Introduction

When Honda introduced the second-generation Odyssey minivan in 1999 it was immediately considered the best minivan on the market. Buyers obviously felt the same way as it remained in high demand for a long time. Honda has launched an all-new Odyssey for 2005. Instead of resting on its laurels, Honda has listened to its customers by adopting many of their suggested changes in its third generation Odyssey. A host of improvements should help put it back at the top of an ever-improving class. Among them: improved car-like ride and handling, a more powerful and fuel efficient 255-horsepower V6 engine, and a clever seating system that can accommodate up to eight passengers. A new body structure is designed to improve safety, and the Odyssey comes standard with side curtain airbags, electronic stability control, and anti-lock brakes.

Walkaround

At first glance one could be forgiven for thinking there is little difference in styling between the new Odyssey and the previous model. Upon closer examination though it easy to see that it has a more refined look. It looks more masculine, according to those who apply gender attributes to automobiles. Honda says the Odyssey has a sporty Euro sedan look. That's stretching it a bit in our view, though there is a similarity to the Accord in the front end. If you squint your eyes, and look from the side, the nose even has similar curvy profile to the VW Beetle. Compared with the old Odyssey, the new one has a bigger grille opening with matching larger headlights. The hood is much more sculptured with curves that lead naturally back to the windshield and help emphasize the bigger fender flares. Unlike other manufacturers, Honda has not hidden the sliding door channels at the base of the window but left them partially obscured by a crease that runs the length of the vehicle. Talking of length, the new Odyssey has the same overall length and height as the previous model but has gained an extra inch in girth. Somehow Honda has managed to increase the interior length available for cargo and passengers by two inches without increasing the overall exterior length. It has given the extra couple of inches to passengers in the third row of seats. All models come with two sliding doors, manually operated on the LX and electrically operated on all other models. The power windows in each of the side doors can be opened in the same fashion as in a car. The tailgate is electrically operated in the top-of-the-line Touring. The Odyssey is the first application of Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. (The 2005 Acura RL is the second.) The vehicle's crush zones have been re-engineered to provide even better protection for occupants while lessening damage when hitting other smaller vehicles and pedestrians. A video shown by Honda demonstrates how little damage a Civic received when hit head-on by a new Odyssey. At the same time the main body has been made much more rigid for better handling. Honda also claims the Odyssey has the lowest drag coefficient of any minivan for better fuel economy and high-speed stability.

Interior Features

Who'd ever think of putting a Lazy Susan in a minivan? Honda has. No, it's not for serving food, but for adding an incredibly useful hidden storage area. The previous Odyssey had a storage well under the floor of the front seats for the spare tire. Honda engineers have moved it to a location in the rear. Instead of removing the round space under the floor where the spare used to reside they've turned it into a hidden storage compartment with a rotating compartmentalized bin. There's a small access panel in the floor between the two front seats for front passengers to get access and another bigger one in front of the center row seats for access. So whatever stuff is stowed in the Lazy Susan, front or middle row passengers can turn it for access. Ingenious! Flexibility in seating arrangements is a key attribute in any minivan and Honda has further enhanced the Odyssey's many seating configurations. There's room for eight people with the optional PlusOne seat that fits between the two captain's chairs in the second row. If it's not needed as a seat it can be turned into a table or stowed in the floor instead of the Lazy Susan bin. If the PlusOne seat is not being used, the right-hand seat can be slid across to allow easier access to the third-row seats. The third-row "magic seat" is split 60/40 and folds down into the well provided for it much more easily than before, and the headrests do not need to be removed before folding. The optional voice-activated DVD navigation system has been extensively updated and now includes Zagat restaurant data. The large 8-inch monitor is well positioned high up in the dashboard. The voice-activation system responds to 637 commands and is smart enough to understand different accents and find locations without any need for input other than by voice. Apart from navigation, the system can also be used to operate the radio and climate controls. Unlike other voice systems we've experienced, this one seemed to work effectively. The available DVD entertainment system features a large 9-inch widescreen display that folds out of the ceiling. The wireless headsets turn on and off automatically as the ear pads are rotated. There's a host of other small touches that have gone into upgrading the interior. From a driver's standpoint, changes include the gearshift lever, which is still mounted on the dashboard, but has been realigned so it has an easier longitudinal motion instead of vertical. The driver's seat has been redesigned so it holds the driver more firmly and is positioned in a more car-like setting. Power adjustable pedals are available in the Touring model.