Test drive: 2005 Honda Odyssey

Completely redesigned for 2005 the Honda Odyssey again raises the bar for minivans. I tested a top of the line Touring model and found it feels more like a luxury car than a minivan (plus it has many of the electronic toys from Honda's upscale Acura division). Unfortunately Honda's superb hybrid set up is not available in the Odyssey. MSRP: $34,695; Warranty: 3/36,000.

First Glance

While Honda claims nearly every panel has been redesigned for '05 it's sure hard to tell unless you have an '04 handy for comparison. But I was able to and I can assure you once set nose to tail, the previous generation 2004 Odyssey and the current generation 2005 look quite different. One thing for sure is the '05 looks really big - bigger than the specifications would indicate. The previous Odyssey was a pretty impressive minivan but the '05 version raises the bar once again. In fact, this partial list of standard features on the base model is simply astonishing: three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, which is a first for the minivan category; VSAT (electronic stability control) with traction control; a new, far more user friendly one-motion 60/40 split 3rd-row seat that folds flat into the floor; a beefed-up 255-hp, 3.5-litre VTEC V-6 engine and second row captain's chairs. The Touring model I tested has a whole mess of standard luxury features on top of those listed above. But, of course, they're not free. It's safe to say that Odysseys have now moved from the "not cheap" column over to the "expensive" one.

In the Driver's Seat

Is there any more secure, more comfortable place to be than the driver's seat of a new Honda? And I mean any new Honda. All the controls are located exactly where they should be, which is exactly where your hand falls. If you want to change stations on the radio, just reach and twist. Almost no need even to glance down. Like all Honda products, the new Odyssey has world-class ergonomics with controls that are intuitive and easy to operate. And like all Honda products, it features superb fit and finish. The wonderful new interior design and features in the top line Touring model highlights this new Odyssey's almost luxury sedan-like character. The addition of a new 60/40 split third row that with one motion operation (just pull the straps) drops into the floor. Also new, the full-size second-row captain's chairs can slide five or six inches fore and aft to add new cargo and people hauling flexibility. All the advanced safety features usually only found on the top of the line models are standard in even the base Odyssey. This is an industry first. And I hope it shames the other carmakers into doing something similar.

On the Road

As a performance enthusiast (rather than a performance nut) I hesitate to say it but I think the new Odyssey is over-powered. It has a sophisticated V-6 creating 255 horsepower and while the Odyssey is pretty heavy, this is entirely too much power for what a minivan is going to be doing: transporting kids and groceries. And even though this engine has all the fancy doo-dads (i.e. variable valve timing) to help it use as little fuel as possible, laws of thermo-mechanics dictate that a significant quantity of fuel is required to move a mass of this size from point A to point B. In other words, this thing is not particularly fuel-efficient in normal combined cycle (45% city, 55% highway) driving. However, once you're out on the open road and cruising at a steady 60 mph, the engine's "eco" feature takes over and you're operating on three rather than six cylinders and so you'll use less fuel. But most people don't use a vehicle like this for extended cruising. Rather, it's mostly used for short hauls carrying around kids and delivering groceries and for that kind of driving, the eco-function is of scant help. The heavier Odyssey cuts down on noise and vibrations but at a high cost: less than spectacular fuel economy.

Journey's End

I've been a huge minivan fan since I set eyes on the Dodge Caravan in 1984. In fact, I believe it may be the ideal body style for automobiles of any size. While the 2005 Odyssey establishes the new benchmark for the minivan segment with its lengthy list of standard features and advanced safety equipment, it might well have reached the maximum practical size for a family hauler (some say it may have exceeded it). It's certainly pushing the price to highs never seen before. Nonetheless, the Odyssey's innovative features, build refinement and all-around performance must have the competition tearing its hair (or would that be wiper blades?). Honda calls the Odyssey Touring an "ultra-premium" minivan and they've made it very difficult for other manufacturers to top them. I really liked the concept of a luxury minivan when it first appeared in the Chrysler Town & Country. But I flat love it in the even more refined Odyssey Touring. It's just the price I don't love.