The Second Generation Honda Today

Original by HonDaZhi | JDM Enthusiast Magazine | 2025-03-04

🌟 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! ✨

Continuing from our last discussion, in 1990, after Japan revised the Kei-Car regulations, the first-generation Honda Today received improvements in body structure and engine displacement. However, the manufacturer soon realized that the Today was still positioned as a commercial vehicle. While many fans appreciated it, the design and craftsmanship still lacked comfort. Recognizing this, Honda officially announced the launch of the second-generation Today in January 1993, redesigning it completely and abandoning its commercial roots to transform it into a passenger car. 🚗✨

🖼 Image: The exterior of the second-generation Today had minimal changes, but the most notable feature was the Pochette design.

🖼 Image: The Pochette design included a rear windshield that recessed forward while the trunk lid protruded outward. The trunk lid opened by flipping downward.

The second-generation Today was assigned chassis codes JA4 and JA5. Compared to the first generation, which carried the JW-series chassis codes, only JW4 remained in use for commercial models. While the design looked like a hatchback, it was not officially classified as one. Initially, the Today was released as a two-door model, with both doors directly mounted on the body. But what about the rear? Honda ingeniously designed a trunk-style cargo area. This trunk lid connected to the rear windshield, but when opened, it functioned separately—acting as an independent cover under the rear windshield.

This design was rarely seen on cars like Today but had been previously used in Kei-Car vans. Honda named this version "Pochette", which means "bag" in French—a unique and creative way to describe the compact and efficient Today. 👜✨

The interior space of Today was asymmetrical—wider on the driver's side and slightly narrower on the passenger side.

The second-generation Today remained compact, but Honda maximized space efficiency. Similar to the first generation, the interior was asymmetrical. The driver’s side had a width of 500mm, while the passenger side measured 460mm. This was not a random decision; through market research, Honda identified its primary customers—young, single women. Studies showed that women primarily drive alone and rarely need extra cargo or passenger space, making this configuration ideal for driver comfort. 👩‍🦰🚗

 The four-door Today Associe also retained the Pochette design, though it was introduced in a later model update.

Initially, the second-generation Today was only available as a two-door Pochette model. However, in May 1993, five months after launch, Honda introduced a four-door version. This new model removed the Pochette design and adopted a true hatchback configuration. Named Today Associe, it came with additional features such as power windows for the front seats (rear windows remained manual). Additionally, apart from the base model, all Associe versions came standard with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and ELR three-point seatbelts for enhanced safety. 🛡🚘

🔥 Performance Upgrades

Under the hood, the second-generation Today came with only one engine option—a 656cc three-cylinder engineborrowed from the Honda Beat. However, buyers could choose between two power versions:

✅ Standard engine: 48HP @ 6,300rpm | 5.8kgm torque @ 5,500rpm
✅ High-performance MTREC version: 58HP @ 7,300rpm | 6.1kgm torque @ 6,200rpm

Both engines were available with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 3-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the first generation, the second-generation Today offered 4WD versions, even with an automatic gearbox. 🏎💨

After a facelift, the Today lineup included both Pochette models and traditional hatchback versions. However, many enthusiasts still found the Pochette design cuter. 😍

The rear of the hatchback Today looked more conventional, losing the Pochette’s unique charm.

As mentioned earlier, the Today evolved into a true passenger car, meaning comfort was no longer an afterthought. Honda enhanced ride quality by retuning the torsion beam rear suspension, adjusting springs and dampers to make the rear end softer and more comfortable. 🚙💨

Although the Today was a popular Kei-Car, it was ultimately overshadowed by the Suzuki Wagon R. Seeing this, Honda considered developing a more competitive Kei-Car. In 1997, they introduced the Honda Life, marking the next chapter in their Kei-Car evolution. 🔥🚗