Honda Stream test drive since 2006 minivan

Literal reading

The concepts of minivan and UPV (universal of increased capacity) denote the same thing. But Van is translated as a wagon or van, while the station wagon is associated with us with a well -defined car car. To say that Honda Stream is a carriage, the tongue will not turn. So leave the formalities: this is precisely the UPV. In the literal sense.
He himself is almost pointless to look for an analogue in Europe in Europe. Unless Opel Zafira, the only European compact minivan, has acquired a seven -seater body. It’s another thing in Japan, where there are many models on the domestic market, which are still underway in size to the real minivan, but they no longer fit in compact. Mitsubishi Dion, Nissan Prairie, Toyota Picnic (the latter, by the way, is also supplied to Europe) ... Like Stream, they have three rows of seats, a dimensional width of 1695 mm (in accordance with the Japanese classification), but more minivan proportions: these machines: these machines: these machines above. Honda is perceived almost as an ordinary station wagon, especially when you take into account the current tendency to increase the height of the passenger bodies. And against the background of the noticeably grown basic hatchbacks (Civic) does not look at all some kind of particularly high. Of the two proposed engines (1.7 liters, 131 hp, 155 Nm and 2.0 liters, 153 hp, 186 nm) is more interesting than two -liter, and not at all because it is more powerful. It is on it that I-VTEC system debuts in Europe, which not only changes the height of the valve lift, as VTEC simply does, but also shifts the phases on the intake distribution vale.
Naturalness and rationalism
In the case of Stream, it seems literally should be understood: in full accordance with the name (Stream, stream), it looks like an illustration from a car textbook. And although the kivic hatchback does not have to deny, the naked eye is visible to the stylistic community with another aerodynamic model of the company hybrid insight, especially in the roof line and the shape of the windows. But the appearance of InSight is nimwrong, and Stream ... Its streamlined form is organic and in thought, on the road it is natural, like a dolphin in the ocean, and therefore, probably, in life looks better than in photographs. It is rapid and elegant, and huge block facts, even larger than that of Civic (it seems that the minivans become a tradition!), Worthy of a separate mention: in the dark, turning on the neighbor, it is worthwhile to specially go out to look from the side, enchanting Spectacle!
Alas, when you find yourself inside, nothing except well, another Honda does not come to mind. Everything is very familiar and very Japanese: conveniently, functionally and without any highlight. Boring. Yes, and God would be with Him, because the quality of the performance is the highest: hard plastic of the panels cannot be distinguished from the soft one without knocking on it, and the adjustment of details would make any prestigious brand. But the soft plastic in the interior decoration could still not be presented, let's say, a cheap car!
Examination in the specialty
The capacity and transformation of the salon for minivan discipline is specialized. We admit that non -mining proportions of the car have inspired certain doubts, for example, in the stated seven -seven. However, Stream dispelled them without difficulty, but about everything in order. The redevelopment of the salon here is organized as it is customary in Japanese minivans: the seats are not removed, but are folded and laid out, although not quite as it is done in ordinary station wagons. Of course, the maximum van capacity suffers with this approach, but in the cabin you can arrange a real bedroom, and a weak woman can easily cope with its transformation. And to come up with something like that of the Japanese great masters: it is impossible not to note how simple and witty the problem of asymmetric folding of the middle of the middle row is solved, despite the fact that each half of its seats has an independent (!) Longitudinal adjustment. And the mechanism of folding the third row is generally a song!
And, you want to believe it, you want not, seven adults in this salon are not just placed, but sit very comfortably. Your humble servant, with a height of 192 cm and disproportionately long legs, pushing the driver’s chair back (that is, until it stops back and down), then safely sat down on the middle row, and then, with almost the same success, settled down on the back ! Fiction? There is no reality. And if we take into account that each half of the middle row is adjusted longitudinally and on the inclination of the back, and even the fact that for entering the third row the middle seats simply go forward (there is a separate lever) ... The only thing that is actually a little is not enough, So this is width if three adults go to Japanese division into classes in the second row. And one more thing: the back row only develops entirely, and if at least one passenger sits on it, then only 158 liters per 50 liters less than in our Oka will remain from the trunk.
VTEC for the letter I and Nekhondovsky Automat
To judge the capabilities of the engine, when it is installed together with an automatic transmission, an ungrateful occupation. A little easier when the machine has a manual control mode. It is even easier when this management is organized as sensible as in this case. So we dare to say that this engine is very good. As befits a worthy work of the Honda motorbridge, he willingly spin to maximum revolutions and at the top he feels absolutely at ease. It is very characteristic that at the moment when the tachometer arrow exceeds the boundary of the red zone, the sound of the engine not only does not resemble a strained squeal of the last forces, but on the contrary, it gives the impression of a far from waste reserve: they say, this is a mere trifle for us. However, this motor is not at all a super -moving racing machine in the Type R style: with no less success it easily pulls a rather heavy car at low speeds and, moreover, allows them to accelerate confidently, without resorting to switching the steps. Acceleration is even in the entire range, up to the very top. And the fuel consumption in three days of the dough was surprisingly small.
A five -speed automatic transmission deserves separate words. Well, how many Honda machine guns scolded, how many times they made a diagnosis this is not Hondovskoye, and here you are! There are no delays, the switching is fast and soft, and they can be noticed only by changing the tone of the motor. The reactions to the accelerator are sensitive in the case, to Kik-Dawn almost without delay. Excellent braking by the engine, and in any gear, moreover, when moving along the crossed terrain, the machine gun quickly thinks that what is happening and begins to very sensibly choose the desired ranges on the slopes. The manual regime pleases with the speed of the reaction to moving the lever, but most importantly, when reaching the red zone, it does not switch the box to the next step, allowing the motor to rest at the limiter, and the driver independently decide.
FAMILY VALUES
However, despite the rapid profile, optimistic dynamics and the ability to please an enthusiast of an enthusiast of the sound of the motor at high speeds, Honda Stream is still a means for a comfortable family trip. The steering and high narrow tires (195/65 R 15) do not support sports undertakings: the car reacts to the rotation with almost without roll, but not in a hurry, as if recalling the driver, that children in the cabin may not be ready for sharp maneuvers. There is not enough reactive action and accuracy of the steering. But the reactions are understandable and predictable, the supply of stability in the turns is great, and the stability at any speeds is almost impeccable. The suspension, although harshly perceives individual irregularities, but the energy intensive is quite comfortable, and the engine is almost not heard in the cabin up to 4000 min-1. Comfort and safety what else is needed for the family on the long journey? Is it only a larger trunk ...
What can be said in conclusion? Without direct analogues, Honda Stream can successfully compete on a fairly wide front of family cars, winning ordinary universals and compact minivans in capacity, and large UPV in compactness. The latter is not so unimportant, because not everyone who would like to have a six-seven-seventh car is needed to combine a van for 3 cubic meters of cargo. And the minibus appearance of full -fledged minivans is also not everyone else. Not to mention the corresponding fuel consumption ...

Text Dmitry Filonov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

Source: Cars