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If you opt for the Touring, it should be because of all its added gizmos and features. I recommend against making a trim-level decision based on the transmissions there simply isn’t a big enough improvement when moving up to the six-speed. The six-speed transmission is smooth, but even the five-speed does the job superbly. The V-6 moves the van - which has dropped 100 pounds from last year - with pep. The same V-6 engine from last year’s Touring trim is found in all trims for 2011. No matter how comfortable the kids are in back, Mom and Dad still have to drive - at least until little Bobby or Sue hits 16 and the gray hairs start coming in. But the cloth seats themselves were comfortable. The cloth upholstery in the LX and EX is a bit too nappy and thick for a modern car interior it reminded me of a minivan from my own youth, in the 1980s. ![]() ![]() The leather in the EX-L and Touring trim levels is quite nice, but it doesn’t seem as rich as the previous generation, which was on par with the Acura luxury brand. The second-row seats are nice and wide, so adults will be comfortable on road trips, and the third row has plenty of room for angst-ridden teens who want to be as far from the parental units as possible. The driver’s seat sits upright a bit, like in most minivans. Once back there, an adult - say, one who is 5 feet 10 inches tall, like myself - actually has extra space for his knees and feet, even with the adjustable second row slid all the way back.Īll the seats are comfortable when compared with the competition. The third row is easier to get into than it was before, with a single lever to slide either second-row side seat forward. 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY STOPS THEN STARTS RIGHT BACKUP DRIVERThe tradeoff for better access to a front-facing safety seat will be little feet kicking between the driver and front passenger. In theory, this is so the driver has better access to a young child - though child-safety seats are recommended to face rearward until children are at least 1 year old, and some are now saying 2. The center seat can also slide forward more than the outboard seats, bringing it closer to the driver. A pair of grandparents can flank the littlest in the safety seat in the second row, with three more children in the third row, and all will be comfortable. This added space is a godsend for families with three or more children.Įven if you have just one child requiring a safety seat, the middle seat is the safest in any vehicle. Once it was in place, I could sit in the outboard seat comfortably. The connectors are covered by sturdy plastic pieces that are easy to remove. I tested my Britax Marathon child seat in the Odyssey, expanding the two outboard seats and latching the Britax in the center. Learning to move the seats sideways isn’t exactly intuitive - given I’ve never seen another vehicle with the feature - but the effort it requires is minimal even an older child may be able to handle it. The Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring trims have five sets of Latch anchors, two in the third row and the three in the second. This allows three large child-safety seats to fit across the row. The three segments slide forward and back, and the two outboard seats can slide 1.5 inches sideways, adding 3 inches of width. In trim levels EX and above - which includes all but the base LX - you get an adjustable second row with full-size outboard seats and a smaller center seat. The one feature that might entice more buyers than any other is the expandable second row of seats. To see each trim level’s features and pricing, check out our breakdown of all seven trims here. While the most notable additions for 2011 may seem gimmicky on the surface, they could be considered genius for those of us who transport little ones routinely. There are a lot of nuts and bolts to like about the Odyssey it drives well and has lots of room. Yes, the Honda Odyssey is nirvana for suburban parents - but that nirvana doesn’t come cheap. 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY STOPS THEN STARTS RIGHT BACKUP MOVIEThe somewhat odd profile design will likely be the last thing Odyssey shoppers notice.įor parents willing to pay up for the top-of-the-line $43,250 Odyssey, their little ones will literally be sitting in a surround-sound mobile movie theater that sounds better than any home theater I’ve set up. ![]() To woo parents, the redesigned 2011 model is relying on features like an expandable second row that fits three child-safety seats, a built-in trash bag holder, and enough cupholders for 15 cans, bottles and juice boxes. Honda’s Odyssey is about as thrilling a vehicle as a minivan can be - which is not all that exhilarating. To see what’s new for 2012, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. Editor’s note: This review was written in September 2010 about the 2011 Honda Odyssey. ![]()
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