Honda has shown that it's serious about the Chinese EV race with its new S7 electric SUV. With a range that surpasses Tesla's Model Y and a price that's lower, it could be a hit outside of China. But unfortunately, it remains exclusive to the world's largest car market.
If you've ever thought it would be nice to have Honda's reliability and quality in the form of a modern electric SUV, then it's Honda S7 exactly what you've been looking for. Except you'll never be able to buy it. At least not from us.
Honda The S7 is part of a new strategy from the Japanese giant, which wants a bigger slice of the electric pie in China. The model is produced Dongfeng-Honda, one of Honda's two Chinese joint ventures, and has almost everything an EV buyer could want: great range, spacious interior, advanced technologies, and a price that beats the competition Tesla Model Y on his own turf.
Interestingly, Honda initially introduced the Honda S7 under the “Ye” sub-brand, but there were obviously associations with Kanye West too much, so they quickly abandoned it. So now we have simply the “S7”, while its twin brother, the P7, comes from the GAC-Honda production lines.
Specs that promise a lot
Beneath the sleek bodywork, the S7 hides an interesting technical design. Customers can choose between two powertrains:
- Rear-wheel drive (RWD): 215 kW (292 hp)
- Four-wheel drive (AWD): 370 kW (503 hp)
Both versions are powered by a battery with a capacity of 89.8 kWh, which allows reaching up to 610 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. The real-world range will likely be closer to 500 km, which is still significantly more than the Model Y Long Range, which is officially rated at 550 km CLTC in China.
Acceleration in the more powerful AWD version is impressive enough for an SUV—less than 5 seconds to 100 km/hIt's not quite a Tesla Model Y Performance, but it will be more than enough for most drivers.
Exterior and interior: elegant, but not too bold
In terms of design, the S7 doesn't stand out as radically as some of its Chinese competitors (BYD, Nio), but it still looks modern and elegant. With a length 4.9 meters and wheelbase 2.9 meters It offers a truly spacious interior dominated by a minimalist design with a large central screen and digital cockpit.
Honda is also betting on technological sophistication with the S7—advanced driver assistance systems, digital mirrors, and voice control are standard.
A price that could change the rules of the game
The most surprising part of the story? The priceThe base model S7 in China costs around 260,000 CNY (€33,500 / €36,000 $), which is a few thousand less than the Model Y. This means that the Honda offers better range for less money, which is almost the holy grail in the world of EVs.
Conclusion: when (if ever) will the S7 come to Europe?
The Honda S7 is exactly what we'd like to see on European roads: a spacious, capable, and affordable electric SUV that can actually challenge Tesla. But for now, Honda remains loyal to the Chinese market, where it has to fight against increasing competition from local brands.
Will the S7 ever come to Europe or the US? It currently looks like it won't. But if it succeeds in China, Honda might reconsider and offer it in other markets in a few years. Until then, we can only look over the Chinese wall with envy.
