Kah Motor launches Honda StepWGN Hybrid in Singapore

Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) have held their ground admirably against the onslaught of crossovers and SUVs flooding the market in recent years. And this trend may very well be set to continue, with Honda's authorised dealer for Singapore, Kah Motor, now officially launching the Honda StepWGN e:HEV (or StepWGN Hybrid) on our shores. 

Worth highlighting immediately is that unlike some units sold by parallel importers (PIs), Kah Motor is only bringing in the seven-seater variant of the StepWGN Hybrid. This also arrives in its showrooms solely in the 'Spada' trim, which gives it its own unique layered front grille, front and rear bumpers, side sills and a rear spoiler.

The Honda StepWGN is sold solely in seven-seater guise and in the Spada trim by Kah Motor 

Aimed at large families, Honda states that the StepWGN Hybrid was conceived of with the grand concept of 'wonderful living' in mind.

The MPV sports a 'life expander box' design that doesn't just convey a sense of security with its planted and solid stance, but actually boasts impressive structural safety to keep those onboard secure. Blocky silhouette aside, arguably the most distinctive design feature on the car is its pair of long, vertical tail lights, which help to frame its rear end. It also rides on 17-inch wheels as standard.

The StepWGN's low floor and tall vehicle body is said to make entry and exit easy for occupants of all sizes and ages 

Since Honda's idea of wonderful living involves convenience and comfort for all onboard, the StepWGN Hybrid comes with a low floor and tall body that facilitates easier entry and exit for passengers of all ages.

Second row occupants are treated to the best seats onboard - twin ottoman captain seats - which are four-way adjustable, and come with their own arm- and legrests. Other creature comforts here include manual sunshades, fold down tray tables (containing two cupholders each), as well as a roof-mounted control panel for the car's third climate zone. One noteworthy feature here is the fact that the rails on which the captain chairs run are neatly concealed by rubber seals.

The second row's captain chairs feature four-way adjustment and their own dedicated legrests. Also available here are tray tables, window shades and USB-C charging ports

But even those relegated to row three should find themselves quite comfy, with legroom still available in relatively generous portions thanks to the car's long 2,888mm wheelbase. Additionally, the large squarish windows should do well to help them in fending off claustrophobia, while dedicated USB-C charging ports here ensure that the entertainment will never run dry as a result of flat batteries.

While most MPVs tend to trade passenger space for cargo space, the StepWGN stands as the rare entrant that doesn't force a compromise between one or the other.

While Honda doesn't quote official capacity figures, the car's boot appears capable of swallowing two pieces of standard-size luggages even with all seven seats in place.

Life in row three promises to be comfortable too thanks to the tall roofline and the availability of USB-C ports and cupholders 

Neat trick: Unlike many competitors, the StepWGN's last row can be folded away neatly into the car floor

Get cracking at putting the last row away and another neat trick reveals itself. Unlike its competitors' fold up last-row seats, the StepWGN Hybrid's clever seat mechanism allows the last row to be stowed away downwards, resulting in a cavernous loading space with the same low and flat floor.

Practical strengths aside, the StepWGN Hybrid promises to also delight the driver with a high quality yet functional cabin. Light stitching across the seats and dashboard provides a nice contrast to the darker materials used, while the seats are upholstered in 'FABTECT' - a water- and oil-repellent material that promises to be easy to clean.

A crisp 10.2-inch driver's display greets the driver alongside sensibly labelled physical controls on the steering wheel, and paddle shifters for adjusting the car's regen braking

Furthermore, StepWGN Hybrid comes equipped with a crisp 10.2-inch driver's display with customisable gauges, but retains a spread of sensible physical controls on its steering wheel and just below its 11.6-inch touch infotainment display. While it's worth pointing out that the latter is an aftermarket Alpine unit, it does offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Instead of a conventional lever, the car also gets a shift-by-wire gear selector that neatens out the centre console area. Paddle shifters are on hand, too, so that drivers can intuitively adjust the level of regen braking.

The StepWGN Hybrid also gets a shift-by-wire gear selector with flattened out buttons, which are neater looking than a conventional gear lever

On that note, the StepWGN Hybrid's e:HEV powertrain comprises a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine and two electric motors (drawing power from a lithium-ion battery), capable of a peak output of 181bhp.

This setup gives the StepWGN three distinct drive modes - EV mode, Hybrid mode and Engine mode - which help this boxy MPV see to a variety of on-road scenarios ranging from electric-only driving in stop-and-go-traffic to overtaking at highway speeds. Honda claims an official consumption figure of 20km/L, which is impressive for such a large vehicle.

Power comes from the car's e:HEV hybrid drivetrain, which comprises a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine and twin electric motors

On the move, the car's standard suite of 'Honda Sensing' ADAS features also promises to take the stress out of driving, with highlights including Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Traffic Jam Assist, and Lane Keeping Assist.

The arrival of the StepWGN Hybrid in Kah Motor's Alexandra and Ubi showrooms admittedly comes a good while after the model was first brought in by parallel importers (PIs), but these AD-sold units nonetheless offer their own exclusive goodies.

The StepWGN Hybrid is being sold by Kah Motor with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and a 10-year e:HEV battery warranty

All StepWGN Hybrids sold by Kah Motor will come with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, as well as a 10-year e:HEV battery warranty, so that drivers can enjoy peace of mind for the full duration of their ownership journeys.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Nicholas Wong, Group CEO of Kah Motor, Singapore and Brunei, acknowledged the speed at which the automotive landscape has evolved in recent years, but nonetheless noted: "Honda's journey through change has always been advanced and forward-looking. Over the past decade, we have transformed how we design, build, and deliver our cars, guided by our commitment to the three joys of buying, selling, and creating."

Mr Nicholas Wong, Group CEO of Kah Motor, Singapore and Brunei, praised the brand's e:HEV technology for its combination of efficiency and performance, before teasing the arrival of a Honda EV in 2026

Continuing, he noted that Honda's e:HEV hybrid technology continues to represent"a key step in the [brand's] journey, combining electric efficiency with the performance and dependency that customers expect", before teasing that the brand's lineup will officially welcome its first EV in 2026.

"Even though the automotive landscape in Singapore has transformed drastically, we remain committed to our shared pursuit of progress, new energy, smart technology, and better ownership experiences for every one of our customers," he continued. 

The Honda StepWGN Hybrid is now available for test drives at Honda's Ubi and Alexandra showrooms. Prices start at $238,999 (with a special $6,000 discount already factored in), with this launch period seeing Kah Motor extend a further $5,000 launch discount to buyers.