Honda juggles seats in new carry-all

Honda New Zealand remains tight-lipped over the future in this country of the compact people-mover, the FR-V.

It is understood the company is looking at the FR-V for possible sale next year here.

The FR-V went on sale in Japan recently badged as the Edix. It will be launched in Europe in November wearing the FR-V badge and joining Honda's other people-movers the Stream and Odyssey.

The FR-V has six independent seats arranged in two rows of three. It is about 25cm shorter overall than the Stream but is about 10cm wider. Compared with the Odyssey, the FR-V is about 50cm shorter overall.

It is powered by a choice of two four-cylinder petrol engines - 92kW 1.7-litre mated to a five-speed manual gearbox or 110kW 2.0-litre using a six-speed manual.

A 2.2-litre turbodiesel with six-speed manual box is expected to be available in Europe next year.

The company won't announce a sales target for the FR-V in Europe, but says it is upbeat about the prospects.

"It could be received better in Europe (than in Japan) because of its practicality," says Honda president Takeo Fukui.

In Japan, where it is priced at the equivalent of about $NZ24,000, Honda set a monthly sales target for the FR-V of 4000 units.

Honda says the seating configuration in the FR-V offers a better use of space and promotes conversation among passengers.

The front and rear center seats are mounted on long slides that allow for a V-pattern seat layout. The slide mechanism makes it possible to position the front middle seat 27cm back from the instrument panel. Honda says it also allows for the safer installation of a child seat.

The three-plus-three arrangement also creates more luggage space in the rear, not always the case with compact people-movers.

The three rear seats fold individually and flat into the floor, simply by reaching in from the boot and unfastening a single latch.

The central front seat can fold back down on to its cushion to make room for extra-long items or to form a table.

The seat cushion also has a fold-out extension complete with storage drawer underneath.

All six seats have three-point seat belt fixings, while the centre front seat and the two outer rear seats have ISOFIX child seat mounts.