all screens including the camera mirrors and CarPlay. The rear discs rust (a typical EV issue), the pop-out door handles play up in damp weather, and the rear tyres wear fast from rear drive and torque.
2026 market: Heavy depreciation from new (€33,000–39,000). Used, tidy Advance cars (2021–2022) sit at around $17,500–22,000, with only about 60–70 listings nationwide. Enthusiast and collector character — if you want the look, you pay for it.
Insider pick: an Advance on 16-inch wheels — the market is almost all Advance anyway, and the smaller wheels cut consumption and tyre costs. Before buying, make sure the software/display recall is done and the 12V battery is fresh.
Engine Overview
The Honda e ZC7 is available with 2 engine variants — from 136 to 154 hp.
Electric drive of the Honda e — 35.5 kWh battery, rear-mounted motor with 100 or 113 kW. Deliberately designed as an urban city car; the short range (around 210 km WLTP, ~185 km real) is its central weakness and the main reason for the early end of production in 2024. Technically unremarkable: a small battery means low thermal stress, and the rear-wheel-drive layout is considered robust. As with many EVs, the 12V battery is the most common cause of breakdowns. Heat pump as standard, CCS fast charging at up to around 50 kW.
- !! DC charging aborts — BCCM software (DTC P1D4E)
Early Honda e (2020-2021) sometimes abort DC charging sessions shortly after they start (fault codes P1D4A/P1D4E). Honda fixes this with a software update to the battery charge control module (BCCM, bulletin SY-10-008-00).
Electric drive of the Honda e — 35.5 kWh battery, rear-mounted motor with 100 or 113 kW. Deliberately designed as an urban city car; the short range (around 210 km WLTP, ~185 km real) is its central weakness and the main reason for the early end of production in 2024. Technically unremarkable: a small battery means low thermal stress, and the rear-wheel-drive layout is considered robust. As with many EVs, the 12V battery is the most common cause of breakdowns. Heat pump as standard, CCS fast charging at up to around 50 kW.
- !! DC charging aborts — BCCM software (DTC P1D4E)
Early Honda e (2020-2021) sometimes abort DC charging sessions shortly after they start (fault codes P1D4A/P1D4E). Honda fixes this with a software update to the battery charge control module (BCCM, bulletin SY-10-008-00).
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment displays freeze or show black screen The large infotainment displays inside freeze every few days, show black screens or grey-striped images. Symptoms: Both main displays go black or show grey stripes without warning while driving, unresponsive to input — brief vehicle shutdown required. from 20,000 km | Medium | |
| 12V on-board auxiliary battery fails The 12V auxiliary battery can fail, triggering errors in control units. Symptoms: Vehicle can no longer charge or start, all vehicle functions unresponsive — complete system failure when 12V auxiliary battery is flat. from 50,000 km | Low | |
| Charge port door won't open A fault in the locking mechanism can prevent the charge port door from opening, requiring manual release via the engine compartment. Symptoms: Charge port door cannot be opened by button or remote, manual emergency release via engine compartment required — vehicle is no longer chargeable. from 30,000 km | Low |
Alternatives
Hyundai Bayon BC3
Supermini (2021–2024)
Skoda Fabia PJ
Supermini (2021–2025)
Dacia Sandero III
Supermini (2020–2026)
Fiat 500e 332
Supermini (2020–2026)
Hyundai i20 BC3
Supermini (2020–2026)
Nissan Versa N18
Supermini (2020–2025)
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 9 weaknesses have been documented for the Honda e ZC7 (2020–2024) — 1 engine-related and 8 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Electronics, Brakes, Body, HVAC.
e (MCF5, 2020–2024) — Be Careful: DC charging aborts — BCCM software (DTC P1D4E). Power: 136 PS.
e (MCF5, 2020–2024) — Be Careful: DC charging aborts — BCCM software (DTC P1D4E). Power: 154 PS.
What to watch out for with the Honda e? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Honda e ZC7 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Honda e ZC7? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Honda e ZC7 engine is the most fun? +
Is the Honda e ZC7 worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Honda e ZC7? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee