Road Tests: Long-Term Test

We've completed this test. Click here to see the final results.

Oy! We really took it you-know-where when we decided to add a Honda Odyssey to our fleet of long-term vehicles, and those of you who've already waited months for one have almost certainly found deep gouges in your wallets as well. Check out that as-delivered price tag. Check out the values affixed to the mostly useless dealer-installed items that "justify" the nearly $30,000 tariff we paid.

We used carsdirect.com to find our dark blue Odyssey EX, which received the full-pimp treatment at the hands of Woodland Hills Honda in Woodland Hills, Calif. Evidently, this dealership "front-loads" all Odysseys they receive in an effort to disguise the massive $3,755 charged over sticker price. How can they get away with this blatant price gouging? Honda's Odyssey is unquestionably the best minivan on the market today - safe, functional, attractive and reliable. Capacity at the assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, is restricted to 60,000 units for 1999. About four times that number of people want to buy the van. This results in a market climate that allows the dealer to charge the consumer more than the sticker price. At least Woodland Hills Honda gives the customer something for the extra cash. Many dealers simply charge extra without adding any value to the equation.

We would have preferred the latter, quite frankly. The pinstripes, bug guard and fender trim are essentially useless and foul otherwise crisp lines. The cargo tray and mat interfere with the folding third-row seat, complicating an otherwise simple operation. Sadly, we couldn't refuse any of these "extras." We even asked that the dealer remove the bug guard from the front of our test vehicle prior to delivery, but the response was that it was affixed to the hood using an adhesive that could ruin the paint if removed.

Odyssey intenders will be pleased to learn that Honda plans to boost factory output to 120,000 units next year, and has been rumored to be searching for a North-American site on which to build a new assembly plant. This is a good idea, since the replacement for the Passport sport utility will be based on the Odyssey platform, and if it's nearly as successful as the minivan, a new assembly line is an absolute must. But until supply can meet demand, plan to pay steep penalties to get the best in the class. And to those patriotic readers who might accuse us of selling out to Japanese interests because we call the Odyssey the top choice among minivans, we offer this: only 20 percent of the parts are sourced from Japan, and it's built in North America. So relax.

We'll be driving our new van all over the country and using it for family road trips whenever possible. After two years of abuse at the hands of our staff members, we'll see if it truly is as reliable and functional as initial impressions indicate. Already, one Edmund's employee is on a waiting list for an EX just like ours, and two of our editors are considering buying an Odyssey as well.

Crash testing has been conducted on the Honda Odyssey, and it receives the highest scores possible in frontal-, side- and offset-impact tests. Add the fact that this is the only minivan on the market with headrests and three-point seatbelts in all passenger positions, and the Odyssey can claim "safest minivan" laurels, dethroning the Ford Windstar.

Initial commentary from Los Angeles staffers is positive: "This past weekend we spent the day at the beach. Into the Odyssey we piled my husband and I, our baby and his car seat, my sister and her big beach bag, a big red wagon, a diaper bag, a huge canvas bag of beach stuff, a tent, a cooler and two beach chairs. We still had plenty of space left over to be comfortable." This new mother also praised our EX model's standard power sliding doors, which make baby-toting life much easier. She and her husband, Ford Explorer owners, were also impressed by the ride and driving experience, likening it to a luxury car. The Odyssey also inspires cross-country treks: "Every time we get into the Odyssey we feel like taking a road trip."

Not all is perfect in Hondaville, however. Complaints about a lack of rear audio controls and headphone jacks, as well as gripes about the way the seatbelts work with child seats, have been made in the logbook.

Total Odometer Reading: 1,350
Best Fuel Economy: 25.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 16.9 mpg
Body Repair Costs: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None