Honda Stream debuted in 2000 in Japan, and less than a year later the model was presented in Europe. As conceived by the creators of the Stream was supposed to fill the gap that was formed after the removal of Shuttle and Civic in the back of the Aerodeck. The compact seven-seater minivan is built on the extended platform of the new Honda Civic. Honda Stream - a new word in the class of odorites, said this time by the Japanese manufacturer.
Not yet a minivan, no longer a passenger car - Stream is balancing somewhere on the edge, offering customers the best features of both classes. The car combines the possibility of multipurpose use, ease of operation and maneuverability. Honda cars are always distinguished by a relatively small body height and low seating position for the driver and passengers, which is not just a tribute to the “sportiness” of the image, but also an effective way of lowering the center of gravity, and thus improving the ride quality. Now it has helped to fit into the dimensions of a standard station wagon a multi-seat saloon and provide excellent handling.
The relatively low height gives the Stream an attractiveness and a swift appearance, but does not affect the comfort of accommodating passengers: a well-designed layout of parts under the bottom and a fairly low floor allow passengers to feel free and comfortable on any of the three rows of seats. The salon has ample opportunities for transformation, the third row of seats is folded, making room for large-sized cargo. For rear passengers, special containers and even vents of the ventilation system are provided.
Equipped with gasoline engines of 1.7 and 2.0 liters. The two-liter all-aluminum unit received a new “intelligent” system of dynamic control of valve timing and valve lift i-VTEC (intelligent-VTEC). His lightning promotion, still in second gear, accelerates a half-ton car to “hundred” in less than 9.5 seconds. By the way, the second engine offered for Stream has also been updated: it retained the old VTEC system, has a volume of 1.7 liters and migrated here from the American Civic Coupe. The gearboxes are five-speed manual and two “automatic” - four-speed for the engine 1.7 liters (not supplied to Russia) and five-speed for two-liter, and with “sequential” mode.
The selector "automatic" is located on the center console, which is very convenient. The automatic transmission goes through the gears softly and almost inaudibly, ensuring a smooth and quiet ride. If desired, in the left position of the selector, the manual control mode of the box is activated. The design of the car attracts attention. The spindle-shaped body with a red ribbon of lanterns encircling the rear window looks original. Salon is striking in its harmony. Here, in a very limited space (length 4550 mm), the designers managed to create an incredibly convenient and comfortable interior, where all the necessary trifles are present.
The interior is Japanese aesthetic minimalism: simple lines reign here, dark gray plastic, and in secluded places there are many boxes and shelves for small things. The overall picture of the “titanium” insert and the fluorescent orange graphics of the scales of climate control knobs revive. At the traditional height, the quality of fit and fasteners panels. Stream equip independent suspensions of all wheels, disc brakes, anti-roll bars front and rear.
Honda Stream is equipped with many elements of safety and comfort: central locking, immobilizer, ABS, belts with tensioners, four airbags, air conditioning, electric sunroof, windows and mirrors, heated mirrors and front seats, musical preparation with four speakers, as well as fog lights headlights and alloy wheels. During 2002, the sports version of the Stream with a stronger engine. The all-wheel drive version of the Honda Stream is also available in Japan.
In December 2003, the Honda Stream Absolute went on sale in Japan - a 7-seater front-wheel-drive minivan with a stiffened body, a sports tuned suspension, a 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC I engine and an automatic transmission with a CVT and 7-speed tiptronic. In 2004, the Stream model was changed. Designers have worked on the exterior and modernized the interior. In front of the car, all body parts were reworked, a more aggressive grille with a single cross bar and “transparent” headlights appeared. In the new bumper with a large air intake are located round fog lights, which have now become standard equipment for all configurations.
The rear bumper has also changed, and the reversing lamps and fog lamps have moved to the rear door. After restyling, Stream became six-seater. In the cabin in the second row, instead of a three-seater sofa, two separate chairs appeared, separated by an armrest with coasters.
From the driver's seat offers an excellent overview, which is especially important and convenient for movement in fast city traffic. From a technical point of view, everything remains unchanged. In the front suspension - MacPherson strut, and in the rear - double levers with reactive traction.
In the configuration of the S on the Stream are bit headlights. The car package SS Package (engine capacity 2.0 l) and Absolute installed aluminum wheels in dark gray metallic. In the high-end versions in the cabin there are holders for mugs, combined with a folding table, as well as the ignition key illumination.
The modification G (engine capacity of 1.7 liters) has a built-in immobilizer.
