Our Odyssey did take a brief one to Las Vegas, but otherwise spent most of its time serving families in need of its unique charms in L.A. Aesthetically, the Odyssey is perhaps the best-looking minivan on the market. As for beauty being more than sheetmetal deep, one staffer commented: "The Honda Odyssey is what I feel a minivan should be. It combines the utility of a minivan, ample storage and great cabin space, with a ride that is better than my Honda Accord."
Suspension, the stuff that makes for such a great ride, drew praise when it was time to turn the steering wheel as well. One driver said with surprise: "This doesn't feel like a minivan or truck. While the height allows you to see over cars, the roll and sway typical of minivans and taller trucks is pleasantly dampened. The handling and cornering abilities make this more like a car than the people-hauler it is."
Garnering universal praise this month were the auto-sliding rear doors. Mused one driver: "Thank goodness for the auto-sliding doors. I got so used to this useful feature, that when I rode in a Dodge Caravan, I expected the door to open, and was dismayed that I actually had to do the labor myself." Another staffer found that his 4-year-old son loved operating the automatic doors, while father appreciated the child safety-lock feature. We did find the remote difficult to use; the sequence to unlock the sliding doors is a bit tricky.
On our way to Vegas, we appreciated the smooth ride and effective climate-control system. The air conditioning promptly cooled the minivan in 100-plus temperatures, with the rear air serving as a welcome aid as well. The radio, though, didn't prove as easy to live with as the climate controls. Commented one driver: "The position of the gear lever on the steering column makes using the radio a chore. Whoever designed this must have thought that no one adjusts the volume of the radio while the car is in D4."
This month, thinner folk praised the seats, while burlier staffers registered some protest, wishing for larger, more supportive American variations. Other seat comments went to the easy-to-fold middle seats, which lay flat and allow access to the rear bench seat.
Gripes ranged from a useless center console tray, a hatch door that's difficult for shorter folk to reach, wiper blades that smear rather than remove water, and a lack of automatic headlights. The Odyssey's a great people-mover, and can be used as a cargo van with the seats removed. That, combined with its car-like road manners, makes it a favorite among our staffers with families, with one family man quipping, "I think I know what our next 'car' is going to be."
Current Odometer: 10,163
Best Fuel Economy: 22.5 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 11.3 mpg
Body Damage: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None.
