Used Honda FR-V: flexible enough for the whole family

The Honda FR-V was launched in 2004 under the name “Edix” in Japan. FR-V is an acronym for “Flexible Recreation Vehicle”, and while an MPV can usually seat five to seven passengers, the FR-V seats six in two rows of three. It’s currently one of only two compact minivans with a 3+3 seating configuration available on the used car market.

But the seating arrangement is flexible. Both centre seats are moveable via low-set levers, and can be pulled back into a double “V” shape, so that passengers avoid rubbing shoulders, can communicate freely and feel safe in the case of traveling with small children. The FR-V is fitted with a number of other internal gadgets to improve your driving experience:

 • There are pop-out cup holders with spaces for three cups or cans on every row; catering to every passenger.

• The centre back seat doubles as a table: simply fold it down and open the cushion to reveal a storage area.

• A crank mechanism causes the seats in the back of the vehicle to fold flat, revealing ample space for transporting luggage.

• The driver’s handbrake is under the dashboard by the gear lever where it can be pushed in against a spring. This means that it’s out of the way of the passengers in the front of the vehicle, and it’s available for the driver to use in an emergency.

The Honda FR-V’s suspension is designed with a high-roll axis, which means that the body doesn’t rotate as the car rounds corners. As passengers in the FR-V sit quite high off the road, they are reassured by the FR-V’s responsive handling. In addition, the vehicle’s width – which places the wheels further apart – makes for a smoother ride.

Available engines in the used FR-V include the 1.7 and 2.0-litre petrol V-Tec, as well as a 2.2-litre diesel, which scores favourably for the environment in terms of carbon emissions. The diesel engine produces 103 KW of power that easily propels the FR-V’s 1.5-ton body, while the soft springs in the wishbone suspension allow it to take corners without moving back passengers around too much. Used FR-Vs are available in both five and six-speed automatic transmissions, with hydraulic steering – ensuring better wheel communication with the road.

According to well-known motor critic, Jeremy Clarkson, “A car can be a tool, but it can also be so much more. It can be a heart-starter, it can be a drug, it can be a piece of art and it can stir your soul.” And in the case of the Honda FR-V, a car can keep your family safe.

The front seat shifts back for safety in your used FR-V because the front-seat airbag, once deployed, should not cover a child that may be sitting in the middle seat. The airbag is large enough to protect both front passengers, and there are front-side airbags, and curtain airbags that accommodate every passenger. All six seatbelts also have pre-tensioners (a device that locks the belt in emergencies) and load limits.

Honda’s advanced Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) feature helps the driver maintain control in wet or slippery road conditions through tyre traction control, anti-lock brakes and side-slip, which help to control the vehicle’s trajectory or tyre grip on the road. The different components of Honda’s VSA achieve this by reducing torque or applying brake force to individual discs.

If you’re in the market to buy a used Honda, visit CMH Honda today, and browse through our selection of quality pre-owned cars. There are many reasons why it’s a good deal to buy a used Honda FR-V:

• The Honda name: Although not flashy, Honda’s reputation for reliability makes their cars some of the most sought-after commodities on the used-car market. In buying a used FR-V, you’re buying a second-hand car that has retained its Honda factory standards.

 • Flexibility: Your family just expanded, and now your wash basket is too small, and so are your cooking pans. But in the used FR-V’s case, your car can accommodate you. With adjustable seats, a large boot for camping trips, drivability in traffic jams and a sporty style, the Honda’s FR-V is not a people hauler: it was designed with customisability in mind.

• Value for money: The 2.0-litre petrol engine makes about 119 KW of power, with top speeds of 185 km per hour and a fuel economy of approximately 8.6 litres p/100km. Long renowned for their eco-conscious engines that favour low mileage, Honda ensures that with the FR-V, you save money in return trips to the petrol station.

 • Top safety: With curtain and side airbags, VSA, soft suspension and a reinforced body structure, your used FR-V will be solid on the road and sturdy around corners, even at top speeds. Passengers won’t feel like they’re floating on air, and speed enthusiasts will be satisfied with its efficient handling.

• Aesthetic appeal: Solid MPVs are seldom designed to win competitions. But the Honda MPV, with its wood-trimmed dashboard, chrome grille and high tail, has a sporty appeal. Its angular shape, with rising, square sides, makes a powerful statement that is not quite your average SUV.