1 – 2013 Honda Odyssey (82.9%)
Ah, the Honda Odyssey. Sitting pretty (truly) at the top of our minivan comparo drive, it nabbed No. 1 because it offers a happy medium to everything -- rather like the winner of our 2013 Compact Crossover Alternatives Comparison Test.
While the Honda Odyssey is another Grand Caravan wannabe, it manages to copy the go-to minivan in the best way possible: with plenty of available amenities, quality materials, a stylish exterior look, and a drivability none of us could ignore.
From the outside, the 2013 Honda Odyssey is the most sophisticated looking of the bunch. While also the most bulbous and van-like, it’s modern and stylish enough to get away with it. In bright white, the Odyssey is quite an attractive minivan. And from the front, the instantly recognizable Honda grille keeps this vehicle in line with the rest of the Honda family lineup.
The Honda tradition continues inside the 2013 Odyssey, another reason this minivan finds itself in the top spot. There’s something about a Honda interior: it’s organized, ergonomically designed, comfortable and tech-savvy. Space in the Honda Odyssey, up front, is great with everything at arm’s reach for the driver and/or the passenger. Storage abounds, and the rear entertainment system is fabulous (with a widescreen that can host more than one media at once) in the Touring edition (starting at $47,190).
Ingress and egress are not the best in the 2013 Honda Odyssey, especially when getting to the third row. However, once in the third row, we found it quite roomy (fitting three adults across), and even discovered a host of AUX and HDMI plugs for external hookups. The Odyssey also had the most difficult seats to move in the second row.
Where the 2013 Honda Odyssey truly shone was in the drive. Above all else, this was the defining factor for the Honda’s No. 1 spot. Here is a minivan that doesn’t drive like a minivan, it drives and handles like a car. Light, nimble almost, the Odyssey is a pleasure to drive and park: not something you’d normally hear one say about a bulbous minivan.
Equipped with a 3.5L V6 SOHC good for 248 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, the 2013 Honda Odyssey actually boasts the fewest ponies, and sits on middle ground for power off the line. Regardless, the performance is paramount over the others with a smooth-shifting and responsive 6-speed automatic transmission. Handling is key in the Odyssey, and undoubtedly is the reason we all felt like we were driving a slightly overweight Accord instead of an anorexic Pilot.
Fuel efficiency in the 2013 Honda Odyssey was standard (at 12.88L/100km on our test), helping it keep that top spot. Why not a higher score if we found it overall the best of both worlds (quality and quantity)? Price.
Where the Dodge Grand Caravan takes the cake on bang-for-your-buck, the Honda Odyssey has much to offer, for the right price. To put it into perspective, the top-of-the-line Dodge is still nearly $10k cheaper than the equivalent top-of-the-range Honda Odyssey.
As we mentioned above, we’re a discerning bunch not only conscious about budget, but also about amenities, quality of materials and drive. When all those things are considered, the 2013 Honda Odyssey is the obvious winner amongst the trifecta of minivans.
Ah, the Honda Odyssey. Sitting pretty (truly) at the top of our minivan comparo drive, it nabbed No. 1 because it offers a happy medium to everything -- rather like the winner of our 2013 Compact Crossover Alternatives Comparison Test.
While the Honda Odyssey is another Grand Caravan wannabe, it manages to copy the go-to minivan in the best way possible: with plenty of available amenities, quality materials, a stylish exterior look, and a drivability none of us could ignore.
From the outside, the 2013 Honda Odyssey is the most sophisticated looking of the bunch. While also the most bulbous and van-like, it’s modern and stylish enough to get away with it. In bright white, the Odyssey is quite an attractive minivan. And from the front, the instantly recognizable Honda grille keeps this vehicle in line with the rest of the Honda family lineup.
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| From the outside, the 2013 Honda Odyssey is the most sophisticated looking of the bunch. While also the most bulbous and van-like, it’s modern and stylish enough to get away with it. (Photo: Olivier Delorme) |
The Honda tradition continues inside the 2013 Odyssey, another reason this minivan finds itself in the top spot. There’s something about a Honda interior: it’s organized, ergonomically designed, comfortable and tech-savvy. Space in the Honda Odyssey, up front, is great with everything at arm’s reach for the driver and/or the passenger. Storage abounds, and the rear entertainment system is fabulous (with a widescreen that can host more than one media at once) in the Touring edition (starting at $47,190).
Ingress and egress are not the best in the 2013 Honda Odyssey, especially when getting to the third row. However, once in the third row, we found it quite roomy (fitting three adults across), and even discovered a host of AUX and HDMI plugs for external hookups. The Odyssey also had the most difficult seats to move in the second row.
Where the 2013 Honda Odyssey truly shone was in the drive. Above all else, this was the defining factor for the Honda’s No. 1 spot. Here is a minivan that doesn’t drive like a minivan, it drives and handles like a car. Light, nimble almost, the Odyssey is a pleasure to drive and park: not something you’d normally hear one say about a bulbous minivan.
Equipped with a 3.5L V6 SOHC good for 248 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, the 2013 Honda Odyssey actually boasts the fewest ponies, and sits on middle ground for power off the line. Regardless, the performance is paramount over the others with a smooth-shifting and responsive 6-speed automatic transmission. Handling is key in the Odyssey, and undoubtedly is the reason we all felt like we were driving a slightly overweight Accord instead of an anorexic Pilot.
Fuel efficiency in the 2013 Honda Odyssey was standard (at 12.88L/100km on our test), helping it keep that top spot. Why not a higher score if we found it overall the best of both worlds (quality and quantity)? Price.
Where the Dodge Grand Caravan takes the cake on bang-for-your-buck, the Honda Odyssey has much to offer, for the right price. To put it into perspective, the top-of-the-line Dodge is still nearly $10k cheaper than the equivalent top-of-the-range Honda Odyssey.
As we mentioned above, we’re a discerning bunch not only conscious about budget, but also about amenities, quality of materials and drive. When all those things are considered, the 2013 Honda Odyssey is the obvious winner amongst the trifecta of minivans.
 |
| There’s something about a Honda interior: it’s organized, ergonomically designed, comfortable and tech-savvy. (Photo: Olivier Delorme) |