The Honda FR-V

If Honda Made A Compact MPV, Would It Be The Same As All The Others?

• A stylish new-wave compact MPV
• Six seats arranged in two rows of three – better for boot space, better for passengers to talk to each other
• Rear seats fold individually and flat, into the floor, and you can fold them one-handed – with no need to remove
• Cabin is neatly styled, very well built and generously equipped
• Handles superbly and rides comfortably
• Power from gutsy yet frugal 1.7 litre and 2.0 litre petrol engines at launch, with a 2.2 litre i-CTDi turbodiesel to follow in 2005
• Launched November 2004

Of course, Honda could have followed convention with the new FR-V, its entry into the compact MPV market. It could have wrapped the car’s outstandingly flexible, practical and intelligent interior in a boxy, slightly utilitarian body. But who says that style has to go out the window simply because you have lots of people to carry? So while the FR-V can perform workhorse-like duties, its styling doesn’t pigeonhole you as a practical person.

Then there’s the FR-V’s seating – five or seven? Actually Honda had a better idea; six seats, arranged in two rows of three. When you think about it, six seats are plenty for most small families. And with all the seats in two rows, it’s easy for everyone in the car to talk to each other, making it a more friendly way to travel.

The three-plus-three arrangement also means you can have a large boot – not always the case with CMPVs. And when you need more space for luggage the FR-V comes into its own – not only do the three rear seats fold individually, they fold flat into the floor. So you get maximum space without having to remove and then store heavy, bulky seats. What’s more, you can fold the seats one-handed, simply by reaching in from the boot and unfastening a single latch.

To add to the numerous seating/boot space combinations, you can fold the central front seat’s back down onto its cushion to make room for extra-long items or to form a table. The seat cushion also has a fold-out extension complete with storage drawer underneath it, expanding its usefulness.