Honda Odyssey

Angular Front Exterior View - 2010 Honda Odyssey 4-door Wagon EX

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Shopping for a 2012 Honda Odyssey? MSRP: $28,375 - $43,825

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The Honda Odyssey is a minivan that was first introduced in Japan back in 1994 and the U.S. one year later. Its initial reception in local showrooms was unfavorable due to its smaller size compared to the market leader, the Chrysler Town & Country, but Honda’s reputation for reliability and strong resale values enabled the Odyssey to quickly become a household nameplate within its first couple of years of sale.

The Odyssey’s other major draw card was its competitive pricing, although an inflow of cheaper models has seen this advantage eroded significantly. With a starting price of $26,805, the current Honda Odyssey is one of the more expensive minivans on the market; although it does remain a bargain in some respects against luxury people-movers like the Mercedes-Benz R-Class or Lincoln MKT.

The first generation Odyssey shared its platform with the top-selling Honda Accord sedan. It was manufactured in Japan and was only available with a four-cylinder engine. Customers did, however, have the choice between seven- or six-seater capability, the latter using two removable second-row captain's chairs in lieu of the regular bench. 

Honda then moved production of the Odyssey to North America, sized the van up significantly, and replaced the four-cylinder engine of the previous model with a new 3.5-liter V-6. Coming onto the market as a 1999 model, this bigger Odyssey was praised for its strong power, excellent handling and twin sliding doors.

Honda was onto a winning formula so for the third generation of the minivan, which was first launched as a 2005 model, changes were kept to a minimum. The Honda Odyssey featured a 244 horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 with optional cylinder deactivation technology. The most efficient model returns an EPA-rated fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

With a complete redesign for 2011, Honda added a little more design panache to the Odyssey, along with improved seating plus new connectivity and entertainment features. The most noteworthy detail of the new design is a 'lightning-bolt' beltline--a small drop of the window line just behind the sliding door--which adds a little more window space in back. Power was pretty much carried over, with a 247-hp version of the 3.5-liter V-6, but a new six-speed automatic was phased in for part of the lineup, returning up to 19 mpg city, 28 highway. Variable cylinder management and active noise cancellation makes these vans among the most efficient and refined picks in the real world, too, plus the Odyssey has earned both IIHS Top Safety Pick status and top five-star ratings from the federal government.

Pricing and features continue to be one issue with the Odyssey. Although it can be had with a stunning wide-screen entertainment system, HID headlamps, a blind-spot warning system, and a great 650-watt sound system, it's still a little disappointing that Bluetooth isn't on basic LX or EX models. But on the other hand, it carries a long-held reputation for strong resale value and low running costs.

Angular Rear Exterior View - 2010 Honda Odyssey 4-door Wagon EX

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