2011 Honda Odyssey First Drive

[AutoGuide.com]

2011 Honda Odyssey Review - First Drive
Honda wants you to love the Odyssey for its body, but its best feature has to be its brains

All new for 2011 the fourth-generation Honda Odyssey is the first to be designed, engineered and built in America. More importantly, the team that’s been hard at work reengineering the class-leading family hauler is made up of men and women who have owned numerous past Odysseys, using them in daily family life, giving the team a unique perspective of exactly what is needed on this new car. And the results are impressive.

While “all-new” and sporting a somewhat unconventional design, there’s a lot about the 2011 Odyssey that’s familiar. Most importantly, the engine and chassis are carryovers, hinting that while Honda is optimistic about growth in the minivan segment, they aren’t betting on it.

Instead, Honda decided to focus much of its engineering talent on improving and perfecting the functionality of the Odyssey rather than reengineer it; and that’s smart thinking as there’s no reason to knock either the chassis or the engine. Quite the contrary.

BEST-IN-CLASS FUEL ECONOMY

Thanks to modifications to the engine, use of Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), a lighter overall curb weight and a sleek aerodynamic body, Honda wears the fuel economy crown in the segment. The new rating is an impressive 18-mpg city and 27-mpg highway, which bests the Toyota Sienna’s 18/24-mpg rating for the V6 and is even better than the 4-cylinder Sienna’s 19/24-mpg rating. And Honda even offers a six-speed automatic transmission on top trim Touring models which then get 19/28-mpg – family sedan numbers.

Read the full 2011 Honda Odyssey Review at AutoGuide.com

[rocky]

Anyone else notice that the adverts are starting on TV? I wasn't surprised it was in black, as dark colors hide the lightning bolt well.

[hondacuraplanet]

Lightning bolt?

The Odyssey Touring has been the benchmark for minivans. It's a lot of vehicle for the money, provided that you need a lot of vehicle and have the money

[onu2002]

Supposedly the beltline, on the side, looks like a lightning bolt. I don't really see it, but I'm an engineer, not an architect, so I don't understand design.

I still think it's stupid that Honda can't put the sliding door track at the base of the rear window. Larger window, my butt. There's certainly nothing small about the Sienna's rear window.

I am sold on the middle row adjustability though, if we end up having a 3rd child.

[A6Pilot]

If I were in the minivan market, I gotta tell you the Kia Sedona would be at the top of my list. Same features, size, simpler, and it tops out at about $35,000. Then there's the warranty:10 year/100,000 mile power train. 5 year/60,000 mile full vehicle, including roadside assistance. And no timing belt replacement at 105,000 miles! I hate to see my favorite car company price themselves out of the market.

[onu2002]

That's another stupid thing - the timing belt. Why anybody uses belts instead of chains is beyond me.

We rented a Sedona for vacation, with about 3500 miles of driving. I liked it. Smooth transmission, plenty of power, USB input on the radio, tons of room. You could tell where they saved some money though, but that's alright. I removed one of the 2nd row seats just to see how hard it was, and it was tough. I don't know if the competitors are any better though.

I priced it out though, and it wasn't all that much cheaper than a similarly-equipped Odyssey. You can save a little money and get a better warranty with the Sedona, or pay a little more for better quality with the Odyssey.

[NJGuy]

Originally Posted by onu2002

I still think it's stupid that Honda can't put the sliding door track at the base of the rear window. Larger window, my butt. There's certainly nothing small about the Sienna's rear window.

For what it's worth, I read somewhere that the lower sliding door track allows more interior volume/shoulder room in the third row as well as better crash protection. I can't verify how much merit is behind these ideas though.

[onu2002]

2011 Honda Odyssey First Drive - Motor Trend

Why not tuck those unsightly sliding-door tracks up under that lowered window line? The structure behind those tracks would have eaten up a reported 4 inches of crucial rear-seat shoulder room, and let's face it: Minivans are more about inner space than outer face.

[macphanatic]

Originally Posted by onu2002

2011 Honda Odyssey First Drive - Motor Trend

That may be, but they could have continued the window (or at least the glass) down to the track. Then the track would have blended in a bit more.

[casio]

Originally Posted by macphanatic

That may be, but they could have continued the window (or at least the glass) down to the track. Then the track would have blended in a bit more.

I would second that

[cwa107]

Saw it in person for the first time today and it really doesn't look half bad. The lightning bolt belt line is still a bit awkward, but there's a character line/bend that integrates into the jagged line that cleans it up a bit. It doesn't come off well in pictures, but it doesn't look bad in person, nor does the door track. If it really yields better shoulder and/or visibility, it's a pretty decent trade-off.

I like the front and rear views too. It's just a shame that you have to go up to the Touring to get the six-speed transmission that all Hondas should have at this point.