• 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 frugal 1.7 litre and 2.0 litre petrol engines at launch, with a 2.2 litre i-CTDi turbodiesel to follow in 2005

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.

Another thing that sets the FR-V apart is the quality and style of its cabin. Forget compact MPV, think more along the lines of executive saloon; just because you need practicality doesn’t mean you have to forego life’s niceties.

As well as being handsomely equipped, the FR-V is also crammed with safety features. All six seats have three-point seat belt fixings, while the centre front seat and the two outer rear seats have ISOFIX child seat mounts. Additionally, the front seats have pre-tensioners and load limiters. As an extra aid to child safety, the central front seat moves 270mm further back than the outer pair; when travelling with a child in the front, Honda recommends that the seat is moved to its rearmost position. Full-length curtain airbags provide overall cabin protection while in the front of the FR-V there are twin dual-stage airbags in the facia and side airbags in the two outside front seats.

The FR-V simply wouldn’t be a Honda if it weren’t also fun to drive. Its wide track promotes stability, agility and good steering response. The track geometry reduces the FR-V’s roll centre, enabling the car to be fitted with softer springs than would be the case if the springs were also being used to limit body roll, thus ensuring that it’s comfortable as well as entertaining.

Contributing to the FR-V’s driving pleasure is its range of engines. At launch there will be a choice of two petrol engines: a 125 PS (92 kW) 1.7 litre SOHC VTEC unit (mated to a 5-speed manual transmission ) and a 150 PS (110 kW) 2.0 litre DOHC i-VTEC unit (mated to a 6-speed manual transmission). In 2005, they will be joined by Honda’s acclaimed 2.2 litre i-CTDi diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.