When Honda moved the spare wheel from under the front seats of the 2005 Honda Odyssey to an aft location, the engineers were left with a large, round, empty well. Rather than waste valuable space, they inserted a Lazy Susan. Yes, that same gizmo that spins around on your dining table, with little trays for condiments. The Odyssey's Lazy Susan has similar tray space, though on a larger scale. Handy storage for all sorts of things that might clutter up the interior.
Duty-free booze immediately comes to mind, at least until the customs guys catch on.
The 2005 Odyssey is about more than underfloor storage. Yet this little detail, which borders on genius, typifies the thoughtful design that has gone into making certain the Odyssey retains its place as the most highly-rated minivan in North America. It may even herald a return to popularity for the entire segment as North Americans awaken to the fact that a minivan has more room and versatility than any SUV.
The 2005 Odyssey's seating options could have been invented by Houdini. The third-row seats split 60/40 and fold into the floor with a one-handed motion. Two captain's chairs in the second row can be moved forward and back, to the sides, folded almost flat, or removed altogether. Conversely, a stowable seat designed specifically for young children can be fitted into the second row, creating 8-passenger seating. Who says mom, dad, and six kids can't be transported comfortably?
While no longer than the previous model, the 2005 Odyssey is larger inside; two inches extra legroom in the rear seat, for example. Safety features include Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control; 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with Brake Assist; driver, front passenger and front side airbags; three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensors; pre-tensioning driver and front passenger seatbelts; and four-ring safety structure with side impact protection beams. An impressive list for families seeking both active and passive safety features.
Honda has long been a leader in ergonomics. The gearshift lever is placed in the dashboard where it doesn't block cabin space and is easier to shift. Switches for operating the power doors and windows sit on a flat surface to the left of the steering wheel so they can be found without fumbling. The optional navigation system has an 8-inch screen, biggest of any minivan, and also has a voice-activation system for activating the climate controls, the DVD entertainment system, and the radio.
Just in case anyone thinks of knocking the Odyssey off its perch as most powerful minivan, the aluminum 3.5-liter V-6 VTEC engine has been upped by 15 hp to 255 hp at 5750 rpm. Torque is increased to 250 lb-ft at 5000 rpm. More important, unless you plan to entertain the family with dragstrip starts, is a feature unique to minivans: Variable Cylinder Management (available on some models) increases fuel efficiency by “shutting off” three of the engine’s cylinders during cruising and deceleration. For performance, the engine operates on all cylinders during acceleration and heavy load situations. The system works seamlessly and is transparent to the driver in feel and sound, while delivering EPA ratings of 20/28 mpg.
Some items are only available in the Touring model which also provides, among other things, a power tailgate, automatic climate control, power-adjustable pedals, leather steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, fog lights, corner/backup sensors, auto on/off headlights,and 2nd-row removable centre console in place of the stowable 2nd-row seat. Also standard is the DVD entertainment system with 9-inch display, integrated remote control and wireless headsets w/ personal surround sound, and the nav system plus rear-view camera.
Honda's designers claim to have made great strides in avoiding a Soccer Mom image with the 2005 Odyssey, though for the life of me I see nothing wrong with a mother chauffeuring her kids to play an internationally-preferred sport that doesn't require expensive equipment or risk serious injury. Okay, I'm getting off-topic here but the new Odyssey has been styled with a little more flair, especially around the headlight area. My advice to minivan makers? Quit trying to avoid the obvious and sell the advantages of sheer logic. For families with more than two kids, the minivan is the perfect vehicle.
So is the 2005 Honda Odyssey good enough to maintain an edge over its competitors? Until we test drive one, we can't say for certain, but based on an in-depth review of the specifications, we're inclined to believe. Now, if you wouldn't mind lifting the lid to access that Lazy Susan... I could use some relish for my hot dog.
