Honda Horizon

Honda Horizon: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Honda Horizon range offers eight AWD versions within a single generation: six turbo Diesel choices and two naturally aspirated Gasoline alternatives. Buyers prioritizing torque can look first at the 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT, both with 334 Nm, while those seeking maximum power have the 230 hp 3.5 AT.

The Honda Horizon range offers eight AWD versions within a single generation: six turbo Diesel choices and two naturally aspirated Gasoline alternatives. Buyers prioritizing torque can look first at the 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT, both with 334 Nm, while those seeking maximum power have the 230 hp 3.5 AT. The 3.1 MT and 3.1 AT variants sit between these extremes, with either 125 hp and 275 Nm or 135 hp and 294 Nm. Because acceleration, top speed, and fuel-consumption figures were not measured for any version, the most useful comparison is based on engine output, transmission, kerb weight, ground clearance, and braking specification.

Honda Horizon generation and version range

The Honda Horizon has one generation in the supplied catalogue data. The 1 generation ran from February 1994 through October 1999 as an SUV 5-doors and contained eight versions. The individual versions listed here ran from February 1994 through July 1999. There is therefore no choice between multiple generations or documented restylings: the buying decision is entirely between the available engines and transmissions within the same generation.

Every version has AWD, an 85-litre fuel tank, Independent, torsion front suspension, and Dependent, spring rear suspension. Ground clearance is either 210 mm or 215 mm. These shared specifications narrow the choice to the differences that matter most: Diesel versus Gasoline, Manual versus Automatic, engine output, kerb weight, and rear-brake type.

Engines and specs

The 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT produce about 53.4 hp per litre and 111.4 Nm per litre. They have the strongest absolute torque in the range, exceeding the 3.5 AT by 20 Nm and the 3.2 AT by 69 Nm.

Both 125 hp 3.1 versions produce about 40.9 hp per litre and 89.9 Nm per litre. Moving to either 135 hp 3.1 version adds 10 hp and 19 Nm without increasing the 3,059 cc displacement. Output rises to about 44.1 hp and 96.1 Nm per litre.

Among the Gasoline versions, the 3.2 AT produces about 63.2 hp per litre, while the 3.5 AT produces about 65.8 hp per litre. The 3.5 AT adds 30 hp and 49 Nm over the 3.2 AT, with 329 cc more displacement and 20 kg more kerb weight.

Performance, mpg, and economy

For every Honda Horizon version, 0–100 km/h acceleration is not measured, top speed is not measured, city fuel consumption is not measured, highway fuel consumption is not measured, and combined fuel consumption is not measured. CO₂ output is also not measured. Consequently, no version can be declared quicker or more economical from the supplied figures alone.

The available output-to-weight calculations still show useful differences. The 3.5 AT carries about 8.7 kg per horsepower, the lowest figure in the range. It is followed by the 3.2 AT at about 9.9 kg per horsepower. Among the Diesel choices, the 3.0 MT has about 12.8 kg per horsepower and the 3.0 AT about 12.9 kg per horsepower.

The 135 hp 3.1 MT carries about 14.9 kg per horsepower, compared with about 15.1 kg per horsepower for the 135 hp 3.1 AT. The 125 hp 3.1 MT has about 16.1 kg per horsepower, while the 125 hp 3.1 AT has about 16.3 kg per horsepower. These ratios compare mass with stated power; they are not measured acceleration results.

Dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank size

The 3.2 AT is the lightest Honda Horizon at 1,970 kg. The 3.5 AT is 20 kg heavier, while both Manual 3.1 versions are 40 kg heavier than the 3.2 AT. The 3.0 AT is the heaviest at 2,060 kg, which is 90 kg above the 3.2 AT.

Only the 3.1 MT versions have 215 mm of ground clearance. That is 5 mm more than every Automatic version and both 3.0 choices. Gross weight and wheel sizes are not measured across the entire range.

All versions use Ventilated disc front brakes. The six Diesel versions have Disc rear brakes, whereas the 3.2 AT and 3.5 AT have Disc ventilated rear brakes.

Which Honda Horizon version should you buy?

Choose the 3.0 MT if maximum listed torque and a Manual gearbox are your priorities. Its 160 hp and 334 Nm exceed either 3.1 MT: it has 25 hp and 40 Nm more than the 135 hp version, or 35 hp and 59 Nm more than the 125 hp version. Its trade-off against both 3.1 MT choices is an additional 40 kg and 5 mm less ground clearance.

Choose the 3.0 AT if you want the same 160 hp and range-leading 334 Nm with an Automatic gearbox. Compared with either 3.1 AT, it has 20 kg more kerb weight. It adds 25 hp and 40 Nm over the 135 hp 3.1 AT, and 35 hp and 59 Nm over the 125 hp 3.1 AT.

Between the identically named 3.1 MT versions, the 135 hp specification is the stronger numerical choice: it adds 10 hp and 19 Nm while retaining the same 3,059 cc displacement, 2,010 kg kerb weight, 215 mm clearance, 5-speed Manual gearbox, and AWD. The same reasoning applies to the two 3.1 AT versions. The 135 hp 3.1 AT supplies 10 hp and 19 Nm more than the 125 hp 3.1 AT with the same displacement, 2,040 kg kerb weight, 210 mm clearance, 4-speed Automatic gearbox, and AWD.

Choose the 3.2 AT if low kerb weight matters more than peak output. It is the lightest version at 1,970 kg, delivers 200 hp, and has the second-best weight-per-horsepower figure at about 9.9 kg. However, its 265 Nm is the lowest torque figure in the range: 10 Nm below the 125 hp 3.1 versions and 69 Nm below the 3.0 versions.

Choose the 3.5 AT for the highest power and strongest power-to-weight result. Its 230 hp is 30 hp above the 3.2 AT, 70 hp above either 3.0 version, and 95 hp above the stronger 3.1 alternatives. At 314 Nm, it gives up 20 Nm to the 3.0 versions but exceeds the 3.2 AT by 49 Nm. Its 1,990 kg kerb weight is also 60 kg below the 3.0 MT and 70 kg below the 3.0 AT.

On the supplied numbers, the 135 hp 3.1 MT is the most compelling 3.1 choice because it combines the higher 3.1 output with the lowest 3.1 kerb weight and the range-leading 215 mm clearance. The 3.0 MT is the torque-focused Manual choice, the 3.0 AT provides the same torque with an Automatic gearbox, and the 3.5 AT is the clear power-focused option. Fuel economy, acceleration, top speed, reliability, and problems cannot separate these versions because those figures and records were not measured in the provided data.