Introduction:

For years the Honda EU20i has been providing the public with a means of taking high-grade commercial power with them on the go. Whether that be for work, leisure, play or emergency backup it has been a generator many Australians have relied upon for all their power needs. Its sleek design and high-quality features positioned themselves in the market as a leading competitor and a product we can trust.

Although, like all pieces of technology, as our needs evolve equipment becomes outdated and is required to change alongside those needs to accommodate them or face the possibility of being left behind. As a result, Honda has listened to its consumers and developed the EU22i building on what the EU20i already did so well. This review will look at both the positive and negative aspects (hard to find any negative ones) of the brand-new Honda EU22i allowing you to make an informed decision as to whether or not this generator is for you.

 

Keeping the Good:

Don’t stress! It’s important to note that the all the best features of the EU20i that you have come to love are still on the EU22i such as the oil alert, parallel cable connections (yes, the EU20i can be linked to the EU22i!), eco throttle and 12V battery charging ports! Now its time to get into the new. The EU22i is still as quiet as ever meaning a bigger engine has not come at the cost of a louder operating generator which will be a relief to most customers. In fact @1600w it is slightly quieter than the EU20i! This will be discussed in more detail below. 

 

What’s New?

1. 200W More Power

From the outset, the most compelling improvement is the increase in power, obviously. The 200W gives you more power which will definitely be welcomed by Honda customers. As a retailer, we see first-hand the issues customers had with the EU20i, and a slight lack of power on some occasions was definitely one of them. Especially for caravan users with 19 foot plus vans and this increase in power will definitely help resolve this. Previously, if the EU20i was slightly too small then the only other option was the EU30i which is much bigger and much more expensive! Same dimensions, same weight but more power! You wouldn't believe it, this extra power comes at the cost of nothing, that's right. Nothing! Tests in Japan from Honda show that the fuel efficiency and noise level of the EU22i have not increased due to the bigger engine, in fact, they have slightly decreased. This is further discussed later on.

2. Run Dry Switch

This switch is arguably the greatest upgrade on the previous model removing one of the biggest issues that ALL small engines succumb too, stale fuel. Stale fuel is the arch-nemesis in all small engines and the EU20i is no different. People need to understand that fuel has a shelf life and that shelf life is not as long as what you may think. Air, temperature and sunlight all affect the life span of fuel and we have found that fuel pushing 10+ weeks starts to deteriorate considerably in the average tin/machine. Predominately EU20i generators are used seasonally for leisure and as a result, they sit around with no use for large parts of the year. Consequently, the fuel begins to go stale and when you dust off your generator to go away for the weekend, the dam thing won’t start.

A trip to the local power equipment store, a carby clean and $100 later your back on the road! The reason being is even if you drain the fuel from the tank there is still old fuel sitting in the carburetor which is where the machine first draws it fuel from when trying to start. The run dry switch allows you to safely remove all fuel from the system prior to storage, removing this issue from the equation. So that when you go to use the generator again, all you need to do is put fresh fuel in the tank and it starts first time, every time. Just like a Honda should!  

3. Improved Oil Access  

I think the dealers are just as pleased about this upgrade as the consumers are! For anyone that has changed the oil or filling up a EU20i with oil will appreciate this more than anyone else. Honda actually released an additional specialised tool to help improve the oil access on the EU20i! Now you can access the oil hassle-free with the vast improvements removing this headache for everyone. As you can see in the photo below the opening was significantly larger making it easier to fill up. Additionally, the lower tongue that rests beneath the opening is much larger on the EU22i and as a result, any spillage or overflow will run down it into a tub below if placed there. Previously as seen on the EU20i the tongue is much smaller which cause the oil to spill onto the casing and even sometimes into the floor pan of the generator. 

4. New Recoil Rope Guard

This upgrade is probably the least exciting but nevertheless an upgrade. The stamped metal recoil rope guard protects the rope in the recoil starter from fraying and general wear so that it last longer and is less likely to break. For anyone that’s had a recoil starter rope replaced its fairly labour intensive and therefore isn’t as cheap as what people may think to fix often costing $80-$100. In that light maybe this upgrade is heavily underestimated and could save you $100 that you could have spent on a couple of slabs of your favourite beer! Actually, on second thoughts, this is definitely the most exciting upgrade!

5. Improved Ventilation 

The new body design of the EU22i at first glance looks identical to that of the EU20i but there are some slight improvements that are extremely beneficial to the generator itself. The EU22i generator has additional ventilation pockets to cool the engine and allow it to breathe freely to maximise performance and longevity. 

5. Stator/ Rotor Configuration

The EU22i has seen the stator/ rotor configuration upgraded which now consists of higher quality magnets which are used by the generator to produce the electricity that will power all your devices. These magnets are thinner also which allows for the unit to maintain the same dimensions as the eu20i and also help to reduce the weight of the unit. 

 

EU20i & EU22i Specification Comparison:

Looking directly at the spec comparison between the EU20i and the EU22i the most notable difference is the increase in max AC. The output which is 200VA more than the previous model, amazingly Honda has managed to deliver this without minimising the run time or the noise associated with the generator. Below is a noise and running time comparison chart between the EU22i and the EU20i from testing that was done in Japan by Honda and is considered the most accurate results to date. 

 

Notably, the EU22i is just as efficient as the EU20i with statistics showing that at 1/4 output on eco throttle the EU22i will run for 8.2hrs whilst the EU20i will only run for 8.1hrs showing that not only is it just efficient with a bigger engine but also just as quiet! Although the statistics revolve around the EU22i having a fuel capacity of 3.6L it in fact actually holds 4L on a level surface. The statistics released have to allow for a specific slope degree that the generator may have to operate on, hence the slightly lower 3.6L fuel capacity. Therefore running time could in fact be slightly longer although we have not tested this personally but theoretically, it should. It is worth noting that it is still impressively more efficient then its competitor too, the 2.4kVA Yamaha generator which has a massive fuel capacity of 6L only runs for 9 hours on eco mode at ¼ output. So don’t worry, Honda’s fuel efficiency is still superior to other generators on the market!

When looking at the specifications on the Honda website in regards to the noise of the EU22i in comparison to the EU20i it looks extremely louder, although LwA is not a direct comparison to dB as it is a different sound rating taking into account sound pressure and noise. The chart above clearly displays that the EU22i and EU20i both have a noise rating of LwA 91 dD at the rated output used in the specifications above (that is an eco throttle on @ 1/4 output). Although when the EU22i operates at the max output of the EU20i which is @1600w the EU22i is slightly quieter registering at LwA 90 dB which is obviously because the engine is bigger it does not have to rev as hard to generate the same amount of power and therefore is quieter. So no need to stress, you will still receive a Honda generator that is just as quiet as the one you have come to know and love!

 

Where They Can Still Improve:

The EU22i has offered some great upgrades on the EU20i that consumers and dealers alike have been patiently waiting for. Although there have been some features that we were hoping to see that was overlooked this time. Undoubtedly USB ports have become a part of every-day life which is why they would have been a welcomed feature by all, especially with the number of gadgets that we now have at our disposal. Also, small engines require maintenance to a schedule to ensure longevity and high-quality performance and an hour meter would go a long way in guaranteeing this is done. Among the improvements, these are the two features I personally was hoping to see in the new EU22i although it looks like we will be waiting till the next model to see them!

 

Conclusion:

Overall the new EU22i has delivered on what consumers were crying out for the most. Increasing the power output by 200W, improving the oil access and inserting the run dry switch. Amazingly, this has not come at the expense of fuel efficiency with the new EU22i running for just as long as the EU20i according to the statistics recorded above. Whilst this is still extremely efficient when compared with other generators on the market. A big win undoubtedly includes the noise level remaining super quiet just like the EU20i, so you can access power without a V8 idling in the background! Additionally, there are extras such as an hour meter and USB ports that would have rounded off the product nicely in terms of maintenance improvements and practicality but were overlooked this time around.

In the end, if extra power is what you are really in need of then the brand new EU22i is definitely for you! Whether that be for work or leisure the brand new EU22i is the ideal product for you as it gives you commercial-grade electricity on the job site and also on the camping ground so your never left in the dark! Like most Honda products, the EU22i comes with a domestic warranty of 4 years. This warranty is dealer wide too, meaning if you purchase from us your product is registered with Honda so any dealer in Australia can do warranty work on your machine. 

If you have any questions you would like answered feel free to contact us. Or If you would like to get your hands on the brand new EU22i for $204 off RRP with a bonus $400 in extras and Free delivery Australia-wide please click the shop now link below. That's massive added value when receiving your generator with free delivery Australia-wide and including a genuine Honda Cover and cable lock with your purchase. Henderson Mowers & Chainsaws is a family-owned and operated business dealing out of rural Ballarat Victoria, we love our power equipment and have a national customer base which we endeavor to assist to the best of our ability. Thank you for reading our review and if you decide to purchase a EU22i, we would be more than happy to assist you with that!