Honda for us has always had a young, fresh and appealing sort of image. It is, of course, one of the youngest car makers in the world and before cars, 30 or more years ago, it was making its name with bikes.
Today also it has another distinction, as the biggest engine manufacturer in the world. Honda gives power to an array of products - like outboards and lawnmowers and hedge clippers.
We have been testing not one but two of Honda's products that go on four wheels, the latest version of the 2.0 litre CR-V with 4x4 capability and the Stream, similarly powered and with a family MPV layout that has seven seats. Honda believe that its greater carrying capacity creates an advantage over some other MPVs but at €32,062 it is one that you pay for.
First, though, to the CR-V. You have to admire Honda's refreshing honesty. Other manufacturers advertise their 4x4s wading with hippos and chasing wildlife over African plains. Honda admits that the CR-V was designed with family duties in mind. Thus, it combines the off-roader looks that are so treasured outside shops and schools, with the practicality of an MPV and car-like dynamics.
From the outside, it doesn't look too different from the model it replaces.
In Honda-speak the CR-V has a new shortened, restyled nose, including redesigned headlights and a larger chrome grille, giving "a leaner, more purposeful front end" and "a more powerful presence". While the updated external styling is subtle, there's a lot of change internally.
CR-V uses Honda's innovative compact platform first seen on the Civic, which gives a totally flat floor and a huge advantage over rivals when it comes to interior space. It's all change under the bonnet, too, with the same 1,998cc four-cylinder i-VTEC engine that powers the Stream, coupled with an improved five-speed manual or four-speed automatic box with a dashboard-mounted shift.
VTEC is Honda's variable valve timing system: the "i" stands for intelligent and denotes new continuously variable inlet timing designed to boost power and torque and make more of both available over a broader rev range.
On the road, it all translates into punchy performance, with a 0 to 62mph (or 100kph) sprint in just over 10 seconds in manual form and a top speed of 110mph.
Unlike many SUVs, the CR-V's performance can be enjoyed to the full, thanks to the well-balanced chassis, firm ride and reassuring brakes. It comes with electric power steering, which on our test provided an ample amount of feel and feedback.
The vehicle's 4x4 efficacy has everything to do with wet, muddy, or icy tarmacadam, not so much with going off road. A lack of suspension travel, quite low ground clearance and only a part-time four-wheel-drive set-up could mean it was out of its depth when playing around in the mucky stuff.
As so few buyers are ever likely to explore the car's off-road capabilities, Honda is prepared to sacrifice any mud-plugging pretensions to gain class-leading on-road handling.
It's not only on the tarmac where the CR-V has the edge over its rivals.
Innovative rear seats that fold up vertically behind the driver give a van-like loading capacity, while there's a much improved split tailgate arrangement. Interior fixtures and fittings seem better or more pleasing compared with the old model: there's also a much softer feel to the dashboard, plastics and switches.
We didn't like the oddly-shaped handbrake incorporated into the dashboard.
It's a novel styling cue but impractical and annoying. That apart, the CR-V is cleverly laid out with a neat folding table between the front seats, plenty of cubby holes and storage spaces, plus loads of room for adults or children in the back. Awkward or bulky items can be accommodated in the rear with the 60/40 split rear seats sliding fore and aft. With the seats folded forwards, it's possible to stand two mountain bikes upright.
Our test showed the CR-V to be extraordinarily frugal with the fuel. We managed 42mpg overall and we weren't on any economy run. The official combined fuel consumption of 36.7mpg is much better than average for the class. A diesel-engined version of the CR-V is notable by its absence: maybe such results indicate it isn't needed.
Finally to price which is €34,365 ex-works. Extras are the automatic transmission, €1,314; metallic paint, €285 and sunroof, €585.
For the €34,365 tag, the standard specification is predictably comprehensive including climate controlled air conditioning, electric windows all round, and a useful rear underfloor storage area within the boot for wet items. Incidentally, around 40 per cent of Irish buyers of the CR-V go for it in automatic form. When it was launched here in April 1997, it was available only as an automatic. Since that time, over 2,100 have gone on Irish roads.
Less familiar, then, is our second Honda test subject, the similarly-engined Stream. The Honda definition of Stream sounds a bit flamboyant: it combines "sports-coupΘ performance with estate car space and flexibility". We found it fun to use, especially with the greater low-end flexibility from this newer VTEC engine but we didn't get "sports-coupΘ" vibes. Handling traits are similar to the standard Civic: the chassis feels stiff while the ride is both firm and comfortable.
With a top speed of 127mph and a 0 to 62mph (100kph), it's an impressive performance for a MPV. Stream, however, isn't a sporting car. Buyers are more likely to be interested in the interior. Here it borrows from the Civic, sharing its logical central console and instruments and snappy dash-mounted gearchange.
The driving position is good although low compared to its rivals: Honda interestingly sells this as an advantage. The seats are firm and provide plenty of lateral support.
We noted two flaws in the packaging. The first is the useless ledge below the dash which spills out its contents at the first corner. The second is the empty space left by moving the gearlever to the dash: it could be useful for stowing a bag, perhaps, but the Stream lacks the cubbyholes which would otherwise occupy this slot.
Honda has avoided the one thousand and one seating combinations that other car makers offer, in favour of a simple but practical layout. The second row accommodates three on a proper bench which can be slid to optimise legroom and boot space. It also folds down to give a table.
Headroom is excellent but it isn't possible to seat two six-footers one behind the other. The rear seats are thin and best suited to the kids: they come with cupholders, cubbies and rear vent controls. The seats can be folded into the floor to give a flat load bay with a luggage cover fitted. With the seats down, luggage space approaches that of the estate versions of the Ford Focus or Opel Astra.
Again, the i-VTEC engine delivered impressive economy. Long drives with just one passenger and little or no luggage meant 38mpg. The official combined figure is 32.8mpg. Stream comes to the Irish market with an ex-works price of €32,062.
That money includes automatic air conditioning with a rear cooler, a rake of cup and bottle holders and leather on the steering wheel and gear knob.
Extras are metallic paint €285 and automatic transmission €1,841.
Stream is a fine spacious MPV with an excellent engine that's well-suited to the expanding family and its carrying needs. There's strong performance across the rev range but Honda hasn't persuaded us yet that it's a sports car!