Posted by auto motor und sport on Tuesday, 21 July 2015
I know this doesn’t look like it next to all the sleek new metal that often pops up on these pages, but the new Japan-only Honda StepWGN is a very interesting car. Over here, it’s not the performance specifics – in this case, 150 hp and 203 Nm from a 1.5 litre four-pot VTEC Turbo mill mated to a CVT – that will draw attention, but the car’s myriad of practical touches, something the house Soichiro built has excelled at in recent years.
And by far the most novel feature on this fifth-gen MPV is the ingenious “Waku Waku” tailgate – aside from operating in the usual manner, it also incorporates a smaller door that opens sideways, allowing improved third row entry and egress without having to squeeze through the side doors. It’s textbook pragmatic Japanese lateral thinking and brings a welcome fun touch to what would have been a staid box-on-wheels.
Of course, what better way to showcase it than with a video, this time on the Facebook page of German magazine Auto Motor und Sport? Here, the benefits of the tall roof and low sill and floor height are readily apparent, as is the conveniently-placed side grab handle that will undoubtedly bring particular relief to those of reduced physical strength, such as small children or the elderly.
All this works in concert with the third-row Magic Seats – which fold like an accordion into the floor with the pull of a lever – enabling the man to literally walk into the rearmost seats; once seated, pulling up the folded pew is an equally simply and effortless affair. One more benefit in the side door – it allows those seated at the rear to close it on their own, without requiring another person on the outside. Genius, isn’t it?
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Mitsu Colt Reborned.. boxy and yet stylish
I think it’s typo, 203Nm not 230Nm
No 3rd row aircond blower?
Everything feels so hard.
Is it comfortable?
is this coming to malaysia ?
im waiting this stepwgn; with sliding door & vsc.
current, estima is big 2.4L & freed doesnt have vsc.
it easier with sliding door for ingress/outgress at tight parking spot, especially if u going to fit child car seats.
So how do 2 ppl get in the back?
It’s got sliding doors already.
Excellent question HondaFan. Assuming they enter through the sliding doors and second row seats, they also have to leave the same way. Not the back doors.
Great Feature
Cool….
I remember watching on youtube about old American stationwagons (popular there from the 50s-70s, until the oil crisis hit in 1973) which had similar tailgates that could be opened upwards or side to side. So this technology is not entirely new. Some even had jumpseats in the cargo area where occupants (usually children) would sit facing the rear and make faces at occupants in following cars.
Nothing new, but a modern implementation with Honda’s amazing seat configurations is a really fetching proposition.
Perfect car for me
Lol door in door is something so revolutionary ah
Lol we are so easily impressed these days
Yep that’s a Honda all right – masters in interior packaging.
But if someone rear ends your vehicle I think the cost to replace the tailgate will be quite $$$.
Aiyoo brother..i know u really anti toyota..but why u bashing without any prove? I’m not toyota big fan la ..but i already survey at mudah.my .. Please be more facts la don’t talk rubish without true.. At mudah.my camry 2014 secondhand selling around 116k to 136k and altis 2013 around 65k to 108k depend on specs ..so don’t lie people like that la..
As long as its not a kimchi, it will have RV
If its not a K5, Sonata or Elantra, start writing a will