Even Honda isn’t sure what to do with this cute little thing.
The transition to electrified transportation can come across as boring, which, arguably, isn’t all that untrue. Shouty, gas-powered sports cars have been replaced on roads by beige-colored electric crossovers. Electric scooters are ubiquitous now, cavalierly and awkwardly piled up on street corners of any global metropolitan center, serving as last-mile solutions for those unwilling to wait in traffic in the backseat of a rideshare car. It’s hard to remember that electric vehicles can be fun, exciting, interesting, and maybe most importantly—cute. The Honda Motocompacto might just be the cutest little last-mile solution and maybe the most exciting electric vehicle on the market, even if Honda itself isn’t quite sure what to do with it.
The Motocompacto certainly looks like no other electric scooter on the market. Appearing like a secret agent’s gadget from the Spy Kids universe, the all-white box can transform from what easily could be confused as a briefcase to an oddly rectangular sit-down scooter. Unique, if not unfamiliar, the Motocompacto’s form factor could seem a little contrarian in the era of traditional stand-up scooters or sit-down moped ones. I mean, who wants to straddle a motorized briefcase?
Well, it’s because the Motocompacto is a modern reinterpretation of an iconic Honda scooter—the Motocompo. Back in the early 1980s, Honda sold a square-shaped (gas-powered) scooter, meant to fold up and fit in the trunk of its City subcompact hatchback. Even though neither the Motocompo nor the Honda City ever made their way outside of Japan, the outrageously cute form factor serves as inspiration for the similarly named Motocompacto. Heck, Honda has even shown it off in the cargo area of the Prologue EV crossover, surely a nod to this charmingly Ska-filled ad.Advertisement
Despite whatever retro-mobile inspired the Motocompacto, most will agree it’s a slick-looking device. The front of the scooter sleekly integrates a headlight into its case, and the rear has a simple taillight. The Motocompacto is the cleanest of clean slates, it practically begs for customization, a thing that Honda engineers said they are excited to see. When folded, the Motocompacto almost looks Apple-like in its sleek simplicity.
Of course, the Motocompacto’s party trick (and selling point) is its ability to fold up and be carried around like the suitcase that it appears to be. Before riding the Motocompacto, the user must first pull out the rear wheel and lock it into place. Then, the seat swivels out and also must be locked into place. The handlebar swivels upward out of the Motocompacto’s cavity and, once again, must be locked into place. For the rider’s safety, the Motocompacto won’t function unless all the pieces and parts are correctly locked into place.
I’ll admit that I was skeptical about the Motocompacto’s comfort and usability, especially after seeing the shape in person. It’s a shockingly small thing—Honda says the scooter is only 3.7 inches (94 mm) wide and 21.1 inches (536 mm) high when folded. When the Motocompacto stands at its full glory, it remains fairly petite. The seat height is only 24 inches (610 mm), and the overall length goes from 29.2 inches (742 mm) to 38.1 inches (968 mm). The weight limit is 265 lbs (120 kg), and it produces 0.66 hp (0.49 kW).
Yet, I was surprised. Honda let us ride the Motocompacto around the M1 Concourse track’s grounds in Pontiac, MI, and I was quickly hooked by the device’s charm. Now, at 5-foot 9 (1.75 m), my height, weight, and proportions are probably right in the middle of the average American, but still, I had my reservations; I thought the thing looked goofy in photos, with riders appearing to have the same position as a witch riding a broom.
I was wrong, though; the motocompacto’s riding position feels natural, arguably more natural than any standing scooter, probably because the rider sits so close to the ground. The brown leather-covered handlebars and seat are adjustable to many body shapes, so I think even the tallest and shortest of riders will find the Motocompacto comfortable.
The Motocompacto’s 490 W output isn’t a lot, but the power delivery is smooth. The scooter feels remarkably powerful for the specifications it says it has; I never felt in want of any more power, but I do admit that we were on flat ground. Perhaps I would have had a different opinion if I encountered any incline with the Motocompacto. Still, front-wheel drive and the low seating position make the Motocompacto feel stable and make it handle well compared to many stand-up kick scooters. Whereas many of these last-mile solutions feel like a chore to use, (just try an Uber, Lime, or Bird scooter), the Motocompacto genuinely is fun to ride. If I owned one, I could easily see myself making up reasons to ride it around town.
Charm and riding dynamics can’t account for everything, though. The Motocompacto must be put in the context of its competitors, even if no other real competitor is offering a similar form factor.
At $995, the Motocompacto is a 41.1 lb (18.6 kg) foldable compact scooter that offers 12 miles of range at a max speed of 15 mph (24 km/h). In a vacuum, these specifications are great, but compared to other electric scooters on the market, the Motocompacto feels behind. For example, the NIU KQi3 is faster, goes farther, and is cheaper. The Segway E2 is lighter and significantly cheaper. Although those are stand-up kick scooters, it’s not hard to find a seated scooter or kick scooter with seat attachment on the market that can do what the Motocompacto does, for cheaper.Advertisement
Then, there’s the folding part of the Motocompacto. Although nifty, folding and adjusting the scooter isn’t as intuitive as you’d think. The adjustments are fiddly, there are no clear markings as to what goes where, and as a whole, the quality of the pieces doesn’t feel as nice as one would expect from a nearly $1,000 electric scooter. When the scooter is folded, it’s not so easy to carry around, either. There’s a small leather carrying handle, but at 41 pounds, the Motocompacto isn’t light; a shoulder strap would make the scooter easier to handle, but the device doesn’t include that.
Even Honda’s not sure what it’s for
But I get the gist that Honda is not courting the traditional kick-scooter buyer or last-mile heavy-duty EV solution. When I asked if the Motocompacto was going to serve as a last-mile fleet solution, a la Uber or Bird, Honda representatives weren’t all that keen on the idea. It seems like more of a cool trinket that Honda wants its existing fans to indulge in, after all. The Motocompacto is sold through Honda and Acura dealers; any online orders will be fulfilled by the buyer’s local Honda or Acura dealer.
Will that work? Who knows—I’m not sure if the big city folks who would undoubtedly be interested in the Motocompacto would be so inclined to venture to a Honda or Acura dealer, but it’s good that the brand is offering online sales.
It’s not clear what will happen next with the Motocompacto; after all, it was a secret project done by one engineer at its Ohio R&D facility that eventually gained the backing of Honda as a whole. Honda representatives imagine that the Motocompacto is ready for all sorts of customization and personalization, but it’s not clear what that is or if that’ll be supported by Honda. It’s all up in the air, but there’s excitement when representatives and engineers talk about the Motocompacto.
At the end of the day, the Motocompacto offers something that most of its competitors do not have—charm and fun. The other scooters may offer a technical edge on Honda’s pluckiest little scooter, but if they’re no fun to ride, then what does that matter? I’m excited to see what happens next with Honda’s cutest little scooter.
