🤯 Is This the Most Bizarre Honda You’ve Ever Seen?

Original | Honda Magazine | Japanese Car Enthusiast Magazine | 🗓️ May 3, 2025 | 🕘 09:00 AM

At the 31st Tokyo Motor Show in October 1995, Honda exhibited two extremely special models. 🌟 Hello, my friend...
Welcome to a hidden gem—OLD FISHER DISCOUNT, your one-stop online shop with 9,999+ unique finds waiting for you. 🎉
🛒 Explore a World of Discoveries
Dive into our collection and uncover special treasures that will delight and inspire.
🔗 Start Your Journey Here: www.fisherdiscount.com
Come and see why we’re more than just a shop; we’re a place of endless possibilities! ✨
The first car Honda revealed at the show was the one we are talking about today—called the S-MX. The second model was named F-MX. These two names are probably very unfamiliar to everyone, right? In fact, the F-MX later became the StepWgn. However, this article is not about the F-MX, but rather the very unique model: the S-MX.

🚗 The meaning of the name S-MX is:
S – Street
M – Mover
X – Unknown
Representing a vehicle full of mystery and charm. 🌀✨

The S-MX was officially launched in the Japanese market on November 12, 1996, with the chassis code RH1/2. This vehicle was released as the fourth model in Honda’s “Creative Mover” series. The purpose? To reshape how people interact with cars through highly individualistic designs. 🎨🧠

🎯 The S-MX targeted a younger audience, with a design and size that leaned more youthful compared to its sibling, the family-oriented StepWgn. While the StepWgn had three rows of seats for up to 8 people, the S-MX seated 4–5 max, with a shorter and livelier design. In Japan, this body style had a special term: “Tall Wagon”. 🧍🧍🧍♂️

💡 The door handles? Borrowed from the first-generation Honda City. A nostalgic touch! 🚪

🛑 But the doors themselves? Now that’s where it gets quirky. The S-MX was a 3+1 four-door vehicle, with no door behind the driver’s seat. Instead, there were two doors on the passenger side. This unique design helped prevent passengers from exiting into traffic—perfect for safety-conscious youth and city driving. 🛣️🔒

📦 Interior-wise, it made magic with its 2500mm wheelbase. Not only did passengers enjoy spacious legroom, but the trunk was massive, too. The real surprise? The seats! 🛏️
Both front and rear seats could fold down. Remove the front seat headrests, and voilà—instant bed. On a car aimed at young people? That bed came in handy... Don’t ask why. 😏😉

⚙️ Under the hood: a 2.0L B20B engine producing 130 hp and 183 Nm of torque (upgraded to 140 hp and 186 Nm in 1999). Transmission? A 4-speed automatic only. It came in both FWD and AWD—the latter using Honda’s DPS Real Time 4WD (chassis code RH2). 🔧💥

🛠️ B-series fans, take note: If that power’s not enough, a B16B head + 6-speed manual swap transforms it into a sleeper beast. 💨🔥

🎨 Then came the special edition “Lowdown”, launched on September 19, 1997. This version lowered the car by 15mm, added a custom body kit, and tweaked the exhaust for a deeper tone. Inside? Orange trim details made it pop. 🟧🎶

🔚 Between 1996 and 2002, Honda sold 158,380 units of the S-MX—an impressive feat for such a niche, youth-focused car. After its run ended, the S-MX’s spirit lived on within the StepWgn lineup. 🏁