Oh-kei: Honda unveils 3rd-gen N-Box in Japan

Totemo kawaī!

Expect to hear that, which means ‘so cute’ in Japanese, after Honda took the covers off its third-generation kei car, the all-new 2024 N-Box. It is slated to launch in Japan in October 2023.

Honda generously gave its latest N-Box two new body designs. The Standard version has a simpler grille with tiny holes to let the air in and round LED headlights on each side that look like human eyes. It also has a bigger intake at the bottom that looks like a smiling mouth. The Custom model has a modern nose with a large grille with slats, square LED headlights separated by a full-width LED bar, and slim LED daytime running lamps.

Designers changed the body lines and window frames, but the black pillars remain, along with the sliding doors. Customers who want a more personalized look can purchase the ‘Fashion Style’ package that adds white mirror caps and door handles, and duo-tone wheels with body-colored center caps. If white is not your thing, the ‘Coordination Style’ offers a dark chrome trim, black aluminum wheels, and a bi-tone exterior. There is even a variant that accommodates wheelchair-bound passengers.

Cabin amenities include a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, a multi-function two-spoke steering wheel, and like any kei car, plenty of storage compartments for devices and handheld items. It even gets a new shelf on the dashboard.

The powertrain details have not been revealed by Honda, but expect it to have less than 660 cc. They did say that a naturally-aspirated and turbocharged engine will be available and that each N-Box has Honda Sensing as standard, along with front and side airbags. There is no electrified variant yet.

It is cute, versatile, and will definitely be fuel efficient. So, why isn’t it in the Philippines yet?