The rather obvious adage of never getting a second chance to make a good first impression came to mind as I looked over Honda’s new family recreation vehicle, the FR-V.
Not only does the FR-V make a good first impression, but it reinforces that initial advantage at every opportunity, making the second, third, fourth, and so on, impressions as positive as the first.
So, in a nutshell, the FR-V looks good, handles well, seats six people and shows off why Honda achieves such impressive scores on the JD Power and Associates survey (an independent survey measuring reliability and customer satisfaction, among other things).
Being a singleton, I though it might be difficult for me to appreciate a vehicle built specifically for families, but the FR-V moves with such easy agility that it didn’t give me any opportunities to lament its size and weight.
The launch took place in Cape Town on one of those perfect weekends of constant sunshine and unbelieveable heat so those flying in from a stormy Durban and an ambivalent Johannesburg were obviously overdressed. The clever Honda people had the foresight to put the climate-controlled aircons in each of the vehicles on, so that as we departed Cape Town International airport, we were ensconced in a comfortably cool environment.
Of course, the aircon stayed on for the entire weekend and this didn’t seem to affect the pulling power or acceleration of the FR-V at all.
The six-speed manual 2,0-litre i-VTEC engine produces 110kW of power and 192Nm of torque. For now, this is the only engine available. Honda plans to add to the range next year.
Up front, the suspension features Mcpherson struts with a double wishbone arrangement at the rear. There are disc brakes all round, with ventilated discs at the front and 16-inch 205mm alloy wheels, all of which combine to give the FR-V impressive handling and composure even at slightly higher-than-normal speeds.
In terms of looks, it is one of the more attractive vehicles in this segment of multi-people carriers and the interior build quality is of a high standard.
All six seats are independently moveable and the three rear seats can fold down to increase the loading capacity to 1 049 litres. All the seats have seatbelts and, when the front middle seat is folded away, it offers up a few nifty storage compartments.
The gear lever is on the dashboard, and while being easily accessible and making for smooth changes, the position takes some getting used to.
The FR-V is said to have a combined fuel consumption of 8,4 litres per 100km, can do the zero to 100kph sprint in 10,5 seconds and will reach a top speed of 195kph.
Standard equipment ranges from electric windows all round and a six-CD shuttle to a multi-function steering and cruise control.
Standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist, vehicle stability assist and six dual-stage airbags.
Included in the price is a five-year/100 000km service plan, a one-year roadside assistance programme and a three-year/100 000km warranty. Honda is set to sell at least 6 500 vehicles by the end of this year and they’re hoping to double that number by the end of next year. Considering the versatility and comfort of the FR-V, and its competitive price (R214 000), that rather ambitious-sounding sales projection doesn’t seem so far-fetched after all.