Honda Beat (1990 – 1995) Review
Honda Beat (1990 – 1995) At A Glance
The 64bhp engine is a screamer. It looks cute, handles neatly and you'll always find a place to park it.
Too small for some tastes. Some parts can be hard to come by.
This mid-engined rear-wheel drive is beloved of classic car fans the world over. Powered by a normally-aspirated 63bhp 656cc engine, it was one of many cars that took advantage of Japan’s tax-efficient kei car class.
But despite its current popularity, it was never a big hit at the time. But it was important. Along with rivals like the Suzuki Cappuccino, the car drew on the spirit of pint-sized roadsters like the MG Midget and Austin-Healey ‘frogeye’ sprite and paved the way for cars like the Smart Roadster and Daihatsu Copen.
In 2010, a parade was held in the Twin Ring Motegi circuit as a part of an annual Beat ownerss meeting. In total, 569 Honda Beats took part in the parade – a world record for the largest parade of Honda cars.
