A few weeks after the revealing teasers of the all-new sixth-generation Step WGN, Honda has officially unveiled the minivan online, ahead of its physical debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon and its market launch in Japan that is scheduled for spring 2022. The first generation of the Step WGN debuted in 1996, which means that this year marks its 25th anniversary.
Honda showed us two variants of the new Step WGN called “Air” and “Spada”, with the latter having a “Premium line” flagship trim level. Compared to its predecessor that was introduced in 2015 and received a facelift in 2017, the sixth-gen looks a lot cleaner, representing the latest evolution of Honda’s design language.
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The minivan adopts a two-box layout with cleaner surfacing, a longer front overhang, a pushed-back a-pillar, a lower beltline, large sliding doors, standard 16-inch wheels, and a flat tail. The LED headlights are connected to the horizontal character line on the profile, with the front bumper and grille featuring a slightly different design in the “Air” and “Spada” variants. At the back, the vertical LED taillights allow for a big tailgate opening reaching very low on the bumper.
In the cabin, there are three rows of seats accommodating up to six passengers with plenty of leg- and headroom. The middle row seems to be the most comfortable since the two individual captain seats feature reclining footrests and armrests, while being able to slide front and back and left and right. Also, the foldable third row is more comfortable than before thanks to thicker foam on the seats. Among the highlights of the interior is the easy-to-clean water- and oil-repellent “Fabtech” upholstery which sounds ideal for families with young children.
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The dashboard has a large 11.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a practical tray above the glove box in the front passenger’s side, an array of buttons in the center console including the simple switches for the auto gearbox, plus slim climate vents with a honeycomb pattern similar to the new Civic. Additionally, there is a roof-mounted 15.6-inch monitor for the rear passengers.
The Step WGN Air has lighter tones and warm colors inspired by the atmosphere of a living room, while the Step WGN Spada adopts darker tones and looks more premium. According to Honda, the horizontal lines “stabilize the occupant’s field of vision” and help reduce motion sickness. Finally, all variants of the Step WGN will benefit from the standard Honda Sensing ADAS suite.
Unfortunately, Honda didn’t announce details on the platform and the engine lineup of the minivan. However, we already know that it will be available both as a hybrid (e:HEV), and in petrol-only guise. The e:HEV will use a two-motor hybrid system with three driving modes, EV (electric only), Hybrid (both engines), Engine (petrol – only in high-speeds).
Honda will show a pre-production prototype of the Step WGN in the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022. We don’t know if the company is planning on offering the minivan outside Japan but it seems unlikely. Rivals of the Step WGN include the Toyota Noah and Voxy siblings which are also getting a brand new generation, plus the Nissan Serena. For a more detailed look you can watch the official presentation below, although it is in Japanese.
https://youtu.be/9_YrNpDidk4
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