According to Winding Road, the next-generation Honda Stream mini-MPV is going to be sold in the US by 2009. The Stream has been a hit for Honda since it was originally released in 2000, but the current redesign has received mixed reviews.
In order to make more money off the Stream, which shares its mechanicals with the CR-V and Civic, Honda is going to start selling the vehicle in the US. It has been rumored for a while that Honda was going to import the vehicle here. The growing popularity of crossover CUV type vehicles surely had a role in this decision.
The JDM version of the Stream has three rows of seats and fits seven or eight passengers. Winding Road is reporting that the Stream will only be available with two rows of seats in the US.
In Japan, the Stream is available with either a 1.8L i-VTEC engine and five-speed auto or an 2.0L i-VTEC engine. It is unknown if the Stream will use these engines in the US or if it will be powered by the 2.4L that is currently in the CR-V. Since the Stream is larger than the Mazda5, it is unlikely we will see the 1.8L engine in the US.
The Stream has been spotted testing in LA, which should add more fuel to the rumors.
Full Story: Winding Road
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Comments (8)
Why can't Honda build a vehicle styled like this one, but sized more like the Odyssey?
Or, perhaps the question should be: why can't automakers create nice-looking cars for the American market at the same time as other markets?
Posted by Tom Underhill | August 30, 2007 12:49 AM
Posted on August 30, 2007 00:49
Tom Underhill : u should see the current asian version of odyssey...its better than this one, hod rod with 194 hp (absolute version), its shorter than american ody, anyway if you plan to import these...be sure to send me one :p
Posted by abdul azis arjoso | August 30, 2007 4:14 AM
Posted on August 30, 2007 04:14
Well, they have a similarly styled car Odyssey-size. Its has been a hit in Asia for over two years. And it is called Odyssey.
//us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i22/2280_5mg.jpg
Not only are US car makers silly, US car importers are silly as well.
On this Stream, it is a sweet Civic+ based car.
Posted by rene | August 30, 2007 6:48 AM
Posted on August 30, 2007 06:48
articles.motortoday.com/testdrive/Odyssey/
sorry for the text.
This car has been best seller for two years.
I guess not only US car brands are silly, importers are silly as well.
Posted by rene | August 30, 2007 6:56 AM
Posted on August 30, 2007 06:56
Yup... the rest of the world definitely gets nicer-looking cars.
Looks like funding and artistry gets cut somewhere between the prototype at the trade show and the showroom.
Posted by Tom Underhill | August 30, 2007 9:58 AM
Posted on August 30, 2007 09:58
yeah, the Asia/Australia Odyssey is very nice looking indeed... Saw plenty of them there (Australia)... now I'm in the U.S and saw the local odyssey and...just wonder.
Again, US is the biggest market... not sure why other smaller markets get better looking and better spec'd cars from Japanese manufacturers... is it the local engineering request?.. or just local taste?
Posted by Jamison | August 30, 2007 10:21 AM
Posted on August 30, 2007 10:21
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am sure that when it comes to looks, the importers and car makers are responding to market demand.
As to specs, US EPA and crash rating specs are generally tougher than in other markets, so that may be why the specs aren't the same. More emmissions controls and heavier construction.
Posted by jake | August 30, 2007 1:05 PM
Posted on August 30, 2007 13:05
Seems like we Americans are getting screwed once again. I've always been a fan of Honda vehicles but what we get here in the US has consistently been worse than vehicles from Japan/Europe that bear the same name. The European Accord comes to mind. It's basically an Acura with a wide range of engine and body configurations. Even available in a really sharp looking TDI wagon.
Still, it looks like the Stream is a step in the right direction for HAM. Reminds me of the 1st-gen US Odyssey.
Posted by Paul | August 30, 2007 2:32 PM
Posted on August 30, 2007 14:32