Honda Odyssey Overview
The Odyssey is a minivan that entered the U.S. market in 1995 and that has since seen five generations of development. The Odyssey was originally an "MPV"-style van, a compact five-door six- or seven-seat vehicle popular in Japan. In subsequent generations, the Honda Odyssey was expanded into a new model for North America that was larger and more powerful to suit the American consumer. The first-generation Odyssey entered the U.S. in the 1995 model year and ran until 1998. Powered by a four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission, this was a compact van. An Isuzu-badged version of the Odyssey was sold as the Oasis. The second-generation of the Odyssey was introduced in the 1999 model year and was far more popular. This edition was designed specifically for the American market and was assembled in Canada and Alabama for North American sales. The sliding rear doors were added, a six-cylinder engine was standard, and entertainment systems for the back seats were added as options. The 2005 model year saw the third generation of the Odyssey enter the market. It was a bit larger and added modern safety equipment as well as some convenience features. A six-cylinder engine was still the norm, as was a five-speed automatic transmission. In 2011, the fourth-generation of the Honda Odyssey was introduced to market and once again the van saw a gain in size. Several modern upgrades were added for technology and entertainment, but the V6 and five-speed automatic remained the norm until 2014 when the six-speed option became standard. The 2017 model year began the fifth-generation of the Honda Odyssey. Common complaints about the Honda Odyssey include transmission problems with the four-speed automatics of the 1999 through 2001 model years. Warranty extensions usually covered those losses, but some may still be found on the used market. Fourth-generation Odyssey models may also have chassis problems at the front wheels, causing a rough ride on the highway and uneven tire wear. This usually happens under warranty.
Test Drive Reviews
2018 Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey was first introduced in 1995 and has since been plying American roads as one of the most popular minivans. The market has cooled and changed a lot since the Odyssey first came to being, but the minivan soldiers are a popular choice for families looking for plenty of comfort and interior real estate, and who have no hangups about potential social stigmas.
The 2018 Honda Odyssey brings in the fifth generation of Homer's namesake minivan, redesigned to add some performance, more second-row adjustability and some nifty in-cabin technology for keeping your eyes on the road while monitoring the little ones in the back seats.
The 2018 Odyssey minivan seats up to eight, has double-sliding doors and comes in six trim levels starting with the LX and moving up through the EX, EX-L, EX-L with Navi and RES, Touring and Elite. Trim level denotes package options and seating arrangements.
See the full 2018 Honda Odyssey Test Drive Review.
2014 Honda Odyssey
There is a very good reason why you see so many Honda Odyssey minivans tooling about in suburbia amidst the ever increasing numbers of family crossovers and SUVs. Because while the minivan segment has shrunk since its sales zenith in 2000, buyers of the Honda Odyssey know that this is the only vehicle on the road that can fit their unique family needs. And it also manages, somehow, to be fun to drive which is not something that can be said of the toaster oven on wheels also known as the Nissan Quest.
Our 2014 Honda Odyssey tester was a top of the line Touring Elite model which maxed out at $45,000 but do be aware that apparently that's how consumers prefer to buy these vans from this Japanese automaker. According to Sage Marie at Honda, the average transaction price for most Odyssey buyers is around $38,000 and base LX trim versions start at around $29,000. So clearly these Honda minivan shoppers know they want a van that does pretty much everything but drive itself. But more on that later.
Sure, Chrysler may have a larger percentage of the sales market but that's only when you combine sales of the Dodge, Chrysler and re-badged VW versions of its minivan. Also, Chrysler relies much more on rental fleets to boost sales than Honda which mainly sells Odyssey vans to private buyers. No matter, Honda is in the minivan business not for pure sales volume but because people like to buy these reliable family transport modules fully loaded with goodies. And for 2014 Honda has gone a step and a half beyond what's expected and introduced a built in car vacuum cleaner called the "HondaVac" which may be the most cleverly designed new car feature we have ever seen. At the very least we can say that while it may suck up dirt quite well, the new "HondaVac" definitely doesn't suck.
See the full 2014 Honda Odyssey Test Drive Review.
2013 Honda Odyssey
Now in its fourth generation of production, the 2013 Honda Odyssey is a class leader in the minivan segment. The past few years have seen the Odyssey garner several awards for safety and reliability, and this year's model looks to continue that mark of excellence. The 2013 Honda Odyssey has added some standard features to its base model and still offers the sleek exterior that has been narrowly chiseled down over the past ten years.
The 2013 Honda Odyssey still features the wider body that debuted in 2011, along with its standard 3.5L V6 engine. Seating can still accommodate eight people (on most models) and Honda shows they had a focus on family-friendly features when designing the Odyssey. While there are other models that can be had for less money, and still others that offer more features, the 2013 Honda Odyssey is a top choice for minivan-driven consumers.
See the full 2013 Honda Odyssey Test Drive Review.
