Honda Dresses Up Its Tiny N-Box Van With Type R-Inspired Style And Wheels That Bend For Comfort

Honda has given its pint-sized N-Box kei van a refresh, and the automaker's official accessories division. Honda Access, is already offering a new catalog of upgrades that give the little box a surprisingly sporty edge. Leading the lineup is the Sporty Style package, designed specifically for the N-Box Custom trim.

It swaps in a large grille split by a custom trim piece available in Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, or Meteoroid Gray Metallic, paired with a Berlina Black lower garnish. But the real attention-grabber is the Frame Red decals and mirror caps borrowed straight from the Civic Type R, giving this microvan a racier personality than its size suggests.

The sportiest N-Box rides on new 15-inch alloy wheels with four double spokes, developed using lessons from Honda's Modulo X series. These aren't just for show. Honda Access says they actively work with the suspension, with a carefully tuned balance of rigidity between the rim and spokes that allows them to flex under load, improving both ride comfort and handling.

This Sporty Style joins two other kits in the catalog: the rugged Active Leisure Style for the N-Box Joy, which adds a roof carrier, yellow and orange decals, a different grille with Honda lettering, two-color fog lights, a rear spoiler, black tailgate trim, and 14-inch Berlina Black wheels; and the vintage Modern Casual Style for the standard N-Box, featuring Copper decals and mirror caps, Platinum White Pearl fog light garnishes, white alloys, and a wood-style floor mat.

Inside. 8-inch rear entertainment monitor, a premium audio system, front and rear dashcams, LED ambient lighting, and floor mats treated to fight odor and bacteria. Under the hood, nothing changes, the refreshed N-Box keeps its non-electrified 660cc three-cylinder engine, offered in naturally aspirated form with 58 horsepower or turbocharged with 63 horsepower, both paired with a mandatory CVT sending power to the front or all four wheels.

The updated van went on sale in Japan last month, priced between ¥1,739,100 and ¥2,475,000, or roughly $10,800 to $15,400.