Two of our Los Angeles-based staffers shared driving time in the Honda Odyssey this month--one for simple around-town errands and one for a move to Orange County. The collective opinion? A van is a van is a van ... until you drive this one.
One driver, a self-described "gadget man," found the goodies on the Odyssey to be both nifty and functional. He said the automatic sliding doors were helpful when trying to load armfuls of grocery bags inside and proclaimed the disappearing rear seat the best thing since sliced bread. His short-legged wife enjoyed the combination of eight-way power driver's seat and tilt steering column because it allowed her to find the perfect seating position without being pushed too close to the wheel.
The only complaints about the van from this couple were that the remote keyless power sliding-door control was unpredictable and they wished the van had more passing power on the freeway. All drivers were happy with the handling of the van, which doesn't seem to handle like a van at all. Our manager of human resources also stepped inside the van this month, with a mountain of household goods to deliver to her new Orange County address. After dropping the back seat into the floor and removing the two middle seats, she was able to transport a large glass table and six dining chairs all in one trip--amazing.
Total Odometer Reading: 5,585
Best Fuel Economy: 20.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 18.0 mpg
Body Repair Costs: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None.
