DRIVEN magazine inside
Honda delivers Odyssey upgrade
We’re seeing medium and large sedans fall out of favour but in the new car market the people mover category has been an unfashionable choice for many years.
There was time — in the 1980s — when it seemed vehicles as innovative as the Renault Espace or as accessible as Mitsubishi’s L300 Starwagon and Chariot or the Honda Civic Shuttle might gain traction. But the SUV phenomenon happened, becoming the Kiwi “vehicle of choice” and leaving the unrivalled practicality of people movers to gain a tiny sliver of new sales.
Honda is one of the brands that has shown people mover persistence and its Odyssey nameplate has been a fixture in the market since 1994. Now in its fifth generation, the Odyssey has taken different design routes with gen-three and gen-four models having a lowline wagon-style before the latest has adopted a taller mini-van format.
The current Odyssey debuted in 2015 and an MY18 refresh brings some detail styling upgrades and a boosted equipment level. The base model Odyssey S is competitively priced at $45,900 and offers eight-seater accommodation while the luxury LS model sets out the middle-row with two “captain’s chairs” for a seven-seat configuration.
Along with additional equipment the $53,990 LS model now boasts the full roster of Honda Sensing intelligent safety and driver assist features. The two models sit either side of Toyota’s single Previa variant (eight-seat configuration) which was recently repriced at $49,990.
Powering both Odyssey models is the 2356cc i-VTEC four-cylinder engine. The long-stroke unit develops 129kW at 6200rpm, has 225Nm of torque at 4000rpm and runs on 91-octane.
It’s a good level of 2.4-litre performance and the continuously variable transmission is typically smooth and does a pretty good job of providing some conventional automatic kickdown response when demanded — or stretches out the gearing to settle at a relaxed 1700rpm on the 100km/h speed limit. If you want to hurry things along or gain manual control the CVT becomes a seven-step sequential shift by using the steering wheel paddles.
In today’s era of high torque, direct injection turbocharged engines it’s interesting to drive a naturally aspirated four-cylinder car — and a relatively heavy one. With some passengers aboard the Odyssey’s response would certainly benefit from the turbo technology that Honda has recently introduced on the Civic and CR-V to serve up bigger torque numbers at lower revs.
Honda claims combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km and my road test average was 8.9L/100km.
While it’s not the type of vehicle where driving dynamics rank as high priority the Odyssey puts a wide-track stance on the road and carries momentum through sweeping highway bends with a confident feel. There’s a surefooted grip level but it should be noted the test car had optional 18-inch Mugen alloy wheels and wider 235/45 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport3 tyres in place of the standard 215/55 R17 rubber.
The driving experience includes a stubby dash-mounted gearshift selector and the Odyssey still has a foot-operated park brake. On a winter morning the thick A-pillar plus the unwiped right-hand section of the big windscreen creates a large traffic blind spot.
In LS grade the Odyssey provides a 2-2-3 seating format. Two luxury middle row seats are the focal point with armrests, cup holders, adjustable footrests and sun shades to offer a “premium economy” travel experience. They contrast with the foldaway bench which seems rather basic in shape.
In LS grade the Odyssey loses a little versatility because it transitions from a seven-seater into a four-seater when the thirdrow folds and pivots into the load area. It’s a short but usefully deep cargo area with a low load lip when all seats are in use while fourseater configuration gives a generous 1332-litres of space.
Up front the cabin layout permits narrow walk-through access between the front seats. The LS features one-touch powered sliding rear doors on both sides — the S is powered only on the kerbside — so, it seems odd for the LS not to go full-power with an electric tailgate as well.
Specification features which distinguish the Odyssey LS from the base model S include leather seat trim with silver stitch highlights, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, a tilt/slide glass sunroof, satellite navigation, tri-zone air conditioning, smart proximity key entry and engine start, heated front seats, LED headlights and Smart Park Assist with a 360-degree camera.
Apart from a couple of design quirks the latest Odyssey delivers practical seven or eight-seater solutions along with modern driving refinement and safety credentials. But the mini-van appearance isn’t going to lure many away from the fashionable SUVs.