Driving Impressions

Odyssey drives and rides like a minivan. It accelerates briskly, as quickly as many sport-utilities. Fuel economy is average. Honda's V6 is smooth and quiet, though it makes its presence known under full acceleration. The automatic transmission works well, but the column-mounted shifter feels a bit funky, as it travels an elliptical path when you push it through the gears manually. In most situations, the Odyssey delivers a smooth, comfortable ride. On a bumpy road into Washington, D.C., however, the suspension seemed to lack sufficient damping. Potholes are felt and heard as rattles emanating from the rear of the vehicle. Odyssey is easily maneuvered in close-quarters, better than most SUVs. Big, well-designed mirrors are easy to adjust and provide good rearward vision. The view from the inside mirror is obscured a bit by the rearmost headrests, but they are removable. Sound quality from the premium six-speaker stereo is mediocre. It has difficulty reproducing any music with a broad range. Distortion occurs at higher volumes and the system lacks the efficiency to reproduce low-volume segments well.

Final Word

Last year, we wrote that the 2001 Odyssey equaled the efforts of DaimlerChrysler and other leading competitors. For 2002, more power (with no loss in economy), better brakes and upgraded interior features move Odyssey even closer to the top of its class. Its magic third seat is a neat trick. Add to that Odyssey's strong value and Honda's proven quality. Overall, the Honda Odyssey is a solid minivan, one that owners of other Honda products can trade into with confidence. It delivers a load of convenience and is easy to live with. The Odyssey is a great choice for a family of five or six, and a smarter choice for most families than a sport-utility vehicle.