A Minivan of Maxi ProportionsIt may not be the longest van to be classified as a "minivan," but at
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| Charger? Crown Vic? Believe it or not, the Odyssey is smaller in length than either. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
201 inches it's certainly close. I think what astounds me most about these behemoths is that in actuality, they are shorter than many full-size sedans. Take for example the Ford Crown Victoria: this favorite among police departments, taxi firms and rental agencies measures a whopping 212 inches bumper to bumper, but at 216 inches, the Lincoln Towncar is the grand daddy of them all. It takes some time to get one's head around it, but the voluminous Odyssey is just slightly longer than the sporty Dodge Charger, which mocks its full-size sedan rating, in top-level trim, with HEMI-induced sizzle and taut handling. My point in this exercise is to emphasize the unbeatable ratio of interior volume to exterior size that minivans provide. Most drivers wouldn't be intimidated about driving a sedan the size of today's Dodge Charger around town, so why be intimidated by the thought of driving today's maxi-size minivan in and through urban congestion?
Truth
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| Rear-mounted camera helps look at things behind you without relying on guesses or trial and error. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
is, vans such as Honda's Odyssey are effortless to drive and maneuver in all manner of circumstance; and with a navigation system that doubles as a screen for a rear-mounted camera, parking a minivan has never been so safe and sweat-free, especially when combined with Honda's Park Sensor warning system. In fact to reverse into something with both of these systems in operation, one would have to be blind and deaf or completely reckless. Unfortunately all of this parking-sense comes only with Honda's top-of-the-line Touring edition of the front-wheel drive Odyssey. That's unfortunate. The rear view camera arrangement is very effective for ensuring toddlers, and the like, haven't wandered behind this family chariot before backing up. Their diminutive size can easily be concealed below the rear sightlines of vehicles such as minivans. Despite this safety concern, minivans are easily the vehicle of choice for family needs, and while little has changed for 2006, the Odyssey remains one of the benchmark-setters in minivan quality, refinement, versatility and performance.
The current generation of Odyssey came to us in 2005 with significant revision, giving it more interior room and improved safety and fuel efficiency, among many other enhancements. The alterations also included an exterior facelift softening the angles that defined the previous gen Odyssey. The van now appears more fused to the roadway thanks to a stance that projects increased aggression. While many have bemoaned both the current and former generation Odysseys as being too milquetoast in design, I perceive it as one of the more likable minivan forms. If dramatic lines and space age appeal tops the "must have" list, look toward Nissan's Quest to fill the void, otherwise the Odyssey is about as pleasing as an over-sized breadbox can become. While not dropping jaws with its looks, Honda has managed to keep the Odyssey's huge expanses of sheet metal and glass very tightly and accurately assembled.
That quality permeates the interior lodgings as well. Honda
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| Third row folds flat into the floor, but Honda hasn't yet found a way to do the second row. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
has undertaken to provide Odyssey owners with much flexibility in interior architecture. When using Honda's 2nd row PlusOne, stowable passenger seat, the Odyssey will accommodate 8 occupants; however the stowable PlusOne seat is best assigned to a child. This removable perch fits between the two second-row captains' chairs in place of a removable center-console storage unit. The third row 60/40 split bench seat folds and tumbles into the floor providing a flat cargo surface on which to place gear. Unlike the Chrysler Town and Country minivan or Dodge Grand Caravan (so optioned), the second row seats in the Odyssey do not tumble into the floor, although they can be easily removed or flipped forward to maximize cargo space. A unique stowage feature of the Odyssey is an optional lazy-Susan rotating shelf located beneath the floor just behind the front seats. In reality this installation is awkward to access and of limited use due to its shallowness. A more accessible storage bin is situated under the front passenger seat. And while on the topic of seats, let's talk comfort, a Honda specialty.
