What's the difference?
Nobody saw this coming.
Honda’s first electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, the Kei-car based Super-One, sold out within the first five hours of going on sale back in August.
Granted, buyers swallowing up all 130 units in record time does not mean we’re in for an endless summer of Super-One love.
But it has been a big hit elsewhere, too, selling 10 times Honda’s original forecasts in Japan.
So, what does this hot retro runabout have, and why are people so excited, when Australia is now awash with affordable EVs?
Time to find out.
Has it really been 20 years since the humble Mazda6 station wagon hit our roads? You betcha, but I was more shocked that I remembered when it did!
I have a sudden flashback of questionable fashion choices, glittery butterfly hair clips and how Skipper was making a play at being the coolest 'Barbie' (she wasn't).
I've always had a soft spot for wagons, they are the forgotten heroes for family hauling. It's hard not to glide over them when the market is dominated by SUVs but if you happen to remember they still exist (albeit, barely) you might remember why they were popular back in the day.
Being a 20th Anniversary Edition means there are some nods to the past in this model but unlike the low-slung jeans of my youth, they're stylishly done. With some luxuriously-appointed rivals to contend with, like the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Passat, does it offer enough to be considered by a modern family?
My little family of three has been in it all week to find out for you!
Honda is on a roll, with the Super-One reflecting the brand’s excellent engineering essence more vividly than any other model.
On paper, the Kei-car based EV is big on price but small on power, space, battery capacity and range. Chinese brands must be laughing.
Yet the Super-One punches well above its (commendably low) weight for style, charm, fun and efficiency, while delivering larger-car levels of comfort, refinement and features.
Given the premium pricing is well beneath other premium retro EV rivals like the Mini Cooper and Fiat Abarth 500e, the Super-One even makes a convincing value-for-money pledge for itself.
We can’t wait to drive it more. Little wonder this has been such a big global hit.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with meals provided.
So, what did my family think about the Mazda6 20th Anniversary wagon? Firstly, I like that it drives well and how many luxe features are up front. The trims and body paint look divine but there's a disconnect with family practicality in the back seat. Besides the multimedia system, which 100 per cent needs to be improved, I don't mind the retro-feeling elements in the cockpit but my husband's first comment was that it looked old.
It may be better suited to a smaller and older family that isn't carting around a stack of gear but you get a lot of features for your cash in this model. So, this gets a 7.0/10 from me.
My son didn't spend heaps of time in this one but he liked the colour of it and the seats. He gives it a 7.0/10.