Since people-carriers are, well people carriers, it makes sense that the more humans they can lug around the better.
Which is why we're seeing the advent of medium MPV's such as the Honda FR-V that has six seats - one more than rivals Citroën Picasso and Fiat Croma.
The Honda takes six full-sized adults. Its two-rows-of-three seating arrangement isn't new: Fiat's Multipla was the first but looks like something that just jetted in from Jupiter; many like its quirky styling (us included) but not everyone's such an exhibitionist.
Renault's Grand Scenic, the Toyota Verso and Opel's Zafira have seven seats but the rearmost two are suited only for kiddies.
With the FR-V you get all the practicality but less attention. It's a more sober design than the flamboyant Fiat but is one of the cooler-looking people-luggers.
Jewel-style headlights, colour-coded plastic and 16" alloy rims add some eye candy. It passed the ultimate test: usually teenagers make sticking-fingers-down-their-throat gestures when a mom's taxi drives past - they didn't with this one.
Honda's new, R214 000 people hauler comes in only one model: a six-speed manual with a two-litre V-Tec engine delivering a claimed 110kW and 192Nm, more or less the same as like-priced rivals the Renault Scenic 2.0 Privilege (R213 000) and Opel Zafira 2.2 Elegance (R215 000) but more powerful than the pricier Toyota Verso 180 TX (R227 400).
As in the Multipla, two people can sit next to the driver. The front centre seat makes an ideal perch for a drooling toddler so that parents don't have to turn around to attend to them.
The centre seat can slide backwards so an adult can sit without rubbing knes and shoulders with the other two in front, while the middle rear passenger can also move back to avoid squashed legs.
All very clever, but wait, there's more
The front centre seat folds down as a table with a recessed tray to hold travelling clutter while the front half of the seat cushion flips open to reveal a storage space. Just as well, as the front door pockets are too thin to be useful storage receptacles.
The roomy cabin has a high roof and large windows and, unlike some MPVs that offer either lots of cargo or lots of passenger space - not both at the same time - the FR-V's standard boot is a generous 439 litres that will accept a few good-sized suitcases.
Cargo bay
If you need to load more - a flock of sheep, say - the three rear seats can fold flat with a quick, one-handed motion, without removing the head restraints, to offer a 1049-litre cargo bay.
Honda missed the chance to make the FR-V as versatile as it could be, however; the rear seat backs have no adjustment, as do some rival MPVs, and neither do they fold flush with the floor as with the Zafira and Verso.
Cabin quality is decent even though the fake wood on the fascia cheapens the look. I can't fathom the appeal of plastic wood; it's like having linoleum laid in your lounge.
The rest of the materials are decent and the fascia has a nice texture even though it's hard plastic and not the classier slush-moulded type. The seats are covered in comfy-feeling soft velour.
Fully specced
The six-speed manual gear lever is plugged into the dashboard to accommodate the front centre seat, which brings it closer to the steering wheel; its ball-style design and brushed aluminium effect look good but we didn't like the bulky and rather awkward fascia-mounted handbrake.
The FR-V comes with automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, and an integrated radio/CD with large, adult-friendly buttons; the steering wheel carries another set of controls for the audio system and cruise control. There's also a third sun visor to close that annoying gap behind the rear-view mirror.
Safety is entrusted to six crash bags, front seat belt pre-tensioners, traction control and all-disc anti-lock brakes with emergency assistance.
Honda claims the FR-V will sprint from 0-100km/h in 10.5sec and reach 195km/h. It doesn't feel like a boy racer but is satisfactorily responsive even loaded with passengers, luggage, and with the aircon running.
Jerky shift
It pulls away without laziness and cruises comfortably with no acoustic hysterics to impede passengers' conversation; the smooth engine only becomes vocal at high revs.
The gearshift is typically Honda, smooth and slick, except for a lurch as you change into second. We don't know whether it's a clutch or throttle problem but you have to concentrate hard to make a smooth change - the same as the Civic sedan we reviewed a few weeks ago.
Handling is clean and predictable but the accent is more on ride comfort - which is very good - than cornering prowess.
SUMMARY
Honda's six-seater ticks all the right boxes as a family mobile; competitively-priced, smooth, safe and versatile, it's just the thing to waft passengers comfortably over long distances, while Honda's after-sales reputation is another strong selling point.
Price:
R214 000
- Test car from Honda SA