Five years ago, shortly after its 1999 redesign, we added a Honda Odyssey to our long-term fleet. As Honda's first serious effort to upstage the segment leader (Dodge Caravan), we were intrigued by the Japanese automaker's innovative features, such as a fold-flat third-row seat, dual power-sliding doors and a sliding second-row seat that could serve as either a bench or two buckets. We also liked the idea of testing Honda quality, reliability and refinement in a large minivan (the previous Odyssey was basically a tall station wagon with an anemic four-cylinder engine).
Unless you've been living under a bassinet for the past five years, you already know that Honda's 1999-2004 Odyssey pretty much owned the minivan segment. Sure, it didn't sell in numbers as big as the Chrysler/Dodge vans, but that was due to Honda's limited production capacity — consumer demand for the Odyssey outstripped supply throughout the van's lifecycle.
The 2005 model marks the first redesign of this segment leader, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Toyota and Nissan both redesigned their minivans for 2004, and while the Quest suffers from build quality and interior design issues, the Sienna effectively matched the Odyssey in terms of performance and comfort while trumping it in the areas of feature content and cabin refinement. For the first time in the history of our Most Wanted awards, the Odyssey didn't win the "Minivan" category in 2004 (it went to the Sienna).
But Honda regained the Most Wanted Minivan title in 2005, as the new van is once again the best all-around package for buyers seeking a safe and feature-laden family mover. Honda has met the Sienna's challenge by offering such items as roll-down windows and window shades in the sliding doors, a split-folding third-row seat that disappears into the floor and three-row side curtain airbags.
The Odyssey further impresses with the segment's highest horsepower rating (255) and a Variable Cylinder Deactivation (VCD) system that shuts down three cylinders for improved fuel mileage under light throttle conditions. Other unique items, like Active Noise Control and an Active Control Engine Mount system, are meant to quell the longstanding complaint about the previous Odyssey's cabin noise levels.
Our long-term Odyssey Touring model arrived in a coat of shimmering Desert Rock Metallic. Starting this year, "Touring" is the Odyssey's new top-of-the-line trim, relegating the "EX" models to second-tier status. Along with such expected features as power-sliding doors, a power rear liftgate and leather seats, the Touring model includes a removable center console between the second-row seats, a two-position driver's memory seat, power-adjustable pedals, a 115-volt power outlet and parking sensors.
The only options on the Touring model are a DVD entertainment system and a DVD navigation system, both of which come bundled together in the "Touring w/Nav and Entertainment" trim. Our long-term Odyssey is missing these options, but it still rings in at $35,010 (adding the entertainment and navigation systems pumps the price to over $38,000).
After just a few weeks in the new Odyssey, we're satisfied that Honda has improved what needed attention without disturbing what made it a class leader. The van feels about the same on the road, meaning excellent steering response and a near ideal balance between comfortable ride quality and confident handling. One obvious improvement comes in the power delivery area, where the Odyssey seems noticeably faster than its 15-peak-horsepower increase would suggest. An 8 pound-feet bump in peak torque, to 250 lb-ft, feels more like a 25 lb-ft gain, and confirms that Honda's VCD has no negative impact on performance.
We've only put around 700 miles on the van (it came to us with around 2,000 miles on the clock), so it's a little early to tell whether our average fuel economy of 17 mpg will improve. We imagine it will increase once we get a few long trips under our belts that will allow the VDC to do its thing. Our 1999's average over two years was 18.3 mpg.
The single biggest interior upgrade comes in the relocation of the shifter, which no longer blocks access to the center stack controls and is easier to operate. We also appreciate the new power point location. While it's still low in the center stack, it's easy to reach compared to the previous model's design, where it was literally on the floor.
Over the next year we'll put Honda's newest van through the rigors of family transportation, daily commuting and scheduled (as well as unscheduled, if necessary) service visits. Our only indication of a problem thus far is a pair of low tire-pressure warnings in two weeks. The first one could have been a fluke, but the second indicates a likely slow leak. Our van is outfitted with the Michelin PAX (run-flat) tire system, and we've heard mixed reports regarding replacement tire availability.
We'll let you know how we resolve the tire-pressure issue, and any others that crop up, over the next 12 months.
Current Odometer: 2,710
Best Fuel Economy: 17.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 16.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 17.0 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Possible slow leak in front passenger tire.
Unless you've been living under a bassinet for the past five years, you already know that Honda's 1999-2004 Odyssey pretty much owned the minivan segment. Sure, it didn't sell in numbers as big as the Chrysler/Dodge vans, but that was due to Honda's limited production capacity — consumer demand for the Odyssey outstripped supply throughout the van's lifecycle.
The 2005 model marks the first redesign of this segment leader, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Toyota and Nissan both redesigned their minivans for 2004, and while the Quest suffers from build quality and interior design issues, the Sienna effectively matched the Odyssey in terms of performance and comfort while trumping it in the areas of feature content and cabin refinement. For the first time in the history of our Most Wanted awards, the Odyssey didn't win the "Minivan" category in 2004 (it went to the Sienna).
But Honda regained the Most Wanted Minivan title in 2005, as the new van is once again the best all-around package for buyers seeking a safe and feature-laden family mover. Honda has met the Sienna's challenge by offering such items as roll-down windows and window shades in the sliding doors, a split-folding third-row seat that disappears into the floor and three-row side curtain airbags.
The Odyssey further impresses with the segment's highest horsepower rating (255) and a Variable Cylinder Deactivation (VCD) system that shuts down three cylinders for improved fuel mileage under light throttle conditions. Other unique items, like Active Noise Control and an Active Control Engine Mount system, are meant to quell the longstanding complaint about the previous Odyssey's cabin noise levels.
Our long-term Odyssey Touring model arrived in a coat of shimmering Desert Rock Metallic. Starting this year, "Touring" is the Odyssey's new top-of-the-line trim, relegating the "EX" models to second-tier status. Along with such expected features as power-sliding doors, a power rear liftgate and leather seats, the Touring model includes a removable center console between the second-row seats, a two-position driver's memory seat, power-adjustable pedals, a 115-volt power outlet and parking sensors.
The only options on the Touring model are a DVD entertainment system and a DVD navigation system, both of which come bundled together in the "Touring w/Nav and Entertainment" trim. Our long-term Odyssey is missing these options, but it still rings in at $35,010 (adding the entertainment and navigation systems pumps the price to over $38,000).
After just a few weeks in the new Odyssey, we're satisfied that Honda has improved what needed attention without disturbing what made it a class leader. The van feels about the same on the road, meaning excellent steering response and a near ideal balance between comfortable ride quality and confident handling. One obvious improvement comes in the power delivery area, where the Odyssey seems noticeably faster than its 15-peak-horsepower increase would suggest. An 8 pound-feet bump in peak torque, to 250 lb-ft, feels more like a 25 lb-ft gain, and confirms that Honda's VCD has no negative impact on performance.
We've only put around 700 miles on the van (it came to us with around 2,000 miles on the clock), so it's a little early to tell whether our average fuel economy of 17 mpg will improve. We imagine it will increase once we get a few long trips under our belts that will allow the VDC to do its thing. Our 1999's average over two years was 18.3 mpg.
The single biggest interior upgrade comes in the relocation of the shifter, which no longer blocks access to the center stack controls and is easier to operate. We also appreciate the new power point location. While it's still low in the center stack, it's easy to reach compared to the previous model's design, where it was literally on the floor.
Over the next year we'll put Honda's newest van through the rigors of family transportation, daily commuting and scheduled (as well as unscheduled, if necessary) service visits. Our only indication of a problem thus far is a pair of low tire-pressure warnings in two weeks. The first one could have been a fluke, but the second indicates a likely slow leak. Our van is outfitted with the Michelin PAX (run-flat) tire system, and we've heard mixed reports regarding replacement tire availability.
We'll let you know how we resolve the tire-pressure issue, and any others that crop up, over the next 12 months.
Current Odometer: 2,710
Best Fuel Economy: 17.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 16.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 17.0 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Possible slow leak in front passenger tire.
Add A Comment »