ONE MINUTE you're young and carefree, driving a fab sports car and partying like it's 1999 and then, seemingly overnight, you morph into a grown up, with a couple of saucepan lids and a dog. You spend enough at ParknShop to finance a small nation, turn into a pumpkin at midnight, struggle into jeans that fitted when you were 20, and realise you've outgrown your car. But you can't bring yourself to trade the TT for a station wagon. So, is there a car that fits the gap between sporty and people carrier? Mazda thinks so.
The Mazda MPV ($263,900) has been revamped with a sports appearance, with a smart grille, side skirts, front and rear bumpers and a roof spoiler all making a good-looking car. It's not as sharp as the Alphard, or as squidgy as the bubble-like Picnic, but the MPV (for 'multi-purpose vehicle') is sleek and striking.
The interior is as luxurious as a mobile sitting room. The dashboard is trimmed with walnut and the leatherwork looks authentic. Everything is well finished, and without the hint of the plastic veneer that you see elsewhere. There are two rows of passenger seats and - the piece de resistance - an optional DVD player ($6,000).
The MPV may be about the size of a small house (at 4.833m long, 1.83m wide, 1.745m high and 1,670kg) but its handling is light and (gasp) sporty in Causeway Bay. The six seats are electric and easily adjustable. After a terrible moment in the Lee Gardens car park, where I'm saved by the park assist (invaluable because you can't see much out of the rear window) I test the capacity of the car by filling it with as many items as I can buy. The spacious boot swallows up everything I can throw at it, including two cases of wine. The rear shelf is flimsy and pointless - such a shame when the overall quality of the finish is so high. I also fit the largest cup of coffee perfectly into the cup holders.
The stereo has nine speakers and superb sound. Jacky Cheung Hok-yau's sweeping stadium sound fills the car as I fight the traffic around Hysan Avenue. Amazingly, someone lets me in and even smiles. This car has presence! I'm amazed at how easy the MPV is to drive. Granted, you're cushioned from the engine, which gives a feeling of detachment, but the steering is very responsive. The high driving position gives you a clear view of the road ahead. The overall design of the A frame is such that side vision is blocked, but the excellent mirrors make up for it.
As with many similar cars, the gear stick is on the steering wheel and the notchy design is awkward to master. I'm sure there's a technique, but I haven't mastered it yet. The instrument panel is permanently backlit, a thoughtful touch.