Our new Honda Odyssey

So I know what you're saying, the nonexistent amount of people that are probably even reading this blog, ... a minivan? Yes, a minivan. I tried and tried and tried to convince my 58 year-old dad to get something other than a minivan to replace his minivan. He grew up in the hot-rod age for one thing and he is too old for a minivan. Sure there's the utilitarian aspect of being able to haul 7 or 8 people one day, stuff the next day, while still getting 20+ mpg, but come on...if you're gonna throw caution and responsibility to the wind, this is the age you do it. Don't get a minivan. But, to no avail, he got one. But, if you have to get a minivan ... if you can't live without one, the Honda is the one to get. First impressions, it's roomy, it's well put together, it will store almost anything you could possibly have in a minivan and it does it with low emissions and great gas mileage for a 4000 lb behemoth of a car. When you stack it up against the competition, there really is no other choice. For comparison's sake, you have the Toyota Sienna. Sure it's nice, and Toyota is just as reliable as Honda, but it's top of the line is 7 grand more than the Honda top of the line. It has less room...at least it feels like it does to a 6 foot 4 guy like me, and it just doesn't look as cool as the Honda. The Nissan just plain looks weird. It's plasticky, dull on the inside, and too spaceship on the outside. Outside of the big 3 of Japan. There isn't much to choose from.

Back to the Honda. Now that I have driven one and my family now owns one, I can see what so many other minivan buyers have seen in this superbly well-thought-out van. The slightly boxy space of the cabin is completely functional for creating a very roomy traveling space with ample head and shoulder room even in the back seats, great knee room almost everywhere, and enough room to store things under the floor and in every nook and cranny available. This situation is sweetened with available Honda Satellite linked Navigation which is actually quite useful for settling the decision of where we go to dinner. Just ask the navi to sort out restaurants in ascending order of distance and go through until you find the one. Then it will take you there. If your choice is Zagat rated, it will give you its rating as well as the average meal price. The menu is intuitive and well laid out for easy use for even the most unsavvy of users. The selling point for us was that it included a backup camera which saw my own feet under the bumper in a test. With all of the new grandkids running around (i.e. one grandkid) it was decided that having the camera would make it easier to not run the kid over. This also includes XM radio which makes for clear sound and an almost dizzying array of music choices available anywhere in the lower 48. Adding the DVD system in back lets rear passengers listen to a different input than the front passengers such as DVD, Radio, XM, or CD's in the changer. This is all broadcast over the two included pairs of wireless headphones and has the ability to add two more wired headsets through the headphone jacks in the driver's side rear armrest. Oh, and the pop-out remote for the system is rad, too. Fit and finish overall is spectacular. The leather is soft and supple, the seats are well-cushioned and supportive, and the panels fit with precision. All the switches have a nice, cushioned resistance to them as well as chrome accents on the climate control switches. The instrument panel lights up in a cool ambient white-blue with red needles. You feel like you are in a much more expensive car. Er...minivan.

In terms of driving characteristics, the Honda still edges out a win easily over the competition. Its double wishbone setup in front allows for a flat, steady feel in turns as well as superior absorption of bumps. Riding through the dips that used to shudder the whole chassis of our Dodge seem to disappear in the Honda. Acceleration is brisk consider the weight of the van and cruising is as quiet as they come due the Active Noise Cancellation system as well as the solid construction. In conjunction with the noise cancellation system, the engine has the option to run on 3 cylinders in light engine loads and coasting. The noise cancellation system is always on, but especially noticed when the "ECO" light comes on to indicate 3 cylinder operation. Any harshness or vibration from 3 cylinder operation is effectively drowned out. This also aids in the 18/27 EPA gas mileage ratings.

In summary, if a minivan is in your future, you can settle your curiosity with some test drives, but I feel confident that you will come back to the Odyssey.