The Honda NSX is a seriously fast sports car with a high-tech hybrid petrol-electric engine that means it can drive in silent electric power alone. It does not have the same badge kudos as the likes of an Audi R8 or a Porsche 911, but it more than makes up for that with its impressive turn of speed and space-age looks. If you think Hondas are designed exclusively for pensioners, then the NSX will make you think again.
Wowscore: 8/10
This score is awarded by our team of expert reviewers after extensive testing of the car.
A Polarizing Mix of Futuristic Styling and Budget Cabin Materials
Unfortunately, the Honda NSX’s interior isn’t quite as eye-catching as its look-at-me exterior. Sure, you get plenty of leather on the dashboard and some aluminium trims dotted about the place, but the central infotainment screen looks like it’s been pinched from a Civic – and not even the current model. Neither the digital screens nor the standard materials look particularly upmarket for a vehicle in this price bracket.
Thankfully, the leather seats feel plush and supportive which helps make long journeys as relaxing as if you were driving a comfortable family saloon. The Honda NSX only comes with two seats, but there is enough headroom and legroom for you to get comfortable if you are over six-feet tall. The steering wheel adjusts to give you plenty of knee room, too. Many supercars lack the back support you need to make long journeys bearable, but the NSX is comfortable enough for you to soak up lengthy motorway stints with ease.
Everyday Practicality and Cabin Quirks
The Honda NSX isn’t exactly cavernous inside, but it is much roomier than most rather cramped supercars. While the Honda NSX’s cabin is pretty spacious, you do not get many handy cubby holes or storage bins. The glovebox is wide, but not particularly deep, and there isn’t a storage space under the centre console armrest.
You don’t get any bottle-sized pockets in the doors, either, and the tray on the centre console isn’t deep enough to securely hold an open bottle or a cup of coffee. As a result, accelerate hard (which you will be doing a lot in the NSX) and you risk drowning the Honda’s leather upholstery in boiling hot macchiato. Rather worryingly, you might also end up dowsing the two USB ports mounted behind the front seats in coffee, but at least the standard 12V socket is tucked safely (if rather awkwardly) down in the passenger footwell.
Despite the Honda NSX’s slinky shape, there is still enough space in the boot to carry a set of golf clubs. Unfortunately, the boot opening under the glass rear hatch is quite small so loading and unloading large bags can be slightly tricky. The boot’s shallow shape combined with the NSX’s low roofline means there isn’t quite enough space for a large suitcase.
The Honda’s exhaust also passes very close to the boot floor which means you might find your shopping pre-cooked by the time you get home. Because it has two electric motors mounted between the front wheels, the Honda NSX doesn’t come with a second boot under the bonnet like other supercars, such as the Audi R8.
Blistering Performance Meets Silent Commuting
The Honda NSX comes with a turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 that is assisted by three electric motors – one driving the rear wheels and an extra two driving one front wheel each. Together, they produce 581hp – that is enough to blast the NSX from 0-62mph in less than three seconds. That is a smidge faster than the Audi R8 and more than a second faster than the hybrid BMW i8. Helping the Honda NSX serve up such blistering acceleration is a slick nine-speed automatic gearbox. When you floor the throttle it changes gear lightning fast, yet it takes on a smoother, more relaxing nature when you are cruising along.
Speaking of cruising, when you have finished having fun, the NSX will deliver impressive fuel economy – for a supercar, at least. Go easy on the accelerator and it will return around 26mpg compared to Honda’s claimed 28mpg. Another thing the NSX brings to the supercar party that few alternatives can match is its silent low-speed running. Stick it in Quiet mode and the petrol engine shuts off altogether at under 30mph, engaging the electric motors instead. This setting lets you creep along almost silently for short distances. Accelerate hard, however, and the petrol engine fires up to lend a hand.
Adaptive Driving Dynamics and Urban Usability
The Honda NSX comes with selectable driving modes that govern what it feels like to drive. Go for Quiet mode to make long motorway slogs as relaxing as possible – it muffles the sound of the 3.5-litre V6 and puts the adaptive suspension into its most comfortable setting. In this mode, the NSX soaks up bumps and potholes impressively well for a low-slung sports car.
Go for Sports or Sports+ mode and the NSX’s suspension becomes firmer and its engine louder. The steering feels heavier, too, and the pedals more responsive which makes it the perfect mode for enjoying an impromptu backroad blast.
Go one step further – into Track mode – and the Honda NSX turns into a serious performance machine. The electric motors and petrol engine deliver instant bursts of acceleration and the four-wheel-drive system is geared up to launch you from corner to corner as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, even in this hardcore track-focussed setting, it doesn’t feel quite as nimble as the Audi R8. The Honda NSX’s complex hybrid system means it is significantly heavier than the Audi, and the raspy V6 exhaust note cannot match the volume of the R8’s magnificent V10 engine.
Around town, however, the Honda claws back some points. You get a good view out thanks to the low dashboard, large side windows and thin door pillars, so it is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre for such a sporty car. Rear visibility is pretty good, too, but if you want rear parking sensors they are a rather expensive optional extra. Unfortunately, you cannot get the NSX with automatic emergency braking, but then it is a similar story with most high-performance supercars. You do get plenty of airbags as standard, however, to help keep you safe should the worst happen.
Conclusion
It is this dual personality that makes the NSX such a compelling sports car – it can do everything the Audi and Porsche can, but makes light work of the day-to-day stuff that leaves some conventional supercars completely stumped. When the muscles in your face are tired of grinning and you just want to get home, the Honda NSX settles into a quiet, comfortable cruise. If you can look past the Honda badge, the sub-par infotainment system, and the slightly disappointing soundtrack, the NSX deserves a place very near the top of your supercar wishlist. Let us know your thoughts on this hybrid supercar in the comments below!