Honda has something of a Jekyll and Hyde personality. On the one hand it produces frenetic sports cars such as the S2000 and NSX while still offering conservative models like the Accord and Jazz.

The Stream may look as if it’s firmly in the latter camp, but beneath the surface are facets of Honda’s racier cars. Think of it as an MPV GTi. Introduced here in June 2001, it was powered by the free-revving 2 litre i-VTEC (intelligent variable valve timing and lift electronic control) engine. Producing 156bhp, it endows the car with properly decent performance, 0-62mph in a tad over 9sec and a top speed of 127mph.

If that seems a bit unnecessary then a less powerful 1.7 litre was added in September of the same year. With just 123bhp on tap it’s more what you might expect in terms of MPV performance but it still benefits from the Stream’s sharp steering and great brakes.

Driving an MPV is usually a ponderous affair but the Stream turns that on its head. Honda aimed it at the MPV driver who would rather be driving something else.

Its rakish nose and large headlamps give it a sporty look, but the car seems to run out of styling ideas at the back end where the curved side screens give it a droopy appearance.

Sharing its platform with the Honda Civic, the Stream does a good job of fitting a quart into a pint pot, with seven seats in a vehicle 2in shorter than a Mondeo estate and 7in narrower than a Renault Espace. The middle “bench seat” can be slid fore and aft, but if it goes too far back passengers in the third row will suffer.

The rear-most seats are, as with most MPVs, a little tight for adults but have the useful feature of being able to be folded into the floor when not in use, saving the awkward task of removing and storing them.

The Stream also comes with an impressive list of standard equipment. You’ll find all models (even the base S introduced in April 2002) come with air-conditioning, adjustable steering column, front and side airbags and electric windows. The SE models gain an electric sunroof, alloys and remote central locking.

One of the Stream’s trump cards is its driving environment. The dash-mounted gearstick falls naturally to hand and the controls are clear and well laid out. With such a great manual gearbox it’s a surprise that any buyers plump for the five-speed sequential shift automatic, available as an option on the 2 litre. Admittedly it’s a boon if you spend your life in traffic but it blunts performance, increases fuel consumption and adds around £500 to the price of a used car.

Honda has a well deserved reputation for reliability and you’ll find the Stream is no exception. Engines, gearboxes and electrics rarely fail and trim and upholstery stand the test of time. If you find a Stream with a badly worn interior it’s either been to the moon and back or had a very hard life, so be fussy and accept only the best.

With only 4,260 Streams sold in the UK the demand for used examples tends to keep second-hand prices strong. But with the introduction of the new six-seater Honda FR-V, which undercuts the Stream in terms of new price, I would expect to see the price of second-hand Streams ease back over the next six months.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Honda Stream 2.0 SE Sport
Engine Four-cylinder, 1998cc
Power 156bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 32.8mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0-62mph: 9.4sec
Top speed 127mph

Facelift: February 2004 saw revised lights, bumpers and grille, but most significant was the change from 7-seater to 6-seater, the middle bench seat replaced by two individual chairs

Performance: The i-VTEC engines give good performance but have to be revved hard

Engines: 2.0 litre cars are badged SE Sport, 1.7 litre models are badged S (basic trim) or SE. 2 litre SE Sport models are worth about £300 more than 1.7 litre SE

Gearbox: Superb five-speed manual is bulletproof. Five-speed automatic is an optional extra on the 2 litre only
and adds about £500

Safety: Disc brakes and antilock braking are standard, as are front and side airbags

Upholstery: Dull but hard-wearing; signs of wear indicate high mileage and heavy use so check the recorded mileage, and price, reflect this

Limited boot space: Fill the car with people and the boot will struggle to carry their luggage; a roof box is the best solution

Total sold in Britain 2001-2004: 4,260

Rear seat access: Middle seat slides forward and folds to gain access to rearmost seats

Centre rear seatbelt: Bench seat only has lap belt for middle passenger

Air-conditioning: Standard on all models, SE Sport cars have a fully automatic system

THE OPPOSITION

Model BMW Z4 3.0i SE, £31,650
For Great engine, fine handling and performance
Against Love-or-hate-them looks which may date fast

Model Mercedes-Benz SLK 350, £34,270
For Steel folding roof works brilliantly, looks like a mini-supercar
Against Has a bit of a boulevardier image compared with sportier rivals

THE ONE TO BUY

Honda Stream 2.0 SE Sport five-speed manual, 2001 51-reg with 40,000 miles. Pay £8,575 at a dealer with 12-month warranty, or £7,500 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...

2003 03-reg Fiat Multipla 100 ELX
2001 Y-reg Toyota Picnic 2.0i GLS auto
2001 X-reg Renault Espace 2.0 Expression
2000 W-reg Seat Alhambra 1.8T 20V
2000 W-reg Chrysler Voyager 2.0LE

VALUES: Honda Stream 2.0 SE Sport manual

Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer