Why Car Fans Still Love the Honda Beat
The famed Honda Beat was never forgotten, even 25 years after it was last produced. Now fans want them back.
Written by Lisa Steuer McArdle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
In the 1990s, the car industry was booming. At its helm was the renowned
Honda
, and rolling out of its conveyors were the Beats. Honda Beats were funny little convertibles that car enthusiasts warmly welcomed. These so-called toys could fit in between city corridors and were excellent for fuel economy. Let us travel back to the '90s and discover how the Beats gathered fame.
Honda himself approved the creation of Honda Beats
In the final years of the Cold War, peace and prosperity seeped into people's lives, and for once, the car industry could focus on flagship models. In Japan, Mazda created the famed Autozam AZ-1 and Suzuki the Cappuccino, while Honda made the Beat. Despite Beats not having top-class features, they were destined for success.
There were two mainstream and several limited edition Beat models, which were all designed by Pininfarina. The small design and ability to be classified as a tax-efficient Kei class car captured Soichiro Honda's imagination, and he quickly approved the design. Unfortunately, this was the last car Honda approved before he died a few months later, in August 1991, of liver failure.
A five-year production cycle in 1991, and by the end of the same year, the well synchronized Honda plants were churning out thousands of cars. It didn't take long for Beats to start rivaling two-door German-made Smart Roadsters. However, not long after, production ceased in 1996 and only 33,000 Beats were ever produced, according to
HotCars
. While it was obvious the small two-door car genre was wilting out, Beats fans stuck together and formed communities of race car drivers. In 2010, at the annual Beat owners meeting, 569 Honda Beats raced at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. So far, this was the largest parade of Honda cars and was certified by the Guinness World Records.
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Why do fans still love the Honda Beat?
The Beat's innocent looks, maneuverability and iconic standards have built a large following online. But what exactly do people find attractive in Honda Beats?
A 656CC three-cylinder engine powers the car. Each cylinder has a throttle body forming part of the Hondas MTRE (Multi Throttle Responsive Engine Control) system, as explained further by
HotCars
.Though this 63 hp engine doesn't appear aggressive, it can send the car flying at almost 84 mph. For stability and maximum power, the engine sits behind the seats with the fuel tank and a battery. A five-speed manual transmission then drops from the engine to the rear wheels, delivering up to 44 lb-ft of torque. And since everything about transmission is tuned to release more power, the Beat can reach 60 mph in just eight seconds.
Honda engineers ensured the small engine would deliver the best results by shading excess weight off Beat's skeleton. An empty car weighs only 1675 lbs, and because most of its heavy equipment is in the back, it is very agile around corners.
If you fill the 6.2-gallon fuel tank to the brim, you can journey for over 250 miles without other refills, thanks to the 36.2 mpg badge.
To sum up, when all these miniature engine features concentrate on a life-size toy, the result is an intriguing car. Fans love its performance, size and friendliness on fuel economy.
MORE: Best Used Small Cars Under $5,000
Honda Beat interior features
The Beat's interior is simple and mindful of practicality. You will find a couple of gauges, a basic heater and a radio.
The seats are tiny, and plus-sized drivers might just adore their zebra print cloth upholstery from outside. The windows are ergonomically designed, while the standard three-spoke steering wheel is soft on your hands. The passenger side lacks airbags, but with a small and stable car like the Honda Beat, safety is not a major issue.
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