Import 2019 Honda Stepwagon Spada 1.5

The 2019 Honda Stepwagon Spada is one of the most innovative, spacious, and family-friendly mid-size MPVs (Multi-Purpose Vehicles) on the market. This RP3 facelift generation features an aggressive premium front grille alongside Honda's engineering masterclass: the dual-opening "Waku Waku Gate" split tailgate system. Clocking a highly protected 45,587 kms, this specific unit is in excellent, low-mileage condition. Dressed in a sleek Black Exterior, it features a highly efficient 1500cc VTEC Turbo petrol engine paired with dual power sliding doors and an ultra-practical 3-row seat walk-through cabin. It represents an exceptional everyday vehicle that prioritizes maximum interior utility without sacrificing driving engagement.

2. Engine and Performance

• Engine: 1.5-litre (1,496 cc) L15B VTEC Turbo Inline 4-Cylinder Petrol Engine.

• Aspiration: Single-scroll turbocharger with intercooler and direct fuel injection.

• Power Output: 150 PS (148 bhp / 110 kW) @ 5,500 RPM.

• Torque: A flat, punchy 203 Nm (150 lb-ft) available early from 1,600 to 5,000 RPM.

• Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) featuring a Manual Transmission (MT) mode with steering paddle shifters.

• Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).

• 0–100 km/h: ~8.9 seconds.

• Top Speed: 180 km/h.

3. Groundbreaking Performance & Dynamics

• VTEC Turbo Powerplant: By swapping the old sluggish 2.0L naturally aspirated engines for a downsized 1.5L turbo, Honda provides maximum overtaking torque low down in the rev range, allowing the MPV to accelerate effortlessly even when fully loaded with passengers.

• Manual (MT) Shift Mode: Includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that trigger simulated steps in the CVT, allowing the driver to control deceleration via engine braking on steep downcountry descents.

• Low Center of Gravity Chassis: Designed with an ultra-low floor plan that keeps heavy powertrain components closer to the tarmac, ensuring car-like stability around corners and minimal body sway for rear occupants.

4. Luxury Interior & Sensory Technology

• 3-Row Seat Walk-Through Configuration: Features a spacious cabin layout with an open center aisle running from the front seats down through the second row, allowing parents to move easily across the cabin to attend to children in the rear.

• Dual Dual Power Sliding Doors: Equipped with premium, fully automated power sliding side doors on both sides, which can be operated via the driver's dashboard buttons, door handles, or the remote key fob.

• Magic 3rd-Row Folding Seats: The rear-most seats fold completely flat into a dedicated floor well recess in one quick motion, turning the rear cabin into a cavernous cargo hold with an entirely flat floor surface.

• Premium Infotainment Integration: Central touchscreen media display housing reversing camera guides, Bluetooth connectivity, and full multi-zone digital climate control vents piped through the ceiling panels.

5. Safety & Driver Assistance

• Honda Sensing Safety Suite: Outfitted with radar-guided Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with forward pedestrian detection.

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC): Features Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system which monitors tire grip and applies selective individual wheel braking to counter understeer or oversteer during emergency maneuvers.

• Comprehensive Airbag Matrix: Equipped with advanced dual front SRS airbags, including specialized passenger seat airbag mitigation sensors, alongside side and curtain impact shields.

6. Exterior Styling Elements

• Spada Sport Aerodynamics: Outfitted with a highly aggressive chrome front grille, deeper front bumper lips, integrated side skirts, a rear roof lip spoiler, and distinct dark-pocket Spada accents.

• Innovative Waku Waku Gate: A unique 3-way rear door assembly. The massive tailgate opens vertically like a standard hatch, but it also features a sub-door that swings open sideways like a regular door, allowing passengers to enter or exit from the 3rd row or load groceries easily in tight spaces.

• Signature LED Lighting: Sharp, multi-reflective LED headlight assemblies coupled with integrated cornering lamps that illuminate blind junctions when the steering wheel turns.

7. Dimensions, Weight, and Towing

• Length / Width / Height: 4,760 mm / 1,695 mm / 1,840 mm.

• Wheelbase: 2,890 mm.

• Kerb Weight: ~1,680 kg.

• Seating Capacity: 7 or 8 Persons configuration.

• Boot Capacity: Expands past 1,200 Litres with the 3rd row hidden in the floor matrix.

8. Wheels and Chassis

• Suspension Architecture: Independent MacPherson strut front suspension coupled with a space-saving rear torsion beam axle designed to maximize interior floor flatness.

• Premium Spada Alloys: Balanced on factory 16 or 17-inch multi-spoke aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in comfort-biased family touring tires.

9. Fuel Economy (km/l)

• Combined Cycle: ~14.2 km/l (7.0 L/100km).

• City Commuting: ~11.8 km/l (8.5 L/100km).

• Highway Cruise: ~16.6 km/l (6.0 L/100km).

• Total Fuel Tank Capacity: 52 Litres.

10. Offroad Capability

• Ground Clearance: 150 mm.

• Terrain Adaptability: Designed purely for urban environments and long family highway road trips. While ESC/VSA traction modules confidently handle slippery, rain-drenched tarmac or flat gravel estate drives, its low chin spoilers and long wheelbase mean it should avoid rugged upcountry washouts or jagged rocky trails.

11. Maintenance

• Service Interval: 10,000 km routine oil and filter renewals.

• Annual Budget (Kenya Range): KSh 35,000 – KSh 55,000.

• Parts Infrastructure: Excellent in Nairobi. The 1.5L L15B Turbo engine is widely utilized across Kenya in the modern Honda Civic and Honda CR-V, meaning routine mechanical filters, brake pads, and ignition plugs are affordable and readily stocked. Specialized body panels or unique Waku Waku Gate door hardware components require sourcing via specialized Japanese parts importers.

• Technical Warning: The L15B Turbo engine utilizes direct injection and demands a high maintenance standard. Always utilize high-quality, full synthetic engine oils (typically 0W-20 or 5W-30) to preserve the turbocharger bearings. Ensure the CVT fluid is replaced strictly every 40,000 km with genuine Honda HCF-2 fluid to avoid costly belt slippage.

12. Price and Market Info

Note: Value brackets represent current 2026 market metrics for a foreign-used, duty-paid 2019 Honda Stepwagon Spada in premium condition with low mileage (~45,000 km) landed in Kenya.

13. Summary

The 2019 Honda Stepwagon Spada 1.5T at 45,587 kms is one of the smartest, most functional family acquisitions available. In a market segmented between bulky luxury vans and tiny hatchbacks, it sits in the absolute sweet spot. The clever low-floor walk-through interior layout and dual power sliding doors make daily school drops entirely effortless, while the revolutionary Waku Waku split tailgate provides peerless cargo convenience. Backed by a punchy, ultra-efficient VTEC turbo engine that keeps fuel expenses highly economical, this low-mileage black Spada represents a premium asset built for stress-free family life.

14. Car Rating

• Performance: 8.4/10 (Punchy turbo torque makes it feel surprisingly quick off the mark compared to standard naturally aspirated MPVs)

• Luxury & Comfort: 8.8/10 (Incredible interior airiness, excellent soft seating setups, and whisper-quiet urban operation)

• Technology & Innovation: 9.2/10 (The Waku Waku rear door configuration and Honda Sensing active safety suites are brilliant engineering solutions)

• Fuel Economy: 8.9/10 (Extremely frugal fuel numbers for a large, multi-passenger box wagon)

• Off-Road Capability: 2.5/10 (Low ground clearance limits travel exclusively to standard streets, flat paved surfaces, and light gravel lanes)

• Maintenance Costs: 8.5/10 (High parts commonality across the global Honda engine family keeps basic ownership costs highly affordable)

• Overall Value Score: 9.0/10