Vehicles over in Asia, as well as other parts of the world, have some of the best names. There’s Toyota Fortuner, the Mitsubishi Pajero, and the Honda CR-V. OK, that last one isn’t anything special, but what is interesting about the Honda CR-V overseas is that is can fit more people in it. And while here in the U.S., Honda’s most-popular crossover can fit five people in relative comfort, in places like the Philippines, the Honda CR-V can actually fit up to 10 people.

This Honda CR-V could be considered a modern-day Jeepney

For those not in the know, a Jeepney is a popular form of transportation used in the Philippines that is basically a stretched-out and customized military Jeep that can accommodate 15 to 25 people. Yes, they do have Uber ride-share over there as well, but if you’re looking for a more traditional and culturally historical way to get around, then there’s nothing like experiencing the sheer overcrowdedness and lack of comfort of a Jeepney.

Despite the Jeepney’s uncomfortable nature, its popularity lies in the fact that it can haul so many people at one time. So much so, that there’s even a subcategory of SUVs in the Philippines called AUVs or “Asian Utility Vehicles,” where the name of the game is squeezing as many people as possible into an SUV. According to Opposite Lock, the typical layout was 3 + 4 + 3, which was even the car for the second-generation Honda CR-V that existed in the Philippines. That’s right, that small crossover has a third row.

How did they fit 10 people in a Honda CR-V?

So we know that that seating configuration for the Honda CR-V fits a total of 10 people, however, the question is how Honda was actually able to make it work. First, Honda “downgraded the interior materials and feature to make it work,” which we’re guessing likely refers to the flimsy-looking third-row seat they installed in it. And second, they made the first row a bench seat as well, which likely only accommodates a small child in between the two front seats.

The most interesting part is that the second-row seats up to four people, but instead of adding two more proper seats, Honda just added a couple of more lap belts to the row in order to accommodate two more (very small) people. And as far as the third row, it looks like it was just added in there with no three-point seat belt or any kind of seat contouring for support or comfort. We could likely do the same here with a couple of pieces of plywood from a home improvement store.

The U.S. could use this, but do we need it?

As you can imagine, something like this “AUV-classed” Honda CR-V would never pass any kind of safety standards that we have here in America. There aren’t enough airbags or safety equipment to keep everyone safe, nor is there even enough room. It’s a fun thought to have a small, people-hauling SUV to accommodate more people. However, the lack of safety and sheer cabin room seems unnerving. Kudos to the Philippines for actually making it happen, though!