Honda has revealed the second generation N-WGN, ahead of its home market launch in Japan on 9th August 2019.
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Featuring boxy body style with a clean minimalist design, the new N-WGN gets more substantial-looking surfaces that enhance the feeling of solidity, while the round headlights flanking the rather retro grille give the car a friendlier face. At the rear, the slim vertical tail lights, integrated into the shape of the tailgate, add to its modern look.
As with most Japanese kei cars, the Custom model gets sportier front and rear bumpers, ornamental grille and LED head- and tail lights. The N-WGN Custom also receives a black interior with titanium-look trim, rather than the standard brown and ivory color scheme.
Inside, the N-WGN gets a clean horizontal dashboard design that provides plenty of storage space and USB ports within easy access. There is even a tray hidden away under the rear seats for yet more room for all the odds and ends. For the first time in a Honda kei car, a tilt- and telescopic-adjusting steering wheel is fitted as standard, as is an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold.
The new N-WGN is based on the even taller and boxier N-Box, featuring a low floor and Honda’s novel central fuel tank positioning that free up more space for occupants. Entry and egress is aided by the lowering of the side sills and the optimization of the seat height to minimize waist movement when stepping in or out.
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Meanwhile, the boot floor and sill have been lowered to make it easier to load heavier cargo, while an included cargo board enables the luggage area to be split into upper and lower portions. The board also creates a flat load bay with the rear seats folded, and it can also be stowed on the backs of the rear seats to enable the fitment of taller items.
In terms of safety, the N-WGN comes with the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features as standard, including a Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), that now incorporates bicycle (a first for a kei car, Honda says) and nighttime pedestrian detection.
Other items include Pedestrian Collision Mitigation Steering, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), traffic sign recognition and auto high beam. Then there are the features that are common in Japan, such as a Lead Car Departure Notification System and a False Start Prevention that also protects against pedal misapplication in reverse.
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The 2019 N-WGN continues to be powered by a 658 cc petrol three-cylinder. The naturally-aspirated version makes 58 hp and 65 Nm of torque, while the turbocharged unit churns out 64 hp and 104 Nm. The engine is paired to a CVT with an option of front- or all-wheel drive, having a claimed fuel efficiency of up to 23.2 km/ liter on the WLTP cycle.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
