The reasoning behind a 4x4 version of Honda's blue-rinse mini people-carrier is somewhat obscure. A little light rally-crossing behind the day centre perhaps? Whatever, Honda felt it was just what its customers needed: a car six inches taller than its saloon stablemate and powered by a sewing-machine smooth 12-valve engine giving an excellent 85bhp and 100mph. The part-time four-wheel drive system was a pricey option but gave six speeds, the lowest being a real mud-plugger for hauling your hearing-aid beige Shuttle up that steep kerb outside M&S. Post '87, the car got a full-time four-wheel drive system with a centre differential. The restyled 1988-91 version had a detuned CRX 16-valve unit that delivered a colostomy bag-splitting 111mph and 0-60 mph in 9.9 seconds. This was not one of the so-called "lifestyle" 4x4s.
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