One step from perfection
When the original Odyssey was launched, way back in the fall of 1994, it took Honda nine years to fight back from the Chrysler minivan domination. Let's face it; the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager took North America by storm, and were the inspiration for plenty of other minivans.
Nine years. That's a long time, especially for Honda, a Japanese car company that was on a roll. And, that first Odyssey wasn't exactly up to the task of rivalling the best in that category. It had hinged rear doors and offered a smooth but overworked 2.2L, 140-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. Still, it possesses what Hondas were all about: clever design touches, reliability, and strong resale value. Scanning through Auto123.com's used car database, we find a bunch of high-mileage, 1995 to 1998 Odyssey models that sell from $6,000 to $11,000. That's a lot more than what a similar-age Caravan or Voyager sells for. The 4-cylinder engine was criticized at the time, but with the current price of gas, it might be what explains the asking price for these rare Honda minivans.
Mechanical
Funny how time flies. A decade later, the latest Odyssey is now in its third generation. The 2.2-liter engine is long gone, replaced by a muscular 3.5-litre V6 that produces 244 horsepower for 2006. This is a jewel of an engine, being powerful at just about any rev range, and sounds great. This minivan launches itself with authority, and the 5-speed automatic takes care of keeping the motor in its sweet spot. Once in a while, the transmission jerks while upshifting, but it is nonetheless a great dance partner for the V6.
During a road trip from Montreal to Toronto and back in this Odyssey EX tester, we managed a fuel consumption average of between 12.0 and 13.0 L/100 km. That's quite good, considering the size of the vehicle and that we were five people on board as well as some heavy video equipment and boxes.
The Odyssey feels confident on the road, if slightly floaty. It's amazing how well today's minivans handle, and this Honda is no exception. You can push it through street corners and high-speed curves, and you'll feel very little body roll and a lot of composure, until the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) decides it's had enough patience with you and calmly steps in. The steering is precise, and makes you barely twitch your wrists to perform a lane change. Overall, the Odyssey drives extremely well.
By comparison, I have recently driven a couple of other minivans, a Nissan Quest and a Chrysler Town & Country. The Odyssey and Quest are pretty close in terms of acceleration and speed. The Quest's suspension felt a tad stiffer in spirited driving. The Chrysler minivan trailed the others in both aspects, if that matters to you.
Styling
The Odyssey still looks a little like the original, but fatter. Its styling has smoothly evolved over the years. The 1995 version was lighter and svelte, but has turned into a more spacious and stronger microbus since. The big googly eyes dominate the front end, squeezing the chromed nose frontward. Well, it looks unmistakably Honda. The flanks are spoiled by the creases and cut lines on each side for the rear door hinges. The rear of the Odyssey looks pretty ponderous, though. This minivan is wide, accentuated by the horizontal tail lamps, and its butt sports a huge rear overhang. On a note from 1 to 10, I'll give the Odyssey's looks a 7.
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| 2006 Honda Odyssey EX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
Nine years. That's a long time, especially for Honda, a Japanese car company that was on a roll. And, that first Odyssey wasn't exactly up to the task of rivalling the best in that category. It had hinged rear doors and offered a smooth but overworked 2.2L, 140-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. Still, it possesses what Hondas were all about: clever design touches, reliability, and strong resale value. Scanning through Auto123.com's used car database, we find a bunch of high-mileage, 1995 to 1998 Odyssey models that sell from $6,000 to $11,000. That's a lot more than what a similar-age Caravan or Voyager sells for. The 4-cylinder engine was criticized at the time, but with the current price of gas, it might be what explains the asking price for these rare Honda minivans.
Mechanical
Funny how time flies. A decade later, the latest Odyssey is now in its third generation. The 2.2-liter engine is long gone, replaced by a muscular 3.5-litre V6 that produces 244 horsepower for 2006. This is a jewel of an engine, being powerful at just about any rev range, and sounds great. This minivan launches itself with authority, and the 5-speed automatic takes care of keeping the motor in its sweet spot. Once in a while, the transmission jerks while upshifting, but it is nonetheless a great dance partner for the V6.
 |
| 2006 Honda Odyssey EX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
The Odyssey feels confident on the road, if slightly floaty. It's amazing how well today's minivans handle, and this Honda is no exception. You can push it through street corners and high-speed curves, and you'll feel very little body roll and a lot of composure, until the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) decides it's had enough patience with you and calmly steps in. The steering is precise, and makes you barely twitch your wrists to perform a lane change. Overall, the Odyssey drives extremely well.
By comparison, I have recently driven a couple of other minivans, a Nissan Quest and a Chrysler Town & Country. The Odyssey and Quest are pretty close in terms of acceleration and speed. The Quest's suspension felt a tad stiffer in spirited driving. The Chrysler minivan trailed the others in both aspects, if that matters to you.
Styling
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| 2006 Honda Odyssey EX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |