- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 7 seats
- Engine
2.3i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
110kW, 206Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 9.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Spacious Odyssey
Pigeonhole: People mover with polish.
Philosophy: Luxury for the masses.
Who's buying it: Well-heeled families. Soccer mums. But blokes avoid being seen anywhere near this type of bus.
Why you'd buy it: Quality, ease of driving, strong safety appeal and mass transit versatility. Low floor height and four hinged doors make entry and exit the best in class.
Why you wouldn't: Luggage space is limited with all three rows of seats in use. Some rivals offer more flexibility in seat configurations. Heavier and less agile than the 1995 original – and more expensive than ever. People mover image is so-o-o suburban.
Standard equipment: Climate control air conditioning, central locking, power windows, cruise control, electric mirrors, alloy wheels, fog lights.
Safety: Anti-lock brakes, dual airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners. No independent crash test data available but Honda has invested heavily in upgrading safety.
Cabin: More spacious than the old model with extra comfort and elbow room in the rear. The four-cylinder model has a more practical 2-3-3 seating layout with a middle bench instead of two captain's chairs originally offered with the V6 model. Could use more storage capacity despite dual glovebox and rear compartments.
Seating: Rear bench folds and stows under the rear floor to create a usable cargo area when not needed. Up front, comfort and support are gold standard with height adjustment for the driver.
Engine: Considering it weighs more than 1.5 tonnes, the 2.3-litre four cylinder does a great job with impressive smoothness. Adequate performance, although a full load takes the edge off acceleration.
Transmission: New five-speed automatic features dash-mounted stubby selector and Tiptronic style manual selection. Ratios are well chosen. This is as good as a computer-controlled transmission gets.
Steering: Tilt-adjustable column. Power assistance is well weighted and accurate with a tidy 3.0 turns lock to lock. At 11.5m the turning circle is wide and the Odyssey feels bulky and very long in tight parking situations. Extremities are impossible to see.
Ride: Outstanding, even when unladen. No floaty feeling, no pitch or roll.
Handling: Slightly ponderous but no vices. Front-wheel-drive feels balanced and secure. Car-like in character but not in any way exciting.
Fuel: Expect 11-12 litres/100km in the city, dropping to around eight on the highway with that five-speed transmission providing long legs.
Brakes: Anti-lock software and larger hardware copes well except when fully laden, when retarding two tonnes can be felt via the pedal.
Build: It's a Japanese-built Honda. Enough said.
Warranty: Honda has upgraded this to three-years/100,000km. Industry standard these days.
Anti-theft: Remote central locking with engine immobiliser.
Audio system: In-dash CD but only four speakers in a cavernous interior. Marginal radio reception in difficult conditions. Antenna is built into the glass. Audiophiles will want more.
Cost: Ouch. For most families $47,990 plus on-road costs takes the Odyssey off the shopping list. There are plenty of cheaper rivals, particularly from Korea. Strong resale values will provide some wallet compensation in the long term.
Verdict: The Odyssey is still the class leader if you need to move seven people and not much luggage. Mechanical sophistication and refinement almost justify the price. Safety and quality are evident. If the seating were more flexible, it would be close to perfect.
Prices correct at publication date.