IF you buy a Honda FR-V, the first few weeks are likely to be the most precarious spent in its company.
No, not because the performance is hair-raising and there are dangerous quirks in high speed corners, but rather because of the way the seats are laid out.
You see the FR-V offers its six seats in two rows.
This makes it easy for everyone in the car to talk to each other, but it also presents a problem.
Honda's compact MPV leaves a driver unfamiliar with the layout constantly at risk of putting a hand on the knee of the passenger sitting where the handbrake or gear stick normally resides.
The consequent apologies and explanations could be an excellent ice breaker for those who have hitherto been on only a nodding acquaintance - but it could also feasibly lead to a court appearance or a slap round the chops.
So my advice is to memorise as soon as possible where the centrally mounted gear changer and natty handbrake lever are located.
Having three seated up front is a bit of an acquired taste that will not suit some who like their personal space.
It's a bit van-like and to be honest, after a week enduring my 10-year-old son's enthusiastic singing at point-blank range, I prefer the passenger next to me to be a bit further away.
But the seating arrangement means that there's a decent-sized boot which can be enhanced as the three rear seats easily fold individually flat into the floor.
So maximum space is achieved without having to remove and then store bulky seats.
To add to the numerous space combinations, the back of the central front seat also folds down to allow extra-long items to be carried, or to form a table.
For the driver there's a good range of steering wheel and seat adjustment although the car does share a common fault with many other MPV's in that the thick front and rear screen pillars can impede vision when turning or reversing.
However these minor quibbles are more than outweighed by the bonuses accrued from Honda's recent revamp of the FR-V model.
The 138bhp 1.8-litre i-VTEC power unit in the EX model I tried was introduced into the FR-V at the end of last year, after a successful apprenticeship in Honda's Civic.
It offers great performance, with a 0-62mph time of a none too shabby 10.6 seconds, combined with excellent fuel economy.
It performs this neat trick through the latest i-VTEC technology that offers the economy of a smaller engine, but still provides the power normally associated with a 2.0-litre engine.
Honda have also given the exterior of the FR-V a spruce-up.
There's a new dark chrome finish to the grille and the headlights, door handles, rear combination light and lower licence plate trim have also been tweaked.
Step inside and rain forests everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief as the wood fascia panel now has a stylish metal carbon-like finish instead.
Meanwhile the seats and doors have a new beige soft touch fabric on the EX version together with leather seats. A boot light provides added convenience when loading at night.
The FR-V's practicality was never in question but it is now even more versatile thanks to a number of improvements.
The front middle seat tray now features two compartments and cup holders with lids.
And the front seat headrests and back seat armrests have both been enhanced.
The FR-V is now also provided with an auxiliary jack for an iPod player and there's also a host of goodies such as air conditioning, cruise control, a radio/CD player plus front and rear electric windows.
It makes the FR-V an impressive package - especially if you like the unusual layout of the seats.
FAST FACTS
Honda FR-V 1.8i VTEC EX 5dr
Price: £18,760
Mechanical: 138bhp, 1,799cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 118mph
0-62mph: 10.6 secs
Combined mpg: 37.7
Insurance group: 10
CO2 emissions: 177g/km
BiK rating: 22%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 90,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust