▁the ▁base ▁model ▁was ▁the ▁ 1 . 3   L ▁model , ▁which ▁was ▁not ▁available ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁Next ▁was ▁a ▁ 1 . 4   L ▁SO HC ▁straight - four ▁dual ▁car b ure ted ▁engine ▁that ▁was ▁available ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁; ▁ 1 . 5 i ▁GL ▁and ▁GL X ▁models . ▁ ▁The ▁European ▁ 1 . 6 i ▁GT ▁and ▁ 1 . 6 i - 1 6 ▁( dep ends ▁on ▁country ) ▁had ▁a ▁Z C ▁like ▁ 1 . 6   L ▁DO HC ▁engine ▁and ▁produced ▁ 1 2 4   hp ▁( D 1 6 Z 5 ) ▁or ▁ 1 3 0   hp ▁( D 1 6 A 9 ). ▁In ▁Europe ▁the ▁Si R ▁was ▁called ▁ 1 . 6 i - V T ▁and ▁had ▁a ▁similar ▁B 1 6 A 1 ▁engine . ▁These ▁top ▁models ▁were ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁the ▁V TE C ▁system . ▁ ▁South ▁Africa ▁In ▁South ▁Africa , ▁it ▁was ▁sold ▁under ▁the ▁H onda ▁Bal lade ▁brand ing . ▁ ▁Popular ity ▁ ▁Despite ▁its ▁image ▁as ▁an ▁econom ical ▁vehicle , ▁the ▁fourth - gener ation ▁h atch back ▁became ▁popular ▁in ▁near ▁stock ▁S CC A ▁aut oc ross ▁competition . ▁The ▁ED ▁ch ass is ▁domin ated ▁the ▁Street ▁tour ing ▁category , ▁compet ing ▁against ▁the ▁Maz da ▁M X - 5 ▁Mi ata