HONDA’S FAMILY ODYSSEY
EVERY time you see a minivan on the road and a middle aged-man behind the wheel, please honk and flash your lights in respect.
Before you is proof that a man has sacrificed many things, including the joy of driving, for his loved ones.
Kids love minivans and so do their mommies. Why wouldn’t they? There’s ample space for them to get comfortable. Get a minivan equipped with a screen and seat trays for the children’s McDonald meals and you will soon have trouble prying your children out of the vehicle.
There are so many MPVs around because these vehicles are well-equipped to cater to the needs of families. Everyone loves the MPV, except maybe, the driver.
Some time back, when Honda introduced the Odyssey RB1 in 2003, the MPV concept was turned on its head. Suddenly, here was a minivan that looked incredibly good, and most importantly, didn’t handle like a C20 Econovan. If ever there was a “driver’s MPV”, that might have been it.
In Absolute trim with the RB2, Honda perfected their design, and until today, there are legions of fans of this “sporty” MPV.
When Honda introduced the current generation platform, it was revealed that the new MPV had grown in size. It had grown by a staggering 136mm in height, and now stood at 1,685mm-tall, compared with the previous model.
More crucially, the rear doors, which were hinged on previous models had been changed to dual power sliding doors, making it closer to a typical MPV.
Now in RC2 guise, the Odyssey has undergone another facelift. Does it live up to the Odyssey badge? Well, yes and no.
The Odyssey we tested was a sevenseater configuration with two individual captain seats in the second row, with ottomans.
The second row seats are fully adjustable, while the third row can be folded in a typically ingenious Honda way that leaves a relatively flat floor for storage.
The third row seat in particular, is amazingly comfortable despite its ability to fold flush into the floor.
First off, the ride around town is a bit choppy. It’s not as poised as we expected it to be. But with dual sliding doors and a cavernous space in the middle, a compromise probably had to be made with regards to ride quality.
It does however, handle well enough for something so large. Handling is relatively stable on highways and spritely in town. Something that is especially welcome is the excellent turning radius, which at 5.4m is better than some smaller sedans.
The 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC engine has 173hp at 6,200rpm and 225Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm on tap, and does a decent enough job of hauling the MPV around. Drive is sent towards the front wheels via a CVT automatic. It’s a decent enough drivetrain for the rigours of daily life, although a bit pricey with the road tax.
For the Malaysian market, the Odyssey is equipped with Honda Sensing, Honda’s suite of latest driving aids and safety features.
This includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW).
The equipment list is comprehensive as well, with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, powered front seats, reverse camera, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control in front as well as of course, power-sliding rear doors (which much to the delight of children, can be opened with the remote control).
With prices starting at RM258,896, it’s pricey, but compared with the asking prices of some of its competitors in the Malaysian market offers a good value proposition for all self-sacrificing Malaysian dads.