Honda StepWGN Hybrid 2.0 Spada Review

The tide continues to turn ever in the favour of SUVs, but big boxes on wheels continue to do big business. So much so that Honda's local authorised dealer, Kah Motor, has decided to bring in a model that you, dear reader, are probably already familiar with: The sixth-generation Honda Stepwgn Hybrid (stylised as 'StepWGN').

To address the question of familiarity, let's also address the elephant in the room. The Stepwgn isn't actually that new. In fact, it's been sold by the hundreds by parallel importers for over a year now. That's plenty of time to get well acquainted with its sturdy silhouette on our roads.

Better late than never? The Stepwgn has already been on sale for a while by parallel importers here

But late arrival aside, it's also worth pointing out that the Stepwgn had, till now, never formed part of Kah Motor's stable (previous generations made the swim to Singapore only via the grey market). Since seven-seaters of varying iterations are already fielded in the official Honda lineup, it's thus only logical to imagine that a serious conversation transpired between Kah Motor and the folks back in Japan to plead its case for appearing in the former's Ubi and Alexandra showrooms. 

All of which begs the question: What exactly lends weight to its appeal?

The Stepwgn is proud to shout about its people-moving identity 

Retro box on wheels

The answer, as it turns out, could start with how it looks. Uniqueness is not a trait you would ascribe to a large MPV - there are only so many ways to shape what is effectively a minibus - but the Stepwgn's maximalist embrace of its seven-seater identity is certainly head-turning. 

Every design element here feels targeted at accentuating its boxiness: Rectangular-shaped head lamps, large windows, and chunky side mirrors. The monolithic look of its rear end plays up this aesthetic even further, especially with the tall light strips running more than half the length of the car's towering tailgate.

Long, vertical tail lamps accentuate the monolithic look of the car's rear

The Stepwgn is sold here solely in top-shelf Spada trim, which gives it a light dose of aggression with a body kit that includes a sizeable rear spoiler.

Interestingly, it also does its arch-rivals from Toyota and Nissan one better with its larger 17-inch wheels, which fill the arches nicely and lend it extra presence. In all, it's still a handsome thing you'd feel contented walking back to in a carpark. 

The Stepwgn's third row could have the second rows of some compact SUVs pipped in terms of space; settling into them is also a cinch

Space wagon

Likewise, the Stepwgn is an MPV you'd feel contented settling into.

Space is the order of the day here, which is found in acres even in the last row. Getting into them is relatively fuss-free; since the Stepwgn is sold by Kah Motor only in seven-seater guise (with a 2+2+3 layout), occupants simply have to slip between the second row's two chairs to get to the rear. In doing so, they won't have to hunch their backs too much while walking inwards too, thanks to the car's low floor and tall body.

Large windows, dedicated cupholders and charging ports, and additional air vents make life in row three very comfortable indeed

Once settled in, they'll find a commodious third row of seats whose sheer generosity of headroom and legroom can put the second rows of many a compact crossover or SUV to shame. What's more, there are dedicated USB charging ports and cupholders to be enjoyed, while the last-row windows handily fend off claustrophobia with their size.

Here, it's worth noting that the Stepwgn has another slight edge over its direct Japanese rivals; its last row gets a rarer 60:40 split (rather than a 50:50 one) that aids comfort for the middle passenger.

The Stepwgn's boot gets an extra bit of depth with all seats in place, and boasts a clever fold-away mechanism for the third row that results in a completely flat floor

Even better is the fact that it boasts a sizeable boot with all seats in place, as well as an incredibly clever fold-down mechanism for the last row that results in a completely flat floor. 

Naturally, the best seats in the house on any MPV are to be found in the second row, and the Stepwgn once again excels on this front.

The second row captain's chairs also come with an extra special sauce with adjustable leg rests - not too common for the Stepwgn's segment

Its twin ottoman captain's chairs don't just boast the ability to recline and to slide fore and aft, but also come with leg rests - a feature not commonly found in its segment. The presence of these sorts of extra little touches continue to place the Stepwgn above its peers.

Amidst these flourishes, other essential features expected of modern MPVs are not skimped on too, including window shades, fold-down tray tables, USB-C charging ports embedded into the front seats, and most crucially, a control panel for the third climate zone.

This crisp 10.25-inch instrument cluster and the centre console's neat array of buttons are undeniable highlights of the car's dashboard

Furthermore, in an era where touch controls have become frustratingly widespread, the Stepwgn's front row also exudes quality and neatness with a modern yet ergonomically excellent dashboard.

Perhaps most charming is the array of matte-finished buttons on the centre console, which includes an excellent shift-by-wire gear selector. The car's 10.25-inch driver's display feels, at once, familiar yet sleek too. The only uninspiring outlier here is the dull aftermarket head unit – but at least this supports Apple CarPlay (wirelessly) and Android Auto.

Effortlessness in spades

Best of all, you don't get the sense that Honda's engineers were left out in the process of bringing the Stepwgn to life.

There is an admirable placidity to which it moves about – settled and unperturbed over surface imperfections and in slower traffic. Ease it into a quicker cruise and it shines even more still with how stable and (still) at ease it feels. For such a stocky machine, wind noise is even kept at bay admirably, though there is perceptible tyre roar.

These qualities are complemented by the fact that you're perched high up in a supportive driver's seat, with a large windscreen and equally large windows providing excellent all-round visibility. The Stepwgn is no small car, but placing it on the road is easier than you might imagine, given how effortless it is to gauge its corners.

Combined output from the car's 2.0-litre engine and two electric motors stands at a fairly generous 181bhp

Undoubtedly aiding proceedings, of course, is its e:HEV hybrid drivetrain, which comprises two electric motors and a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. Output stands at an impressive 181bhp, easily making the Stepwgn the most powerful among its peers (in fact, this is the exact same powertrain you'll find on the current Accord).

Refinement and pep are achieved in equally generous measure, with the instant torque of the car's electric motors always making light and silent work of moving off from a standstill. CVTs are usually frowned up because of the ruckus they kick up under strain, yet the one on the Stepwgn is easy to live with. In Singaporean traffic, you'll rarely need to push the car to the limits of its power to get it up to speed, even with all seats in the house filled. And even with a heavier right foot, the engine note feels removed enough that it's never grating.

Paddle shifters are also on hand to help adjust the level of regen braking - though the braking feel is mild even in its highest setting 

On that note, never lose sight of the fact that you're driving a 1.8-tonne, 1.85-metre tall box on wheels, and you might find that the Stepwgn has it in itself to entertain too. Overtaking overly-relaxed drivers is a cinch, and while the steering rack isn't the quickest, there's at least considerable (and surprising) weight. Your passengers will likely despise you for it, but Stepwgn can be hustled around a gentle bend more confidently than its peers.

Those who are seeking the last word in fuel efficiency, however, may find the Stepwgn lacking slightly (at least based on what we experienced).

The car's e:HEV hybrid drivetrain offers pep and refinement quite competently, but doesn't seem to be the most fuel-sipping on the market

Across more than 170km of driving - in relatively mixed traffic conditions, and with a fair bit of time with all three rows filled - we were on track to achieving a consumption figure of 15-16km/L.

In isolation, the figure is impressive for a machine ostensibly designed with nary an aerodynamic consideration in mind, but it remains some way off the official 20km/L quoted by Honda. It's probably also some way off its arch-rival from Toyota.

Class of its own

Then there's also the fact that the Stepwgn commands a small premium over its Japanese peers - no doubt a partial consequence of its neutral VES B banding compared to the A2 banding of the Serena e-POWER and Noah Hybrid.

Still, to understand the Stepwgn based on numbers alone would feel misguided. While utilitarian machines like MPVs often speak to your mind more than to your heart, the Stepwgn's delightful air of "a little bit more" tips the scales towards the latter slightly.

Over the three days I spend with it, there is one particular scene that keeps replaying after I've returned the car: Of the entire family (we are six) taking the long way home at 10:00pm after a spontaneous trip to Giant Tampines.

Across all three rows, no one is wanting for space; conversations flow easily from front to rear and at a normal volume in the car's hushed cabin, even as it is hustled along on Lane 1 of the TPE. In the moment, it is clear: Neither a smaller MPV nor a seven-seater SUV can deliver the space and comfort that the Stepwgn oozes so confidently.

Nor do rivals possess the same je ne sais quoi as a cleverly-packaged family car. The Stepwgn may have arrived late to the big-box-on-wheels party, but its seat at the table is very much still deserved, and still one that it uniquely occupies.

Don't forget to check out our reviews of these other mid-sized MPVs!

Excelling where it counts - in terms of space, equipment, nifty features, and even style - the new Serena e-POWER is as good as mid-sized MPVs come today

The Toyota Noah Hybrid pairs impressive efficiency with a cabin that will easily accommodate all the needs of your family

Competitively priced, the no-frills Maxus MIFA 7 is now more appealing than ever in Cat A COE-guise