2007 Honda Odyssey Los Angeles

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The 2007 Honda Odyssey has it all for the busy family: great road manners, easy passenger/cargo flexibility, a full array of safety equipment and better mileage than most SUVs. The Touring model in particular will appeal to buyers seeking the versatility of a minivan with the accommodations and features of a luxury sedan. The Odyssey's flexible seating system can accommodate up to eight passengers. All Odyssey models are powered by a 244-horsepower V6 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission. Four trim levels make it affordable to a wider group of buyers, yet all deliver car-like ride and handling and a comprehensive set of safety features, including electronic stability control and side curtain airbags for head protection. New for 2007: is Honda's Tire Pressure Monitoring System, which is now standard on all Odyssey models. The system reports a significant drop in tire pressure with a warning indicator in the instruments and identifies the specific tire. Improvements for 2007 include a telescoping steering wheel and a more convenient coin holder. Otherwise, the Odyssey lineup carries over to 2007 unchanged.

Powering the 2007 Honda Odyssey

Honda's 3.5-liter V6 engine is smooth, powerful, clean and fuel efficient. Underway, the Odyssey delivers everything you could ask for in a minivan: a smooth ride, responsive handling, stability at speed and a smooth, powerful engine. The advantage the iVTEC engine has is its ability to deactivate three of the six cylinders whenever the Odyssey is cruising at a steady speed. We were never able to discern when the engine was running on three cylinders as there is no obvious stutter or change in engine note, although a green dash light illuminates to tell you the system is working. Every Odyssey comes with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Vehicle Stability Assist, Honda's electronic stability control system. This system works in conjunction with the drive-by-wire accelerator and ABS to modulate the brakes while managing the throttle and ignition.

'07 Honda Odyssey Design

Large headlights flank its big grille. The hood is sculpted with curves that lead naturally back to the windshield and emphasize the big fender flares. Honda has not hidden the sliding door channels at the base of the window but left them partially obscured by a crease that runs the length of the vehicle. The Odyssey boasts Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. The vehicle's crush zones have been engineered to provide good protection for occupants while minimizing damage in a collision with smaller vehicles and pedestrians. Its body structure is rigid, which contributes to crisp handling and a smooth ride. A low drag coefficient helps improve fuel economy and high-speed stability.

Inside the 2007 Odyssey

Inside, the driver's seat is designed to hold the driver firmly and is positioned in a car-like setting. Power-adjustable pedals are available in the Touring model. The shift lever is mounted on the dashboard, and while it looks odd at first, it's easier to use than a column-mounted shifter. A handy drink tray is provided between the front seats, but there's no center console. Two glove boxes are provided, which are more awkward for storage than one big one. The second-row bucket seats are roomy and comfortable. The third-row seat splits 60/40 and folds easily into the well provided for it, and the headrests do not need to be removed before folding. The available DVD entertainment system features a large nine-inch widescreen display that folds out of the ceiling for viewing by second-row passengers. The wireless headsets turn on and off automatically as the ear pads are rotated. There's room for eight people with the optional PlusOne seat that fits between the two captain's chairs in the second row. If it's not needed as a seat it can be turned into a table or stowed in the floor in place of the Lazy Susan bin. If the PlusOne seat is not being used, the right-hand seat can be slid across to allow easier access to the third-row seats. This flexibility makes the Odyssey a versatile people hauler.

Honda Odyssey Lineup

The LX comes with manual sliding doors, manual seat controls and manual air conditioning with an air-filtration system. Power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, and 60/40 split fold-down rear seats come standard.

The EX adds power sliding doors, tri-zone climate control, a storable second-row PlusOne seat, in-dash CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, power driver seat controls, alloy wheels and other features.

The EX-L adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and the iVTEC engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), which improves fuel economy by de-activating three engine cylinders under certain conditions. The EX-L is available with the DVD rear-seat entertainment system, and the navigation system with rearview camera can be added to that.

The Touring is what Honda's Acura luxury division would sell if it sold a minivan. It has a slightly stiffer suspension for improved handling and Michelin PAX run-flat tires. It also gets a 350-watt AM/FM/CD6 audio system with seven speakers and a subwoofer, rear Park Assist, power tailgate, eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar and memory, power-adjustable pedals, second-row bucket seats, removable second-row console, 17 cupholders, compass and outside temperature display, fog lights, auto-dimming mirror, and the DVD rear-seat entertainment system. The Touring comes with the iVTEC engine with VCM. The navigation system is extra.

Conclusions

The 2007 Honda Odyssey lineup includes four models, each with its own character. All are powered by a 244-hp 3.5-liter V6 with variable valve timing and equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission. Safety equipment that comes standard on all models includes dual-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, curtain-style head protection airbags for all three rows of seats, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com