The Honda Shuttle's predecessors

2016 Honda Shuttle

With the launch of the all-new Honda Shuttle, let's take a trip down memory lane to examine some of its predecessors. Little did you know that the Shuttle name in the history of Honda was first used on its station wagon variant from the third-generation Civic? Hmm? Anyway, time now for the history lesson before getting to know more about the new Shuttle from Honda.

Honda Civic Shuttle (AJ/AK/AR) (1983-1987) - In the 20th of October, 1983, Honda launched a five door estate version of the third-generation Civic. There's also a commercial version of the Shuttle called the Civic Pro which is suitable for business use in the Japanese domestic market. It was available with a 1.3L SOHC CVCC engine developing 80PS of power and a 1.5L SOHC CVCC engine developing 90 or 100PS of power. Available gearboxes, depending on the variant, are either a 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual, a 3-speed auto, or a 4-speed auto.

Honda Civic Shuttle (1983-1987)

Honda Civic Shuttle (EF2/3/4/5) (1987-1996) - Based on the 4th-generation Civic, the Shuttle model comes with a 4-link double wishbone suspension as well as a hyper 16-valve engine with something called Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system. IIt was launched in Japan since 1987 and it comes with either a 1.5L SOHC or a 1.6L SOHC engine, mated with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. In 1996, it was replaced by the Orthia and then later in 2004, the Airwave.

Honda Civic Shuttle (1987-1996)

Honda Fit Shuttle (2011-2015) - Based on the second-generation Fit, the Shuttle name has returned as the bigger version of the Fit. Originally, it should have been launched in Japan since mid-March 2011 but due to the March 11 quake and tsunami, the launch has been pushed to June 2011. It's available only with a 1.5L i-VTEC engine, in either a normal one or in a hybrid powertrain.

Honda Fit Shuttle (2011-2015)

The new Honda Shuttle is now available in Japan and it begins at 1,690,000 for the normal petrol variant while the hybrid model starts at 1,990,000 Yen.

Honda Shuttle

The Shuttle name in the history of Honda has been around since the Civic Shuttle and the Fit Shuttle and for the newest model, the all-new Honda Shuttle, which is an MPV based on the latest Honda Fit hatchback, is all about practicality and efficiency. Just everything what an average Japanese family would need for their imminent summer holiday.

2016 Honda Shuttle

First and foremost, the design for the new Shuttle is an utterly questionable one. At the front view, it looks like it's not adequate for a family-friendly people carrier because by the looks of it, it looks like surgeons gave an ugly man a big, ridiculous, lips. That's so nuts for someone with a horseface and then we get at the back which looks like it came from one of its chief rivals, the Toyota Wish. The old Fit Shuttle is like performing a surgery on a young woman's body and then resulted to an oversized buttocks but the new Shuttle is now becoming more like...Diego's. Yep, that guy from BG but atlit...

2016 Honda Shuttle interior

2016 Honda Shuttle interior

Because the new Shuttle is derived from the long line of Fit relatives including the Vezel crossover, the Grace sedan, and the recently-launched Jade MPV, which has a better-looking design than the Shuttle, the interior looks more similar to its cousins. You get seats for five people, some luggage space for your essentials, and then, the added compartment in the form of a storage unit hidden underneath the loading bay. Now that's convenient if you're going on a fishing trip with your kids at a lake.

2016 Honda Shuttle

The Shuttle only comes with 1.5L i-VTEC engine producing 132PS of power, 155Nm of torque, and 21.8km/L of fuel economy while connected with a CVT gearbox but if you want more range, you can opt with the hybrid variant which comes with the 7-speed dual clutch transmission, 22kW electric motor, and a li-ion battery, resulting to an incredible fuel economy of 34.0km/L, comfortably beating the Toyota Prius Alpha by a long shot. Running on electric motor alone, it produces more torque than its petrol engine.

You can have either a front-wheel drive if you're a casual civilian or if you're feeling under the weather, a 4WD model is at hand. Either way, you can expect the added quality and stability thanks to its amplitude reactive dampers. It's great for city use or in the suburbs but in open roads, it doesn't feel its sporty character from within. Overall, it's boring if you're on a trip in, let's just say, Tagaytay or Subic or Antipolo. It maybe quite a road trip car but for fun factor, it's worth a misery.

As for value of money, the Shuttle begins at 1,690,000 for the normal petrol variant while the hybrid model starts at 1,990,000 Yen so on paper, it's more affordable to own than the Prius Alpha and imagine how much money you save instead of buying the bigger Prius. Besides, with all that double clutch malarkey, this is much more engaging to drive than the Prius Alpha but rest assured, this is not the kind the car you want to own if you're still single or in a relationship. If you're married and had few kids, this is ideal for you or if you do have friends from high school, this is the better choice. Although the design looks more of a horseface to me, the new Shuttle might just be the ideal car for the Japanese family preparing for their imminent summer holiday.

Available colors: White Orchid Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Tinted Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Midnight Blue Beam Metallic, Mystic Garnet Pearl, Milano Red, and Gold Brown Metallic.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.