2009 Honda StepWGN launched in Japan
An all-new fourth generation Honda StepWGN was launched in Japan last week. You can expect probably expect some units to arrive in Malaysia early next year as there is an “active” importer for the StepWGN – USF-Hicom Sdn Bhd which brings in a few Honda MPVs that Honda Malaysia does not bring in. The third generation went for RM180,000 for the 2.0 liter model when it was first announced by USF.
The new Honda StepWGN is like its predecessors, a tall and boxy MPV. These bodyshapes are pretty much acquired tastes compared to sleeker-looking people movers but there are definitely advantages to the simple box – it serves its function well. A big box allows for a straight-ish and tall roofline means consistently good headroom which enhances passenger comfort. The new StepWGN seats a total of 8 in its 3 rows.
With the new model, the StepWGN grows in length (4,690mm) and height (1,815mm) but the width and wheelbase of 2,855mm remains the same, leading me to believe this is a reengineering of the third generation’s platform, which was launched in 2005.
The cabin height is a pretty tall 1,395mm thanks to its high roof and low floor packaging, and the cabin feels very airy thanks to the larger windows and the massive 1,400mm by 840mm skyroof.
Under the hood is the sole engine option of a 2.0 liter R20A SOHC i-VTEC engine mated to either a CVT for front wheel drive or a 5-speed auto for all-wheel drive options. This is the same engine that you can find in the Honda CR-V in Malaysia. The R20A puts out 150 PS and 193Nm of torque, which should be just about enough for a full load though you won’t be making swift progress on the roads. There used to be a 2.4 liter model with the 3rd gen but that is no longer available.
October 12, 2009 @ 7:20 am
Alphard?
October 12, 2009 @ 7:43 am
Honda cannot compete prestigers elgrand and alphard.
Bad exterior.
October 12, 2009 @ 7:58 am
Juara inspired honda. it will not make it appearance here.
October 12, 2009 @ 8:19 am
Another Honda ‘Al-Pha-Rit’ @ HONDA AL-PARIT. Wakakak.
October 12, 2009 @ 8:39 am
Dont really like it.Looks like a juara or a mini bus. Dashboard is nice.
October 12, 2009 @ 8:56 am
cuz of the brand,increase buyers. cuz of the eye, the mouth say oh no! The quality, technology and practicaly people say ok laaa….
October 12, 2009 @ 8:59 am
ugly ler… y stepwgn always ugly even the previous gen also ugly.. by the way, i dont agree u said honda cant compete alphard or elgrand, please check the elysion ok?
October 12, 2009 @ 9:16 am
i thought it was a hyundai at first glance .. nice job honda for going backwards in design …
October 12, 2009 @ 9:17 am
really boxy and unimaginative.just functional.
October 12, 2009 @ 9:43 am
the previous stepwgn also came into this country thru grey importer not offial honda.
October 12, 2009 @ 9:44 am
Aphard or Elegrand does not falls in the same categories laa….do some research before commenting please. This model compete directly with Toyota Voxy and Nissan Serena. Who cares about the boxy ‘juara-like’ thingy….japs loves sumthing squarish and boxy..M’sians doesn’t like boxy mpv…that’s why its not for our market..LOL
October 12, 2009 @ 10:02 am
King Samurai said,
October 12, 2009 @ 9:44 am
…Who cares about the boxy ‘juara-like’ thingy….japs loves sumthing squarish and boxy..M’sians doesn’t like boxy mpv…that’s why its not for our market..LOL
we care..becoz we know about aerodynamic and we know about design styling..hahaha
first impression Alphard..second view Vito..
very big sunroof,if accident never break ka that mirror?hehehe
October 12, 2009 @ 10:08 am
Macam Alphard. Price like Exora?
October 12, 2009 @ 10:15 am
Love it. Nissan Cube and Scion xB are the best seller in Japs and US accordingly.
October 12, 2009 @ 10:18 am
comment bout boxy mpv… read carefully the line, the function of it shape. to serve better head room and space. some ppl like boxy shape. it has it own market. if not it wont be around in this country… well the choice is ur’s…
October 12, 2009 @ 10:38 am
this step wagon is not to compete with alphad or elgrand lar. The price also will be diff. But your guys will said this van is not gud as alphard and elgrand. Sigh…jual mahal tak mampu beli…dah jual murah cakap komplen itu ini tak standard…very typical…yucks!!!
October 12, 2009 @ 11:04 am
prefer the 3rd gen.there are some nice bodykits that can make the 3rd gen looks very “luxurious”.
October 12, 2009 @ 11:06 am
apsal nampak sangat cam kotak…
October 12, 2009 @ 11:15 am
The only contender for Alphard and Elgrand is Honda Elysion. Not this washing machine la.
October 12, 2009 @ 11:22 am
I like Noah, Serena and Stepwgn. If you don’t care the about people (even for children) on third row seats suffering on long journey, go for wagon-base MPV.
Or maybe you haven’t get married and having children, that is why you thought wagon-base MPV is sleeker.
October 12, 2009 @ 11:34 am
Just_Once said,
October 12, 2009 @ 11:22 am
I like Noah, Serena and Stepwgn. If you don’t care the about people (even for children) on third row seats suffering on long journey, go for wagon-base MPV.
Or maybe you haven’t get married and having children, that is why you thought wagon-base MPV is sleeker.
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SPOT ON…this for real family use…once u have 3-4 kidz, u’ll prefer ths than those midi/mini mpv (stream/wish..etc), u’ll dun care bout slick/performance/cornering when u have kidz screaming/shouting/fighting wt each other..if the mpv is not comfortable………sliding door is a plus (if u dun have kidz using baby seat/car seat..etc..u won’t appreciate a sliding door esp at shopping complex tight parking…really difficult if yr mpv is those hinge door types)
October 12, 2009 @ 11:39 am
The previous Step WGN looks nicer … how about Elysion and Elysion prestige. I wonder when they gonna make a replacement model for that.
October 12, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
just compete wit serena
October 12, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
Boxy wagon do have its points like many pointed out. This is the case of Form follows Function.
Try getting a rear facing baby seat/basket into a car in a tight shopping mall parking lot with a regular door and you will quickly “get the point” of big, tall sliding doors. On top of that you don’t need to worry about kids wacking the car beside when opening the rear doors.
October 12, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Another thing to point out is Honda did the whole WGN thing before FLICKR did FLICKR
October 12, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
3rd row is big.. n the dashboard r nice
October 12, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
I love boxy car!
October 12, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
nice !
October 12, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
Exciting features about this vehicle that bro Paul didn’t post here…
1. Equipped with blind spot mirror (inside) on the front passenger dash board to view up to 7m on left hand side front corner
2. Third row seats can tumble down and keep underneath the floor (spare tyre area)…meaning no spare tyre??
3. Active cornering headlights.
4. Eco drive indicators…same like those in the Insights..
5. Hill start assist…preventing the car to slip backward after stopping at slopes on the first gear.
just check this out http://www.honda.co.jp/STEPWGN/
October 12, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
And to make us malaysians sakit hati summore…. Japanese Govt is encouraging eco cars/low fuel consumption vehicle by giving the followings for cars registered from 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2012:
1. No tax for hybrid cars
2. Tax discount up to 75% for low fc cars (Jpn fuel consumption standards). This Stepwgn falls in this category.
3. Cash rebate if trade in and buy eco cars
So…what is our beloved G is doing in preserving the environment? Oops…wait a second..our national cars doesn’t have any hybrids and the fuel consumption is kinda bad..so forget about it. Tax is good for national revenue….
October 12, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
not the same class with alphard la..din u observe the price for the 3rd generation is juz 180 grands…even alphard recon also cost more or less the same..this is juz like a kinda more comfortable n class passenger van ..
October 12, 2009 @ 3:05 pm
Stepwagon is basically a basic passenger MPV. I don’t think that it was intended to compete with the other more executive large MPV such as Alphard (Elysion would probably be the direct competitor) etc. Having said that as a basic passenger MPV, it has gone a long way that some of it’s ‘basic’ features are found in an executive MPV hence people get confused about it’s intended market (kudos Honda). If you look at previous generation of stepwagon, then probably you would understand. So please don’t compare it with Alphard or Elgrand. This 4th gen stepwagon seems to grow bigger, but the interior looks similar to the older styling.
October 12, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
still prefer Elysion and Odyssey
October 12, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
the car looks roomy. It looks interesting though..
October 12, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
if OTR price is wo tax, it would eat the perodua for breakfast…quite literally
October 12, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
This car is a direct competitor againts Nissan Serena in Japan. Go check out their new Nissan Serena and think about it…
Nissan Serena sales if i not mistaken is better compare to this Honda Stepwagon…
Besides that, the Serena is much more better in term of accesories and flexibility in changing the seats, bla bla bla…
http://www2.nissan.co.jp/SERENA/C25/0712/index.html?page=w13&item=4
I wonder why in Malaysia they are selling the old generation serena for so long…
October 12, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
although it looks boxy.. but its more spacious then wish and stream…
ya la i think HONDA JAPAN already make a marketing research…..
Japanese like boxy car or wse… but for me its a beauty from the heart…
October 12, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
HONDA MOVING TOASTER..PON! PON!…….what a shame,malaysian hate this type of design,am i right?
October 12, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
got isofix or not?
October 12, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
aah,macam design JUara…..klw dulu orng malaysia kutuk proton x geti design kereta pasal JUara yg boxy 2,so mknenye honda pon x geti design kreta r pasal yg nieh pown boxy gak design nyer,,,,PE2 POWN,AK TTP SOKONG PROTON,
October 12, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Pity Honda… I think they should hire a new designer now. I don’t know why, but nowadays I prefer Toyota design. Sorry Honda…
October 13, 2009 @ 10:32 am
Vellfire RULES !!!!!
October 13, 2009 @ 11:41 am
The design looks ok to me, myb bcos I like boxy car (n my neighbor owns a Nissan Cube & a Kenari, n my wife owns an Atos, so im getting used to seeing boxy cars). Somemore, Honda n other big manufacturers have a wide range of product to select from, if u dont like this, u can try the other one out. So, about this thing being boxy shouldnt be much of an issue.
And yeah, this thing serves the purpose right. Im have a fmily of my own n how i wish my car is spacious enough to fit 5 ppl with maximum comfort on long journeys.
October 13, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
I personally own a 2007 StepWGN and been enjoying it to bits!!
FYI, my wifey using this as her daily drives. The first cool feature is the keyless entry.
She will just keep the remote control key in d handbag and with a touch to the door handle, it unlocks and she would just start it by twisting a knob. So no messy looking for keys. And she can lock the door frm outside by pushing a sensor at d door handle. This is a cool upmarket car feature.
Then both sliding doors are powered and our friends already explained the points above.
Other features including:
- auto adjusting HID headlights
- all digital meters
- hundreds of compartments
- space for 8 adults
- slim external body size, excellent for parking
- aircond all around
- looks cool enough that makes people keep on asking about it wherever we go!
October 13, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
really nice transport to have for a big family…dashboard design is nice…
October 13, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
moving keranda
October 13, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
Littlefire,
I share the same question with you, why the old model Serena is still around?
Answer: (maybe)
1) The latest Serena has become too ‘upgraded’ that it’s not viable to sell in Malaysia
2) Nissan would have to strip it down to sell in ASEAN country that it’s so down right insulting to the engineers and development dept.
3) Then there is Exora, why need Serena?