Honda N-BOX

Honda N-BOX: generations: what actually changed between years

Honda lists three catalogue blocks for N-BOX, but the middle one is a restyling of 1 generation, not a third generation. Treat the line as two generations.

Honda lists three catalogue blocks for N-BOX, but the middle one is a restyling of 1 generation, not a third generation. Treat the line as two generations.

1 generation (2011-12-01 to 2015-01-31), Mini 5-doors, four 0.7 CVT versions: 58 hp FWD, 58 hp AWD, 64 hp Turbo FWD, 64 hp Turbo AWD. Displacement is 656 cc, bore × stroke 64 × 68.2, tank 35 L, ground clearance 150 mm. Naturally aspirated torque peaks at 3500 rpm. Compression is 11.2 on both the 58 hp and 64 hp engines.

1 generation, restyling (2015-02-01 to 2017-08-31) stays Mini 5-doors and still has four 0.7 CVT versions with the same 58/64 hp split and FWD/AWD split. Displacement moves to 658 cc (+2 cc). Bore × stroke stays 64 × 68.2. Tank stays 35 L, clearance stays 150 mm. Naturally aspirated torque peak moves from 3500 to 4700 rpm. Compression rises to 11.8 on the 58 hp engine and drops to 9.2 on the 64 hp Turbo. Kerb weight goes up versus the matching pre-restyle car on three of four versions (see weight section). 0–100 km/h gets slower on the 58 hp cars and is unchanged at 16.4 s on the 64 hp FWD Turbo.

2 generation (from 2017-05-01, no stop date in the data), Mini 5-doors, again four 0.7 CVT versions. Displacement stays 658 cc, but bore × stroke changes to 60 × 77.6. Tank falls to 27 L (−8 L versus both 1 generation blocks). Clearance falls to 145 mm (−5 mm). Naturally aspirated torque peak is 4800 rpm. Compression is 12 on the 58 hp engine and 9.8 on the 64 hp Turbo. This is the lightest generation: the 58 hp FWD 0.7 CVT is 890 kg, 40 kg below the lightest 1 generation 58 hp FWD (930 kg) and 60 kg below the restyle 58 hp FWD (950 kg). It is also the fastest generation: 15.9 s for the 64 hp FWD 0.7 CVT.

What the later generation “buys” you, in arithmetic only: 2 generation versus original 1 generation on the 64 hp FWD 0.7 CVT is −0.5 s (15.9 vs 16.4), −60 kg (910 vs 970), −8 L tank, −5 mm clearance. Versus the restyle 64 hp FWD it is −0.5 s (15.9 vs 16.4) and −50 kg (910 vs 960), same tank and clearance change. There is no price figure attached to that step.

Engine specs: all twelve 0.7 CVT versions

Every engine is Gasoline, 3 cylinders, Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Direct injection (direct), fuel 95. Gearbox on every row is Variable; gear count is not measured.

Specific output from those figures: 58 hp / 0.658 L = 88.1 hp/L on 2 generation and restyle naturally aspirated 0.7 CVT; 58 hp / 0.656 L = 88.4 hp/L on original 1 generation. Turbo 0.7 CVT is 64 / 0.658 = 97.3 hp/L (2 generation and restyle) and 64 / 0.656 = 97.6 hp/L (1 generation). The Turbo step is +6 hp and +39 Nm (104 − 65) on every generation. Peak Turbo torque is always 104 Nm at 2600 rpm; the naturally aspirated 65 Nm arrives later and later (3500 → 4700 → 4800 rpm).

Honda N-BOX turbo horsepower in this catalogue is 64 hp (47 kW) on every Turbo 0.7 CVT. Engine size is 656 cc then 658 cc — not a different family name in the data, only those two displacements.

Performance and mpg: what 0–100 shows, and what is not measured

Fastest measured: 2 generation 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD, 15.9 s. Slowest measured: 1 generation, restyling 0.7 CVT 58 hp AWD, 21.2 s. Spread across the line: 5.3 s.

Turbo versus No, same generation and drive:

• 2 generation FWD: 15.9 vs 18.4 (−2.5 s) for +6 hp and +20 kg (910 vs 890).
• 2 generation AWD: 17.4 vs 20.4 (−3.0 s) for +6 hp and +30 kg (980 vs 950).
• Restyle FWD: 16.4 vs 19.6 (−3.2 s), +10 kg (960 vs 950).
• Restyle AWD: 17.6 vs 21.2 (−3.6 s), +10 kg (1010 vs 1000).
• 1 generation FWD: 16.4 vs 19.1 (−2.7 s), +40 kg (970 vs 930).
• 1 generation AWD: 17.9 vs 21.1 (−3.2 s), +40 kg (1030 vs 990).

AWD versus FWD, same engine:

• 2 generation 58 hp: +2.0 s (20.4 − 18.4), +60 kg.
• 2 generation 64 hp: +1.5 s (17.4 − 15.9), +70 kg.
• Restyle 58 hp: +1.6 s (21.2 − 19.6), +50 kg.
• Restyle 64 hp: +1.2 s (17.6 − 16.4), +50 kg.
• 1 generation 58 hp: +2.0 s (21.1 − 19.1), +60 kg.
• 1 generation 64 hp: +1.5 s (17.9 − 16.4), +60 kg.

AWD is the larger time penalty on the 58 hp 0.7 CVT (1.6–2.0 s) than on the 64 hp Turbo 0.7 CVT (1.2–1.5 s). If you need AWD, the Turbo AWD 0.7 CVT in 2 generation (17.4 s, 980 kg) is 0.5 s quicker than restyle Turbo AWD (17.6 s) and 0.5 s quicker than original 1 generation Turbo AWD (17.9 s).

Top speed: not measured on all twelve versions. City, highway and combined consumption: not measured on all twelve. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured. Searches for Honda N-BOX mpg cannot be answered with a number from this dataset.

Dimensions, weight, tank, clearance

Body type does not change: Mini 5-doors on every generation. Wheel size: not measured. Gross weight: not measured. Interior, boot and “size in feet” are not in the data.

Kerb weight (lightest to heaviest):

• 890 kg — 2 generation 0.7 CVT 58 hp FWD
• 910 kg — 2 generation 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD
• 930 kg — 1 generation 0.7 CVT 58 hp FWD
• 950 kg — 2 generation 0.7 CVT 58 hp AWD; also restyle 0.7 CVT 58 hp FWD
• 960 kg — restyle 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD
• 970 kg — 1 generation 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD
• 980 kg — 2 generation 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD
• 990 kg — 1 generation 0.7 CVT 58 hp AWD
• 1000 kg — restyle 0.7 CVT 58 hp AWD
• 1010 kg — restyle 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD
• 1030 kg — 1 generation 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD

Spread: 140 kg (1030 − 890). kg per horsepower:

• 14.22 — 2 generation 64 hp FWD (910/64)
• 15.00 — restyle 64 hp FWD (960/64)
• 15.16 — 1 generation 64 hp FWD (970/64)
• 15.31 — 2 generation 64 hp AWD (980/64)
• 15.34 — 2 generation 58 hp FWD (890/58)
• 15.78 — restyle 64 hp AWD (1010/64)
• 16.03 — 1 generation 58 hp FWD (930/58)
• 16.09 — 1 generation 64 hp AWD (1030/64)
• 16.38 — 2 generation 58 hp AWD and restyle 58 hp FWD (950/58)
• 17.07 — 1 generation 58 hp AWD (990/58)
• 17.24 — restyle 58 hp AWD (1000/58)

The Turbo FWD 0.7 CVT in 2 generation is both the best kg/hp and the best 0–100. The 58 hp FWD 0.7 CVT in 2 generation is the lightest car but 15.34 kg/hp, worse than every 64 hp FWD.

Tank: 35 L on all eight 1 generation and restyle versions; 27 L on all four 2 generation versions (−8 L). Ground clearance: 150 mm on 1 generation and restyle; 145 mm on 2 generation (−5 mm). Chassis pattern does not split the versions: Independent, spring front; Dependent, spring rear; Ventilated disc front; Drum rear — on every 0.7 CVT.

Which version to choose

Buy 2 generation 0.7 CVT 64 hp FWD (Turbo) if the question is “which N-BOX is the strongest on the measured clock.” 15.9 s, 64 hp, 104 Nm at 2600 rpm, 910 kg, 14.22 kg/hp, 97.3 hp/L. Versus the same-generation 58 hp FWD 0.7 CVT you give 20 kg and gain 2.5 s and 39 Nm. Versus 1 generation 64 hp FWD 0.7 CVT you gain 0.5 s and 60 kg less mass, at the cost of 8 L of tank and 5 mm of clearance. Top speed and mpg remain not measured.

Buy 2 generation 0.7 CVT 58 hp FWD if mass is the constraint. 890 kg is the catalogue minimum. 18.4 s, 58 hp, 65 Nm at 4800 rpm, compression 12, 60 × 77.6. It is 1.2 s quicker than restyle 58 hp FWD (19.6 s, 950 kg) and 0.7 s quicker than original 1 generation 58 hp FWD (19.1 s, 930 kg). You do not get Turbo torque.

Buy 2 generation 0.7 CVT 64 hp AWD if you need AWD and still want the newest measured performance. 17.4 s, 980 kg, 15.31 kg/hp. That is 1.5 s and 70 kg versus the FWD Turbo twin. It is 0.2 s quicker than restyle Turbo AWD (17.6 s, 1010 kg) and 0.5 s quicker than 1 generation Turbo AWD (17.9 s, 1030 kg). The 58 hp AWD 0.7 CVT in the same generation is 20.4 s and 950 kg — 3.0 s slower for 30 kg less than the Turbo AWD.

Buy a 1 generation or restyle 0.7 CVT only for the 35 L tank or 150 mm clearance. Those two figures do not appear on 2 generation. Among the older cars, the restyle 64 hp FWD 0.7 CVT (16.4 s, 960 kg, compression 9.2) matches original 1 generation 64 hp FWD on 0–100 (also 16.4 s) and is 10 kg lighter (960 vs 970). The restyle 58 hp FWD 0.7 CVT is the one older step that got slower and heavier than the pre-restyle 58 hp FWD (19.6 s / 950 kg versus 19.1 s / 930 kg). Original 1 generation 58 hp FWD remains the better 58 hp buy inside generation 1 if 0–100 and mass are the test. Original 1 generation 64 hp AWD 0.7 CVT at 1030 kg is the heaviest N-BOX in the file; do not choose it unless AWD and the 2011-12-01 to 2015-01-31 window are required.

There is no fifth engine, no Automatic gearbox in this list, and no measured mpg to break ties. Oil capacity, oil type, engine-number location, USA fitment, camper conversion, Custom/Joy trim horsepower and sale price are not in the data, so they cannot decide the version. The decision that the numbers support is: 2 generation Turbo FWD 0.7 CVT (64 hp) for performance per kilo; 2 generation 58 hp FWD 0.7 CVT for lowest kerb weight; 2 generation Turbo AWD 0.7 CVT (64 hp) if AWD is mandatory; 1 generation / restyle only when the 35 L tank or 150 mm clearance is the requirement you will not trade.