Honda FR-V RANGE
Hondas FR-V Offers A New Twist On The
Mini-MPV Theme. Andy Enright Reports
Perhaps describing the seating arrangement of Hondas FR-V mini-MPV as novel is pushing things a little bit far. After all, countless American barges of the fifties featured three abreast seating and
Honda were even beaten to the punch in the mini-MPV arena by Fiats quirky Multipla. Matra Simcas Bagheera sports car of the Seventies even featured a trio of seats across the car. Despite this, its hard to think of many manufacturers who can match Honda for their sheer, relentless output of good ideas.
The FR-V may not be the first six-seater in the market but it might just be the cleverest.
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Part of Hondas rationale behind the FR-V (Flexible Recreational Vehicle in case you were wondering) is that some of us might need a
mini-MPV but are put off by their boxy, frumpy styling. A recently divorced friend of mine in his mid thirties was recently lamenting the fact that he realised hed reached the age where twenty year old girls found him invisible and apportioned much of the blame on his mini-MPV, claiming it was a wedding ring on wheels. Given that hed earned the right to sell it and blow the money on a mid-engined, red mid-life crisis, I didnt have too much sympathy. Others may not want to open their garage doors and see the slippery slope to their carpet slippers and bus pass staring back at them.
This is where the FR-V scores. Its chunkily good-looking in a way few mini-MPVs manage to pull off. The rising waistline gives it a wedge-like profile and the big rear light clusters and kinked line from bonnet into A-pillar are both deft styling touches. Based on the platform of the CR-V 4x4, the FR-V instead directs drive to the front wheels and a new flat floor has been developed thats a good deal wider than the CR-Vs base.
Its not quite as sporting in its feel as the Stream, Hondas previous mini-MPV which will continue to be sold, but the FR-V feels a good deal more modern, especially where cabin design is concerned.
"If you need space but arent looking at Saga holidays just yet, the
Honda FR-V may well appeal"
The dashboard is a curious mixture of traditional clocks in a cowled binnacle and decidedly avant garde centre console with an infotainment screen and a gearlever sprouting from the dashboard. At first it looks a bit of a clash of styles but its actually very practical insofar as Honda have taken the best bits of analogue and digital display formats and have combined them to good effect. The handbrake takes a little while to get used to but forward visibility is excellent. The chubby rear pillars make three quarter visibility a little less happy.
As would be expected from a contemporary Honda, the FR-V doesnt skimp on standard safety features. All six seats have three-point belts and the centre front
seat and both outer rear seats feature ISOFIX child seat fixings. Full length curtain airbags provide overall cabin protection and there are also twin front and side bags fitted. The seating system also aids safety with the central front seat sliding 270mm further back than the outer pair, Honda recommending that the seat is put in this position if being used to seat a child.
As far as accommodation goes, the FR-V is a tight squeeze if you attempt to fit six blokes in it but it can cope at a pinch, so as to speak. Where it comes into its own is in offering the typical family of four or five room to spread out a little. Unlike many people carriers, the FR-V manages to rustle up some useful luggage space. The three rear seats all fold individually and also fold flat into the floor with one swift action which makes the FR-V a boon for those that want to pursue a few kid-free lifestyle activities at the weekends.
This also means that you dont need to risk a herniated disc lugging the things into your garage. The centre front seat also folds flat to make room for long items to form a table. Theres even a seat cushion extension with a storage drawer hidden beneath. Honda also claims that the front seats can be folded to form a bed although this seems a bit of a stretch.
Two petrol engines are offered and your dealer will also take orders for a 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel unit. The petrol engines consist of a 124bhp 1.7-litre VTEC unit mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and a 148bhp 2.
0-litre i-VTEC unit thats fitted with a six-speed box. Handling is fairly adept but not as sharp as the Stream. Its not what youd call sporting but then neither is it the usual roly-poly mess that most mini-MPVs call handling. The ride quality is reasonably good and the seats hold you in position effectively.
The 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine will accelerate to 60mph in 10.5 seconds and run on to a top speed of 115mph. Its virtually silent at idle but rev it hard and it gets a good deal more vocal.
Driven in a more circumspect manner, the 2,0-litre FR-V will return a combined fuel figure of nearly 32mpg. The CO2 emissions of 212g/km may not endear it to too many company car drivers but the asking price of around £15,800 seems reasonable. Equipment levels are competitive with all versions getting six seats, climate controlled air conditioning, wheel-mounted audio controls and, rather curiously, wood trim. Take it from me, the dark piano wood fascia inserts are a good deal classier than the rather flouncy walnut.
Even top of the range
Lexus models fail to convince me of the fact that wood has any place in a Japanese car and the FR-V certainly doesnt alter that viewpoint. There are plenty of talented contenders in the mini-MPV market and although the Honda FR-V brings some solid engineering, a number of good ideas and a refreshingly curvaceous shape, itll have its work cut out dislodging the heavyweight contenders like Citroens Xsara Picasso, Vauxhalls Zafira and Fords Focus C-MAX. If these cars are just a little too mainstream for your palate, the FR-V certainly merits investigation.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Honda FR-V range
PRICES: £14,880-£17,930 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 9-12
CO2 EMISSIONS: [2.0] 212g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0] Max Speed 115mph / 0-60mph 10.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0] (combined) 31.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags / ABS with EBD / ISOFIX child seat fixings
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4285/1810/1610mm
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