The Honda Orthia is a Japanese domestic market (JDM) car model manufactured by the Honda

Honda

is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...

 Motor Corporation. It is a small station wagon based on the sixth generation Honda Civic

Honda Civic (sixth generation)

The sixth-generation Honda Civic was introduced in 1996. It retained its class-leading handling as it, along with the fourth and fifth generations, had front double wishbone suspension, the advanced independent suspension inspired by Honda's racing research. However, the sixth iteration of Civic...

. Introduced in February 1996 as what Honda called a Sport Utility Wagon it was available as 2WD or 4WD. It is powered by an 1834 cc (B18B) or 1972 cc (B20B) straight-4

Straight-4

The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 engine. It was sold exclusively in Japan at Honda Primo dealerships. The name "orthia" comes from Greek mythology Artemis Orthia

Artemis Orthia

The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, an Archaic site devoted in Classical times to Artemis, was one of the most important religious sites in the Greek city-state of Sparta.- Sanctuary :...

.

The following models were available at launch (with a choice of P or V equipment grade):

• 1.8GX FF 5MT or 4AT,
• 2.0GX FF 5MT or 4AT; 4WD 5MT or 4AT,
• 2.0GX-S 4WD 4AT,

In January 1998, an additional model, the 2.0GX-S Aero, was introduced.

A facelift in June 1999 saw only the 2.0 engine available and the models were B, M, S (4AT only), M4 and L4 (4AT only); the last two being the 4WD versions. Production ceased in 2002 (only 136 vehicles were produced that year). The Orthia was replaced by the Honda Stream

Honda Stream

The Honda Stream is a compact MPV manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda since 2001. Japanese models have gasoline direct injection 1.7 L and 2.0 L engines with improved fuel efficiency...

 in 2002 model year.

A basic commercial version was introduced March 15, 1996 called the (1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 engines). Interestingly, the 1.6L Partner was Honda's first Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)

Low emission vehicle

A low-emission vehicle is a motor vehicle that emits relatively low levels of motor vehicle emissions. The term may be used in a general sense, but in some countries it is defined in air quality statues....

 and came with a double wishbone suspension

Double wishbone suspension

In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...

 at both the front and rear wheels. ABS

Anti-lock braking system

An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...

was installed in January 1998, and the vehicle was brought into year 2000 emissions compliance along with a driver side airbag as standard equipment.