In recent times Honda's range has broadened and built up. The company has moved away from the bread and butter family hatch and saloon and begun to embrace more market niches with cars such as the highly popular HR-V, the four-wheel drive CR-V and this latest addition, the FR-V. There doesn't appear to be an official interpretation of the acronym but it would make sense if FR-V stood for Family Recreational Vehicle.

Honda's entry into the compact MPV market is typically individual. Where most manufacturers' cars offer five seats in their compact shells, Honda offers six in a three in the front, three in the back configuration. Fiat's innovative Multipla did the same, but its looks were almost too 'unique' for some, although it has been recently face lifted and is the only other compact six seater we can think of. Saying that, the Mazda5 falls into the same price bracket.

Size-wise the FR-V occupies the same amount of space as a Renault Scenic or Vauxhall Zafira. Its pronounced wedge shape body is something a little different with that curvaceous rear screen rounding off the shape nicely - it did lead to some comical and distractingly distorted views in the rear view mirror though as it acts like a lens. Our test car was finished in a nice bright blue metallic that suited the shape well; 16-inch rims and heavy tints on the rear glass added to the cool factor. The heavy chrome features may be a little too bling for some but the FR-V is a distinctive car.

Inside, the FR-V features some clever packaging to free up the space in the front row of seats. The engine and gearbox are slung low with the gearshift actually mounted on the dashboard as per the current Civic. The handbrake is also relocated up into the dash. This means minimum intrusion in terms of a transmission tunnel and the firewall is set as far forward as possible. The middle front seat is then set a few inches back from the other front seats on runners. This offsets any loss of space from the minimal intrusions and also cleverly staggers people's shoulders and elbows in the front preventing it from feel cramped.

In the back the rear seats fold flush to the boot floor at the pull of a handle resulting in a generous load space giving the FR-V almost van like practicality when it comes to a run to the DIY store or carrying bikes etc. The centre front seat can also be folded to form a table.

The dashboard is set high to free up space and the majority of the controls are focused on a console in the centre. This includes controls for the climate control, CD player and optional satnav fitted to our test car. It does get a little cluttered and the faux wood and metal finishes weren't to all tastes but it does work with typical Honda efficiency, the buttons being sensibly and intuitively sited.

The foot well doesn't suffer due to the clever dash packaging, but there is a noticeably large rest for the clutch foot. The reason for this is clear the first time you take a right hand bend at pace; because there are three seats in the front they are all relatively narrow and lack a little lateral support. This catches you out until you get used to bracing yourself and then it becomes second nature and the lack of side support is much less of an issue.

Indeed, pressing on in the FR-V is actually very pleasurable; Honda appears to have spent some time here so the owner can have some driving fun when not laden with wife/kids/dogs that may complain about exuberant driving. The steering is on the light side but is direct and has a degree of feedback you wouldn't have expected in a Honda mini MPV. The tall body equates a fairly high centre of gravity but the FR-V resists roll well in spite of the fact that it possesses a good amount of grip.

Pleasingly the grip and lack of roll isn't at the expense of a jiggly ride that would be out of place in a family car. It copes with all but the most severe of urban pockmarks well and remains resolutely composed on expansion strips and ridges on the motorway, as well as on undulating minor roads.

The excellent 2-litre DOHC VTEC engine is another Honda gem. It produces 148bhp at a heady 6500rpm and is backed by 142lb.ft of torque, again at a fairly high 4000rpm. The latest generation VTECs are much less peaky than their forebears but still require some revving to extract their best. It's no hardship though as it revs so smoothly, and the six-speed box is yet another peach. Is there a better real world manufacturer of engines and gearboxes? I think not. Even this seemingly humble MPV has a cracking combination. Although, given the FR-V's role as a family chariot I would be sure to try the equally excellent 2.2-litre CTDi version; its superior torque and economy may prove to be worth the premium over the petrol models.

It looks like the FR-V is another winner for Honda. For the few people who have a genuine need for six seats but want a family hatch size wagon it enjoys the pleasure of being one of very few potential choices. However it is also very much worth a look in if you're considering a Focus C-Max, VW Touran or Vauxhall Zafira. The space, practicality and fun aspects are right up there, and the feel good factor of having that famously reliable Honda badge on the bonnet is also a noteworthy point.