HONDA Avancier 1999-2003 Photos, engines & full specs

Honda tried a different approach for its home market and introduced the Avancier as a sportier station wagon version of the Accord's sixth generation.

The Japanese carmakers are known for trying their products on their home market before exporting them. There are many examples of that. Sometimes, the results were not satisfactory, so the carmakers just ditched the projects and never talked about it anymore, such as was the situation with the 1999 Honda Avancier.

From the outside, it featured a pair of headlights that looked like they were carried over from a Civic and then adapted to the Avancier. Its two chromed slats grille tried to make a good impression, while the slated apron induced the idea of a sporty car. One of the most unusual features of the car was the dual window from the tailgate, with one glass panel at the top followed by the raked-forward rear windscreen. It resembled the 1985 Accord Aero Deck, which was in three doors, unlike the Avancier, which was only available as a five-door station wagon.

The interior was designed especially for the Avancier. At the front, the center stack went all the way to the floor, but since there was no center console, the occupants could have crossed the car from side to side. With an instrument cluster extended over the center stack, the Avancier mimicked the interior of a minivan but in a smaller shape. In the back, the carmaker installed a bench for three and a flat floor.

Under the skin, it was the same platform as on the Accord's sixth generation with McPherson struts in the back and multi-link front suspension. There were only two engines available: a 2.3-liter VTEC and a 3.0-liter V-6. Honda paired them as standard to a four-speed automatic transmission.