Winding Road is reporting that the next-generation Honda Stream mini-MPV may be sold in the U.S. Having just been redesigned last year, the next Stream won’t arrive until 2009, and even then we doubt it will receive anything more than a refreshening. Nevertheless, Honda appears intent to make some money off of this MPV that’s based on the same platform as the Civic and CR-V. It’s reportedly been a big hit in Japan since it debuted in 2000, though the recent redesign has met with mixed reviews. Though the JDM version can seat up to seven or eight people, Winding Road reports the U.S. version will probably get only two rows of seats. In Japan, the Stream is available with either a R18A 1.8L i-VTEC engine and five-speed auto or an R20A 2.0L i-VTEC engine mated to a CVT transmission. Whether those engines will be offered in the U.S. in unknown, though we would expect at least the larger of the two motors to make the journey to our shores.
Considering Honda’s success with the Odyssey in the minivan segment, the Stream may do very well in the U.S. It appears smaller than a minivan, but larger than, say, a Mazda5. The current trend of segment-bending tall wagons and CUVs could carry the Stream right along.
[Source: Winding Road]
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