2010 Honda Odyssey Touring Review

At one time, minivans were aptly referred to as “minivans”. I’m not sure that point of reference applies any longer, especially when Honda’s Odyssey comes into view, or should I say blocks the view. This is as large as a minivan gets, and as such it carries a fair amount of girth.

The 2010 Odyssey is the third generation of Honda’s highly popular people mover.(Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com)

Size and substance unchanged for 2010
The 2010 Odyssey is the third generation of Honda’s highly popular people mover. It’s within an inch in length of the other two most popular minivans, the Toyota Sienna and the Dodge Grand Caravan, so size is no longer a distinguishing feature for buyers.

Nothing about the Odyssey is new for 2010 but don’t equate that with being out of date. The Odyssey underwent a significant makeover in 2008, and received some further enhancements for 2009. The look and feel of this van is as fresh and attractive as any example out there – hauling soccer teams and Costco booties.

Cylinder de-activation improves economy
Big vehicles, be they vans or SUVs, are not celebrated for their ability to conserve a litre of fuel. To some degree, Honda is reversing this notion with the application of their Advanced Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology that was revised an improved last year.

VCM allows the Odyssey’s 3.5-litre i-VTEC SOHC V6 engine to operate on as few as three cylinders when power demands are at a minimum. As the need for power arises, the system seamlessly invites the deactivated cylinders to again participate in the production of power.

One might fear that manipulating a V6 engine so radically could result in harmonic discord similar to wet boots the clothes dryer, but such fear is baseless. It’s quite amazing how cleanly the system manages the inclusion and exclusion of cylinders during routine driving, and otherwise.

The sophisticated engine delivers decent but not overly engaging performance.(Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com)