Assorted rants, opinions and other venting...: "The Honda Jade is the Civic Wagon You’ve Always Wanted"

This is the tittle of an article in China Car Times (link). And it's perfect.

I've ranted about not liking the Current Civic and the Tourer for mostly one serious basic reason (rear axle), and a couple added ones (style and engine choice).

Now there's a new Honda around. It's called the Jade and it's gorgeous...

Also it's based in the latest Stream platform (the one sold in Japan and nowhere else) which allows it to be the sporty small MPV I learned to love. It has proper independent rear suspension, it's roomy, full of high tech inside and did I mention it's beautiful?

One more thing, it's 5 ~~to 7 seater~~ (actually the 5 seater doesn't have the extra row ins the back) or a 4 to 6 seater. The later actually is perfect for me too. I daily drive with my 2 kids in the back, and occasionally take my in-laws along on weekend or summer vacation.

Here's a cool animation of the 4-6 seater config:

(right click and choose play if it doesn't automatically)

Sadly it's China only for now. Sadly as well, only 1.8 and 2.0 gasoline engines are available.

One has to wonder how hard would it be to stick the 1.6 i-dtec / 1.6 petrol in it and sell then in Europe?

Apparently, the whole world wants this new "Stream" if you take into account the feedback from people in forums:

http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=1157759&page_number=1&

All the official info available is on the Chinese site: