Honda StepWGN 5

Eastern people are usually more rational buyers than those of the West. Indians, for example, have a tax policy that classifies cars by the size, which forces companies to choose between good price or good looks. In China, the race towards competitive pricing makes them forget even about intellectual property. When it comes to Japan, things go much beyond the kei market. Cars as boxy as this article’s are very common there, due to how great they are at being big on the inside and small on the outside. However, automakers like Honda believe that they don’t have to excel only at rational aspects.

As you can imagine, one of the characteristics for which StepWGN is best known is its boxy silhouette. Since it has managed to attract people for almost twenty years now, it must be the last thing Honda wanted to change for its new generation. Therefore, the vehicle still looks like a diagonally-chopped brick, but now aligned to the maker’s latest design language. You’ll notice it more easily at the front fascia, whose upper lights and grille try to repeat that “U” shape you see in models such as the current CR-V and Fit. Apart from that, the most interesting style element the car has to offer is the asymmetric rear end: the window line gets lower at the left corner. What the pictures don’t show, though, is that this quirk is anticipating something.

Since Japan needs to deal with a huge population living in a very small country, everything one can do to save some space is appreciated. After repeating the boxy design and the sliding rear doors, Honda took a step further. When it comes to the tailgate, vertical hinges allow it to be divided in two, but using horizontal ones gives easier access to the sides. So why not solving this dilemma by using both options? StepWGN’s brand new tailgate is opened either as a hatch or two smaller, conventional doors. In order to solve the aforementioned problem, in the second case, the bigger part is hinged in the middle. Coming up with this thrilled Honda’s staff enough to call it “Waku Waku Gate”, where the first words are Japanese for “exciting”.

Regarding everything else, StepWGN is a pretty mundane minivan. The new dashboard features good-looking lines, but nothing that gets in the way of its practicality. The interior takes seven, with the three-seat row being the third. Like several Japanese cars, this one has a luxury trim. It’s called Spada, and brings more equipments along with an array of style accessories dedicated to sportiness. Both that and the regular one can have several particular items to be adapted to people with special needs. As far as powertrain is concerned, this is the very first Honda to use the new VTEC engine: a turbocharged 1.5-liter with four cylinders, which is good for 148 hp and 150 lb-ft. In this car, it’ll always use a CVT, and either front or all-wheel drive.