IT'S the car with six appeal. Honda is attempting to steal a march over many of its rivals in the compact MPV market with a car that can seat six instead of five.
And as far as the younger members of the Keenan family are concerned the FR-V - short for Family Recreation Vehicle - is a hit with its three seats up front.
My son and daughter relished the chance to harass their dad as they're usually consigned to the back seats to prevent bickering over the single front passenger spot normally available.
The FR-V's clever design provides the extra seat by overcoming the obstacle of gear stick and parking brake - moving them on to and under the centre of the facia respectively.
I have to dispute Honda's claim however that it is easier to keep an eye on the kids.
Having the little brutes so close to the steering wheel and any number of controls increases stress levels dramatically.
I must admit I don't particularly relish the concept of three seats in the front as it makes me feel like I'm driving a minibus.
I also prefer a bit of space between me and any nervous front seat passenger liable to wave arms about.
To be fair, both middle seats up front and in rear do slide forwards and backwards to create more room.
And the impression of a minibus is exploded when you look at the exterior of the FR-V.
Honda's designers have given it a sweeping low-slung shape that starts with the nose and headlamps and carries on along the body through a steadily rising waistline.
The result is a crouching tiger of a car that looks ready to spring into action with the aggressive face of the FR-V borrowing styling cues from both the Accord and CR-V models.
For a compact MPV there's not as many cubby holes as you'd normally expect, but the boot is spacious and the rear seats fold flat to create more room.
The two-litre petrol engine provides ample power to handle everyday driving or cruise on the motorways.
It travels from 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 120mph with the help of a smooth six speed manual gearbox.
Also available are 1.7-litre and 2.2-litre petrol units and a recently introduced 2.2-litre diesel.
The FR-V soaks up the punishment dished out by the variety of main roads these days with the help of the tried and tested suspension from the CR-V that's been fine-tuned for the new model.
The steering is sharp and responsive. Corners can be taken with confidence as the FR-V grips the road like a toddler with a lollipop. Honda's chassis engineers have also manage to control the traditional problem with compact MPVs of body roll.
There are three model grades - SE for all engines, and Sport and Executive for the 2.0 and 2.2 litre versions.
All models have air-conditioning, a CD player, front and rear electric windows, electric heated door mirrors and remote central locking.
In terms of safety the FR-V doesn't spare the horses. Dual stage front, side and curtain airbags are standard across the range. There's also three point seatbelts on all six seats, with pre-tensioners and load limiters in the front.
Also fitted are anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution which adjusts front to rear brake effort to achieve maximum stopping performance and stability.
An alarm and immobiliser are also standard to deter the sticky-fingered members of society.
FAST FACTS
Honda FR-V 2.0 SE
Price: £15,900
Mechanical: 150bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 120mph
0-62mph: 10.5 secs
Combined mpg: 33.6
Insurance group: 10
CO2 emissions: 199g/km
BiK rating: 26%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 90,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 6yrs anti-rust