Honda N-Box

The Honda N-Box (Japanese: ホンダ・N-BOX, Honda Enubokkusu) (corporately styled as N-BOX) is a kei car produced by Honda for the Japanese market.^[2] Together with the N-WGN, N-One and N-Van,^[3] it is part of the renewed N lineup of kei class city cars from Honda. The "N" prefix was previously used for the late 1960s and 1970s N360; originally it stood for norimono which loosely translates to vehicle. For the new N lineup, the "N" represented New, Next, Nippon, and Norimono.^[4]

Honda N-Box
Overview
Manufacturer	Honda
Production	December 2011 – present
Assembly	Japan: Suzuka, Mie (Suzuka plant)[1]
Body and chassis
Class	Kei car
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Related	Honda N-Van Honda N-One Honda N-WGN Honda S660
Chronology
Predecessor	Honda Life Honda Vamos/Vamos Hobio

As of December 2019^[update], the N-Box has been the best-selling car in Japan for 28 consecutive months.^[5][6] As of 2019, 1.7 million units had been sold since its introduction.^[7]

First generation (JF1/2; 2011)

First generation
Overview
Model code	JF1/2
Production	December 2011 – August 2017 (N-Box)[8] July 2012 – August 2017 (N-Box+)[9]
Designer	Katsuhito Nakamura and Kazufumi Oyamada[10]
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door minivan
Powertrain
Engine	658 cc S07A I3 658 cc S07A turbo I3
Power output	N/A: 43 kW (58 PS) Turbo: 47 kW (64 PS)
Transmission	CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,520 mm (99.2 in)
Length	3,395 mm (133.7 in)
Width	1,475 mm (58.1 in)
Height	1,780 mm (70.1 in) (N-Box) 1,800 mm (70.9 in) (N-Box+)
Kerb weight	930–1,060 kg (2,050–2,337 lb)

The first-generation N-Box was unveiled on 27 October 2011 and launched in Japan on 30 November 2011. The millionth N-Box (including the Slash and N-Box+) was sold in December 2016.^[9] The N-Box family received a very light facelift in February 2015. The Custom was also changed, with a revised grille with three rather than four horizontal bars.

On 5 July 2012, the N-Box+ was released. This model, based on the N Concept 3, has a slanted loading floor at the rear and can be fitted with a fold-out ramp - enabling heavy objects to be rolled up and into the cargo area. The seating arrangement was also made more flexible, allowing a variety of different configurations.

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  Rear view
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  N-Box Custom
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  N-Box Custom rear view
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  N-Box+
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  N-Box+ Custom
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  N-Box+ interior

N-Box Slash (JF1/2; 2014)

N-Box Slash
Overview
Model code	JF1/2
Production	December 2014 – February 2020
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door hatchback
Powertrain
Engine	658 cc S07A I3 658 cc S07A turbo I3
Power output	N/A: 43 kW (58 PS) Turbo: 47 kW (64 PS)
Transmission	CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,520 mm (99.2 in)
Length	3,395 mm (133.7 in)
Width	1,475 mm (58.1 in)
Height	1,670 mm (65.7 in) (FWD) 1,685 mm (66.3 in) (4WD)
Kerb weight	920–1,000 kg (2,028–2,205 lb)

The N-Box Slash was a lower roof version of the N-Box released in December 2014. Unlike the regular N-Box, the Slash model had hinged rear doors. It remained on sale for over two more years alongside the second generation N-Box, until the beginning of 2020.

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  Rear view
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  Interior

Second generation (JF3/4; 2017)

Second generation
Overview
Model code	JF3/4
Production	September 2017 – 2023
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door minivan
Powertrain
Engine	658 cc S07A I3 658 cc S07A turbo I3
Power output	N/A: 43 kW (58 PS) Turbo: 47 kW (64 PS)
Transmission	CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,520 mm (99.2 in)
Length	3,395 mm (133.7 in)
Width	1,475 mm (58.1 in)
Height	1,790 mm (70.5 in) (FWD) 1,815 mm (71.5 in) (4WD)
Kerb weight	890–1,030 kg (1,962–2,271 lb)

The second-generation N-Box was unveiled on 25 May 2017 and launched in Japan on 31 August 2017 via a livestream on YouTube. It went on sale on 1 September 2017.

Safety

It is equipped with Honda Sensing technology which includes pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with lane keeping assist, ultrasonic mis-acceleration mitigation system and road sign assist.

Utility

The N-Box's seats can slide front to back, recline, and tip up and down separately or both to accommodate passengers, long and tall cargo and its slope can be used as an under-storage compartment and ramp for PWD wheelchairs.

By removing the seat's headrest, its refresh mode can be used as a bed.

2021 facelift

The second-generation N-Box received a facelift in late December 2020.^[11] The headlights were altered slightly, while the grille was changed and the lower grille received a chrome crossbar. The Custom was also changed, receiving a more sculptured front grille and having the front license plate moved to the center of the bumper.

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  Rear view
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  Honda N-Box Custom G L Turbo
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  Honda N-Box Custom
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  Honda N-Box L (facelift)
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  Honda N-Box L (facelift)
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  Honda N-Box Custom L Turbo (facelift)
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  Interior

Third generation (JF5/6; 2023)

Third generation
Honda N-Box Fashion Style
Overview
Model code	JF5/6
Production	2023–present
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door minivan
Powertrain
Engine	658 cc S07B I3 658 cc S07B turbo I3
Power output	N/A: 43 kW (58 PS) Turbo: 47 kW (64 PS)
Transmission	CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,520 mm (99.2 in)
Length	3,395 mm (133.7 in)
Width	1,475 mm (58.1 in)
Height	1,790–1,815 mm (70.5–71.5 in)
Kerb weight	910–1,030 kg (2,006–2,271 lb)

The third-generation N-Box was unveiled on 3 August 2023 and was released on 5 October 2023.^[12][13]

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  N-Box Fashion Style rear view
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  N-Box Custom Turbo Coordinate Style front view
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  N-Box Custom Turbo Coordinate Style rear view
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  Interior

Awards

• 2017–2018 Car of the Year from Japan Automotive Hall of Fame^[14]
• 2018 Technology of the Year Award from Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan for weight reduction technology.^[15]

Sales

In December 2011, Honda set a monthly sales target at 12,000 units for the N-Box series. When the N-Box switch from the first to second generation, Honda increased the target to 15,000 units, the N-Box series exceed above the target selling in 6-digit number figures.

Year	Japan[16]
2011	2,860
2012	194,407
2013	207,844
2014	164,875
2015	156,857
2016	169,944
2017	207,999
2018	207,999
2019	247,770
2020	195,688
2021	188,939
2022	202,197
2023	231,385
2024	206,272