The Only Honda Odyssey Review You’ll Ever Need to Read. 

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78) 08/26/2015 at 15:04 • Filed to: None

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The Honda Odyssey: Possibly the most common, yet simultaneously the most premium minivan in America. With such a blind, almost cultish following and a constant flow of repeat buyers, there must be something to the buzz. Right?

Yes and no. As a man of decreasing free time and a believer in the Efficient Market Hypothesis of Cars (“Popular usually equals good because tens of thousands of people are collectively smarter than just one person”), we took the plunge in late 2014. Read about my decision and initial impressions here: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Disclosure : Honda wanted me to buy a 2015 Odyssey EX-L so badly that their local dealer took a whopping $1,000 off the $36,000+ price on an EX-L model with DVD. Plus they cut me a deal on the other $4,500 in dealer options that were really worth about $500 to begin with. And they quietly tried to swap my personal financing with a third-party lender without telling me. It really sweetened the experience. We’ve had the van for 9 months and 12,000 miles so far, including 10 days of long-distance road trips.

When I was in college more years ago than I care to remember, I went on a Spanish study abroad program. There were five levels of classes and my professor had recommended me for the highest one. I was pretty good back home. But the rest of the class was made up of Europeans, Brazilians, and a Cuban-American, all of who had been speaking Spanish as a first or second language for most of their lives. After a week of struggling, I dropped down one level and aced the rest of the semester. And the moral of the story applies as much to the Odyssey as it did to me: Being the best in a mediocre group is not that hard.

After our second child arrived in early 2013, our loaded V6 Passat Wagon suddenly started to feel a little cramped (And leaky. And slow. And thirsty). When you add the fact that it was 13 years old — and a Volkswagen — all signs started pointing towards something newer and bigger. Although I’m not one to blindly buy in to the crossover hype, we still drove everything from the Durango to the Enclave to the older, CTS-based Cadillac SRX. We just had to eliminate the possibilities before settling on a minivan. And once our minivan test drives began, almost everything pointed to the Odyssey – despite the bloated price tag, all the reviews, awards, residuals, reliability, and safety data pointed in the Ody’s general direction.

Exterior: C-

The current version has been around since 2011, with only minimal visual refreshes and a new center console with touchscreen. I once called the current Odyssey one of the ugliest cars on the road. After nine months of ownership, I’ve come around a bit: It’s undoubtedly the ugliest car on the road. Style is in the eye of the beholder, though, and minivan purchases are far more about utility and function than they are about style. The odd combination of futuristic styling and innate van-bloat comes across like a pudgy middle-aged man in a really good Boba Fett costume. It may be technically perfect, but something just isn’t quite right with the total package.

The van is generally well screwed together, but panel gap is nothing special and the brand-new paint is only a small notch above a Maaco re-spray. There is no clearcoat inside the door jambs, which reeks of cost-cutting and makes the van feel unfinished. The sheet metal is very thin and tinny, presumably to save weight. Have you ever heard the stories about how Mercedes engineers tuned their doors to make a “thunk” like a bank vault? This one was tuned to the sound of a vintage metal lunchbox. As a quick example (of many), here are the left and right taillights with the gate open:

Interior: C-

Honda deserves some praise for the comfortable seats. Outside of Volvo, I have never found seats that didn’t give me serious back pain after 2+ hours without adjustment. However, this is mostly accomplished with soft, soft foam – think about the $300 pleather couch from Ashley Furniture that you bought for your first post-college apartment and you’ll get an idea of the lack of firmness.

The runner-up to the seats is, well, nothing in particular. The materials are adequate, but in many places poorly assembled and finished. With Honda’s stellar reputation for build quality, this one came as a bit of a shock. Sharp, plastic molding lines and exposed edges are everywhere, from the rear cargo area to the map pockets to even the control stalks and steering wheel. Here, allow me to bore you with some pictures...

The edge of the trunk storage cubby could cut you:

Driver’s map pocket, not quite as bad:

Interior panel on the liftgate. Saved 29 cents on a fastener here:

Exposed styrofoam near the door hinges. This wouldn’t pass QC for a Coleman cooler:

Irregular, undulating rubber trim at the top of the sliding doors (thanks in part to the optional factory rear sunshades that don’t play nicely with the weatherstripping):

The carpet is a similar story. I’m glad we opted for the all-weather mats (similar to Weathertech) because the stock carpeting is full of rough cut lines, poor overlaps, and a second-row spare tire access panel with exposed staples and simple plywood underneath. The stock fabric floor mats are flimsy, with poorly finished edges that basically make a floor mat upgrade a no-brainer.

Toys and Technology: B for effort; D for execution

Our $36,000 EX-L (with Rear DVD) model is the midrange of the five trimlines. That means it has the 17” wheels of the lower trims, but some of the features – like heated power seats – that come standard on the upper-end Touring and Touring Elite models. Those latter versions will run about $41k and $45k, respectively.

The dual-screen center stack that Honda introduced in 2013 is, well….pretty bad. The upper screen is a carryover from the older models and is common to most Hondas today. It only makes use of a fraction of the screen, so items like the name of the song on the radio still show only a few characters. Most of the screen is woefully underutilized, but that doesn’t matter when you’re rocking out to YOU’RE SOME KIN by GRAND FUN on Sirius/XM.

Song = foreshadowing; Temperature = not foreshadowing

The lower screen controls audio, DVD, and other infotainment settings. It’s a non-haptic touchscreen, meaning it responds like a 10-year-old Garmin and not like an iPhone. Allegedly this is both for cost savings and also for glove-friendly use. I spend most of my time showing it the middle finger (gloveless).

Safety tech is highly touted by Honda and is an alphabet soup of marginally useful gimmicks.

First is Forward Collision Warning (FCW), which is intended to warn you of an impending collision. Instead, it just tells you when someone moves into your lane. DISABLE.

Second, Lane Departure Warning, which is intended to let you know when you have drifted from your lane. Instead, it does absolutely nothing exception occasionally freak out when you’re making a normal turn. DISABLE.

Lanewatch uses an ugly, obtrusively-mounted camera on the passenger side mirror to offer you a view of your blind spot. Not adjustable, distracting, and it mostly just shows you the side of the van (yep, it’s still there). DISABLE.

Lanewatch also recommends parts suppliers to Honda’s engineers.

A fully independent, RFID-based tire pressure monitoring system ensures that any changes to your wheel and tire combo will cost an extra couple hundred dollars. Traction control is pretty standard these days and makes an appearance. All in all, we could have done without any of this (save for traction control) and would happily have opted out in order to save the costs of these useless features.

There are over 600 airbags. Or 15, whatever. It’s all the same now. You’re safe.

Power liftgate? Sure. If only it wouldn’t bang the head of everyone over 5’6” when open. I could stand fully extended under my old midsize wagon’s liftgate. And to my knowledge, there is no manual override, so if you want to just open it halfway (to haul long cargo or just throw something in the back, you have to standback, wait for the loud beep, and allow full extension. There is no opening height detent/adjustment available.

The DVD system works reasonably well, but is not easy to use when juggling the various audio inputs, both front and rear. There is no HDMI input in most Odysseys — more than 2 years after Chrysler made it standard in all their vans. The DVD can never be viewed on the front screen, even when stopped and trying to cue up the movie for the kids. Try asking a 2-year-old if the previews are still going, or if the cursor is on “Play,” “Audio Setup,” or “Chapter selection.”

Performance: B

This van is far faster than it really deserves to be. The new iVTEC system (not to be confused with the older VTEC system, yo) kicks in seamlessly and the power curve is smooth and linear. I wish I could say the same for the cylinder deactivation system, which tends to opt in and out with an obvious and troubling jolt that resembles a failing transmission. Whatever fraction of an mpg this gains in city driving is just not worth the weird behavior. On flat, highway-type drives at constant RPM, it’s barely noticeable and probably helpful…but only under very specific, consistent driving conditions.

Transmission: B

Honda’s relatively new 6-speed autobox is allegedly a big improvement over the years of failure-prone 5-speeds that plagued the Accord, Odyssey, TL, and others. Nonetheless, most Odyssey enthusiasts recommend regular drain & fill just to be on the safe side. In fact, both of them said that!

Overall, the transmission works pretty well, shifts cleanly under power, and doesn’t excessively hunt for gears in most situations. But when you’re cruising in light suburban traffic around 40mph (probably 97% of all Odysseys’ missions in America), the epic battles between 6 th gear and cylinder deactivation could make for a decent Peter Jackson movie. And 6 th gear just recruited 5 th gear to help, but they’re really jockeying for the same position.

The otherwise competent transmission is inexplicably hamstrung by a 1970s-style PRNDL unit, which nearly eliminates the ability to select from the six gears. There is a “D4” button that caps the upshifts to 4 th gear, and an “L” selection that allows the van to choose from 1,2, or 3 (as best I can tell; it could just be noise pumped in through the anemic sound system). I drive a lot of hills and shift automatics every day; it’s just part of how I learned to drive. Virtually all of the competition all has some form of manumatic available. To add insult to injury, the shifter is located directly in your hand’s path to the touchscreen. You’re cruising down the highway thinking “Smooth Jazz!” and all you get is the van suddenly in neutral. A column shifter was made sense for a reason, and it still makes sense today.

Ride and Handling: B+

Probably the single biggest selling point for the van is the well-behaved independent suspension. It has a little too much float and rebound for my tastes, but I have to remember the compromise: This thing is made to hold up to 8 adults so, in pickup truck fashion, riding around with 2-4 people is going to feel a little wafty and/or jolty. It corners well and is reasonably composed for its size. You can expect some obvious chassis flex, but remember you’re in a giant box with five huge doors on it. Torsional rigidity is not going to be a strong point. I’m surprised Honda doesn’t pitch the chassis as an integrated part of the suspension system.

Fuel Economy: C

Honda prides themselves on their EPA 28mpg highway number here, while the competition is struggling to reach 24-25. This difference could really add up over the years…if only it would materialize. Our 1,500-mile roadtrip saw 24mpg, mostly in flat Florida driving with no A/C (Yeah, it was winter).

I’ve figured out the key to Honda’s bloated EPA number is that if you can manage to drive the car flat and straight at exactly 70mph, you will see 28mpg. A couple hours later, you stop for a burger and you’re down to 22mpg again. Then it takes another couple hours to get back to 25mpg.

In short: If you can take advantage of cylinder deactivation and 6 th gear for an unbroken period of time, the mileage can be fantastic. In real life, you’re not always driving across Kansas, so get ready for some disappointment. Even after 12,000 miles of break-in, we still don’t see north of 26mpg on any trips reaching highway speeds.

Hauling and Cargo Management: A

For hauling people, it’s about as good as it gets for a mainstream passenger vehicle. The floor height is the lowest we found among all vans and crossovers, barely higher than a regular car. The middle row – which bears the brunt of passenger duties, is made up of three independent seats, each independently adjustable (fore/aft AND recline) and pretty easily removable. The second row is probably the single best feature of the van, at least to its target market.

As with most competitors, the third row drops nicely into the floor for a near-seamless load area. Honda’s is probably the best executed, as it’s a 60/40 bench where either (or both) sides can disappear with a single tug on a piece of nylon webbing. The result is like the world’s biggest station wagon. As long as you don’t need the third row for passengers, this configuration is supremely useful and will make you downright lazy about packing and hauling your stuff. It’s like having a small pickup truck. Throw it all in the back!

To extend the pickup analogy, if you remove the three separate seats in the middle row (each take about 2 minutes and weighs 20-40#), you can actually fit…wait for it…a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the back AND close the tailgate.

Think about that for a second. In an era where almost no pickup trucks can even handle full sheets anymore, a minivan can. And just barely – by my measurements, you have less than ¼” of leeway on either side unless you really plan to scuff up the cheap, cheap plastic.

Bonus: Remove the front seats’ center console from the floor and you can get several 10’ pieces of board lumber in the van AND close the gate.

The following 8’ x 8’ treehouse was built by me last year after 5+ trips to Home Depot…in a midsize sedan. If I had planned my materials correctly, it could have been one trip in the van.

Value: C+

If you’ve actually read this far, you get it by now.

Overall Verdict: C

Many critics rely on the old “would you buy it again?” question. In short, no. The Odyssey hype is not to be believed. It may be the best minivan by most reviewers’ standards, but what is that really telling us? The build quality, ergonomics, and fit & finish of the Odyssey would be lambasted in a more mainstream segment, but it’s somehow acceptable — and even lauded — in a minivan? It’s time for manufacturers to push for more consistency across their product lines. Minivans should not be graded on a curve or given handicaps.

The Odyssey is somewhat disappointing coming from a VW, who are arguably the most engineering-focused mainstream carmaker on the planet — and doubly disappointing in a class-leading van currently in its fifth generation. I understand that certain cuts have to be made to deliver such a large vehicle at a relatively low price. I was fortunate to spend another random day with a rented Town & Country recently…and it made me appreciate the Honda a little more. But if Honda is only benchmarking against other vehicles in its own class, and not those across all mainstream classes, they’re selling themselves short.

Only time will tell if the reliability and durability help make up for all these frustrations, but that will only serve to make me feel better about the purchase. There is no amount of surprise & delight that could cause me to even consider another Honda – not even a brown Accord diesel manual AWD wagon. This is my first and last Honda, period.

Ask most finance people and they’ll tell you that the Efficient Market Hypothesis is more theory than practice – and to me, the Honda hype is starting to smell like the NASDAQ circa 2001. And by the way, I’m still the best student in my mid-level Spanish class. Mucho Gracias , Honda.

Tekamul > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 15:48

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3rd generation = best generation.

I’ve owned a 2nd gen and 3rd gen Odyssey. I have no plans to go to the 4th, maybe the 5th will correct things. But the outward styling and fit and finish concerns worry me for the future.

Really, if I could just get a pristine 2010 with the 6-speed auto from the 4th gen, that would do nicely.

And yes, you can haul an amazing amount of things in these (and most) minivans. I’ve done countless home projects without a second thought as to how to move stuff, including moving a small motorcycle upright and strapped in. For a whole summer I drove around my 2nd gen with the middle row out because I was hitting up Home Depot so frequently. When I had to transport more than 2 people, 3 more could go in the way back with ‘limo’ seating.

Rico > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 15:50

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Great review! I wonder if the new Kia Sorento will be a better competitor in this segment. Also I nearly died after laughing and choking at this line “I spend most of my time showing it the middle finger (gloveless).”

Two Drink Minimum > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 16:14

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You had me at Boba Fett. Masterful.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 16:51

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(Full disclosure: My parents own a 2009 Odyssey.)

You seem to be unbelievably negative in this review, you’re holding a $36,000 minivan to the standards of a Mercedes S-class. Now, our Odyssey doesn’t have all of the annoying tech features and doesn’t really have anything fancier than a radio, but that’s not what this car is about. It’s a moderately priced van with comfortable seating for 8 people plus lots of cargo. When it comes to that, yes, it is the best. But you seem to have bought it for all the wrong reasons.

Ash78, voting early and often > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 08/26/2015 at 16:56

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We didn’t buy for the wrong reasons — we just didn’t realize that such marginal build quality was acceptable in the mainstream (eg mid-90s GM-level). I can put it up against my little brother’s $17k VW Golf and the differences are glaring when you compare them side-by-side. A lot of people have suggested that Honda are partly victims of their own success, lost their identity, rest on their laurels, etc. I don’t have much frame of reference to agree with that, but most of my complaints above are NOT present on a lot of other Hondas (I just went to lunch in a coworker’s 2010 Civic Si).

For $10k less, I could completely understand their being so similar to Chrysler, but not for what they’re charging for these. I’m just saying the premium is too high and the value isn’t quite there. I’m always jealous of the last-gen Odyssey — much simpler, prettier, and a whole lot less pretentious.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 17:02

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The build quality on our 2009 is OK. Not amazing, not bad in any way. However, I do agree with the last statement; the Odyssey has grown up a bit too much. It's trying to be something it's not, and that's probably why you don't like it. Ours is just honest.

Cé hé sin > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 17:22

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I live in one of those places where we don’t have any Hondas bigger than a CRV (don’t have many Hondas at all, truth be told). Looks like I’m not missing that much.

Bob Chris drives a CX-5 > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 17:31

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So did you at least test drive the Sienna too? I’ve never quite understood why the Odyssey is usually given more accolades. The Sienna is less expensive overall, has historically been more reliable.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 08/26/2015 at 17:45

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I got the impression he was holding the Odyssey to the standards of an Accord (fit & finish, etc).

DarkCreamyBeer > Ash78, voting early and often 08/26/2015 at 19:33

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Mrs. DarkCreamyBeer DDs a previous gen 2010, and I can concur that it has all of the same issues. For some reason she LOVES it. I find it to be a good family road trip car, and absolute crap otherwise.

Amoore100 > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 08/26/2015 at 21:31

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Agreed. Our ‘05 Ody may have a few loose panels and edges, but for a 10 year old car with kids, it has stood up amazingly well...and unlike most VWs, it will start every morning. Forever.

ttyymmnn > Amoore100 08/28/2015 at 10:44

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Our ‘03 is damn near bulletproof, after 12 years, 3 boys, and numerous cross-country trips. Maybe Honda are slipping a bit. But I think the new Odysseys are so damned ugly I probably wouldn’t even look at one to replace my ‘03.

Amoore100 > ttyymmnn 08/28/2015 at 18:30

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Fully agree. Except how is your transmission? Your year had the particularly bad ones IIRC, but we have had to replace the engine in ours (it was our fault...)

ttyymmnn > Amoore100 08/28/2015 at 18:35

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I’d rather not speak of my transmission, since I don’t want to tempt the fates. We’ve had to replace the main seal, but other than that, it’s been fine. No complaints.

Chairman Kaga > Ash78, voting early and often 09/01/2015 at 17:59

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We looked long and hard at minivans, and I have to say they all seemed a little Fisher Price compared to a similarly appointed CUV. Even though the HIghlander made a little less practical sense, that’s primarily why my wife decided on it instead of the Siena or Odyssey. The Highlander is a MUCH nicer place to be. I’ll even admit that. A 10 hour drive to New Orleans? Like riding a Barcalounger.

We almost went with a Quest, just on the funkiness alone. Build quality left a lot to be desired.

These cars are intended for people who realize their interiors will be stabbed, puked on, colored on, pooped on, or otherwise rendered a general biocontainment zone within the first 12 months of ownership.

I’ve never ridden in a a minivan that didn’t smell just slightly of a diaper pail.

willkinton247 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 12:30

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A most excellent review. Well done!

Rusty Shackleford > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 12:43

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These reasons are precisely why my wife’s Fit got traded for a VW. The clear coat was bubbling after 6 years, the interior had that “old Honda” smell and the trim was starting to separate. The thing was becoming embarrassing to be seen in. Criticize VW all you want for their issues, but with proper care, they last just as long.

TractorPillow > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 18:21

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Great write up. Thanks for the good read.

wætherman > Amoore100 10/06/2015 at 22:01

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Unlike most VWs, the only noxious emissions happen inside the car.

FTFY

heelcameltoe > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:03

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again ... on any given stretch of road in america, the fastest and slowest moving vehicle will be a Honda odyssey

jimz > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:04

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that black foam material isn’t “styrofoam,” it’s expanded polypropylene (EPP.) Styrofoam is extruded polystyrene, which is practically never used in cars. expanded polystyrene (EPS) is the white plastic foam usually used for packing material, and is what people erroneously call styrofoam.

mrbwa1 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:06

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Thank you for making me like my project van even more. The fit and finish is the pinnacle of 70s GM fit and finish upfitted by Contempo (a defunct conversion outfitter). Yet, it’s still a bit smoother than you show with the Oddessey. It even has brushed foot wheel inserts.

Granted, it’s a 3-speed auto and the Quadrajet does have rudimentary secondary deactivation for highway cruising fuel economy (probably 14mpg @ 70 on dead level).

It has one big thing going for it though.... Curtains. Each kid has their own curtains to close on road trips which saves hours of whining.

jimz > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 10/06/2015 at 22:06

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no, he’s holding a $36,000 Honda to the reputation of a Honda. and it sounds like the Odyssey fails.

protodad > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:07

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Dude, have you ever owned another minivan? Having owned the previous gen odyssey (and its transmission problems) and recently purchased a lease return 2012 I can only say that the current Odyssey owns all other minivans. Quest, T&C, Sienna? All suck compared to the current Oddy.

Compared to everything else on the road the Odyssey has some faults (no different than any other current Honda) but it leads its class in every aspect (also typical of Honda).

The current Odyssey is packed with features that you normally pay $60k plus for and is perfect for when you have 4 kids approaching pre-teen age. When they are small the details don’t matter, but the older they get the more it becomes clear that the Odyssey is for the real family man and not the sexagenarian who wants to cruise to bingo or the mid-40s who wants a party bus for vegas.

Also, WTF is up with not offering cooled seats. Ever. Heated seats no problem, cooling...eh.

jimz > Amoore100 10/06/2015 at 22:07

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I had a 2004 Dodge Neon which started every morning for the 10 years I had it. It’s the 21st century, “starting every morning” is what a car should do. not something to be lauded.

protodad > Chairman Kaga 10/06/2015 at 22:09

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I think this is where the article missed the point. Compared to other Minivans, the Odyssey is a dream. Compared to all other vehicles...where else do you get dual RES and an interior vacuum system for $40k.

protodad > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 10/06/2015 at 22:11

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For the record, I just paid $28k for a lease return that has most of the features that you find in a much higher end vehicle including dual RES with HDMI inputs for gaming systems and 120v outlets. Yea, its comparing apples to oranges in this article.

celicatrd124 > Chairman Kaga 10/06/2015 at 22:12

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As someone who used to detail for a Honda dealer I concur with that assessment. All Odysseys are basically rolling biohazard zones featuring dried puke, stale cheerios and french fries, and miscellaneous decaying organic matter.

bthubbard > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:13

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I think that exposed styrofoam in the door jam is to prevent ice from building up there and ripping the shit out of the doors if you open them in an ice-murder winter day.

celicatrd124 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:15

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I just cant believe the build quality on this thing. Honda is totally riding off its brand equity as a company that builds quality cars. If this were GM we’d be ripping this thing to shreds. Not to mention the earlier transmission issues on both this and the previous models I honestly don’t get why people keep coming back.

clavinova > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:16

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This is by far the most detailed and best review of the 5th gen Odyssey I’ve ever read and yes that is mostly because I agree with every single point. After numerous trips driving my Mom’s new Odyssey to the airport and other extended test drives, I just can’t stand that van, except for the glorious cargo and passenger configurations. Please, please, do not let this be the best in class by the time we have our next kid.

blasds78 > Rico 10/06/2015 at 22:19

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Sedona.

IWantAPorscheButDriveAHyundai > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:25

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When opening the liftgate by hand, just keep holding the pad-thingy until it beeps. Manual open engaged!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > jimz 10/06/2015 at 22:28

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I will admit the current gen has gone away from the typical Odyssey values and is trying to do too much.

Karfreek > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:30

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We have a 2013 Odyssey EX-L that we bought for $29,990 brand spanking new in Aug of 2013 ($6,000+ off if you are keeping track). I had the dealer put the roof rack, fog lights and body side moldings on for a 20% discount at time of purchase.

I looked at them all. The Sienna seats were too short in leg support, the Chrysler vans drive like, well, vans. The Oddy did it all right. The seats are great, the drivetrain is great, the room is great. Yes, there are a few sharp edges on the interior but who cares. It rides and drives great. And we get phenomenal gas mileage (a couple 200+ mile trips at 29mpg calculated and a 250mi trip to Buffalo in August that netted 30.3mpg calculated).

Your assessment I feel is pretty biased and I even say it off the mark. The Oddy is the best van going.

inductionpower > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:32

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Is that a Fuelshark?

newgalactic > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:36

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It all comes down to the condition of the drivetrain at 180K. If it’s still running smooth, you’re just wrong. If it’s dying like a VW would be, you’re correct on every count. The most important feature for any family roadster is “will it leave me and my three toddlers stranded on the side of a highway.”

Edit: “three screaming toddlers”

Hondas are made for the crowd who just perform scheduled oil/tire changes, and water pump/timing belt every 90K.

brzedr1 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:37

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I drive a HONDA ODDYSEY!

CitronC > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:39

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We liked the new 16 Pilot way better than the Oddity, the Pilot wasn’t fun but was a good drive and nearly as functional. But ended up getting a Flex and have been pretty happy with it so far, just wish we had the EcoBoost for a rocket brick. How are the in town mpg around town with all the hills in here in The Ham? The DG pic made me want some General Tso’s from New China (it was my main post chemo session craving), worked at the Movie Gallery there over a decade back.

CalBearsFan99 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:40

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Kia owns this, which is weird to say.

PhilP > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:40

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What I’ve seen out of Honda lately makes this review unsurprising. My brother has a 2011 Odyssey (the Touring Elite... his Volvo S60R got smacked by some texting punk and he had to get a minivan, the poor bastard) and seems to really like it. But lately, Honda’s stuff just isn’t screwed together well. I helped somebody shop for a new crossover; she looked at a CR-V and the thing just seemed like it was put together with tape and silly putty... it wasn’t the quality feel I remember out of Honda.

I’m not sure what’s going on with Honda lately but they need to quit it and get back on track. They used to be my go-to recommendation. Now I don’t even slow down when I pass their dealerships as I shop for a car.

CitronC > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:42

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Or it may be that it is built here in Alabama, like the oft maligned M-Class... Eek!

Bmarti2001 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:44

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By far the best line I read today

Song = foreshadowing; Temperature = not foreshadowing

I literally laughed out loud.

SuperBudgie > Rusty Shackleford 10/06/2015 at 22:49

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No...

Mother in law just got rid of her 2011 Jetta SEL that was imploding on itself for a Passat which is already having issues. Sure, the Golf is great but the rest of the line up sucks.

chris209 > Chairman Kaga 10/06/2015 at 22:52

4

I agree, but be careful, other Jalop commenters will come here to tell you you’re wrong. They say if you buy a SUV, you’re just denying that you want a minivan. They can’t believe that SUVs can be well built and serve a different purpose than a minivan. I mean, my x5 diesel is completely inferior to a Caravan right?

SuperBudgie > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:53

1

The Odyssey is 3 times the car (Golf) for less than double the price. Your comparison is not fair. Other minivans have the same issues.

Rob Gio > protodad 10/06/2015 at 22:57

2

The Odyssey is great but you are doing yourself an injustice by not looking at the Kia Sedona next time around. All of the comfort, safety, and quality. Much better looking and twice the warranty though

SuperBudgie > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:58

1

You wanted Golf interior quality in a car 3 times the size for $10,000 more. Thats incredibly unrealistic and unfair to Honda (or any Minivan manufacturer for that matter ). To make these giant houses on wheels affordable corners will be cut, its you own dang fault for unrealistic expectations.

krhodes1 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:59

0

Interesting review. I have never seen the value proposition of the Odyssey over the last couple generations of Chrysler vans. The Honda is a little nicer, but it isn't $10K++++ better. If you are buying one to schlep kids, you might as well get the cheap one as the rugrats are going to destroy it anyway.

drivesatruck_notaredneck > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 22:59

16

My roommate is an engineer but still drives the 2005? Odyssey his patents gave him in college. We have used that van in ways that honda had never intended. Yes, it will fit 4x8 sheets of plywood. Yes, it will offroad surprisingly well. Yes, you CAN lose 500 rounds of ammunition in the various storage compartments, for more than a year. It is almost incredibly fast for a car the size of a small house, ad it will easily tow a quad trailer or a 24 foot bayliner. The skid plates sometimes like to leave when you drive too quickly on dirt roads, but apparently it doesnt require oil changes. Its a great pickup truck, but i cant speak to its efficacy as a van.

SuperBudgie > celicatrd124 10/06/2015 at 23:01

0

Its all minivans. To actually make these houses on wheels affordable corners have to be cut. Town and Country, Sienna, Quest all have the same issues.

krhodes1 > protodad 10/06/2015 at 23:01

9

How about a nicely equipped Caravan, a couple of iPads, and a nice rechargeable portable vacuum cleaner for <$30K? Probably MUCH less than $30K.

hella cool colin > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:02

0

Definitely can see what you mean here. Every minivan I’ve been in has given me chills, from their relatively inherent structural weakness and shoddy build quality as you mentioned. I have two Volkswagens in my garage as of right now (one from the same generation as yours, one brand new MK7) and I have to say they are true engineering masterpieces. Step from a Volkswagen into a Ford, Chevy, Honda or Toyota, and you sign up for squeaks, rattles, harsh edges and cheap plastic everywhere. Hell, even the worst Volkswagen feels downright luxurious in Hybrid SEL trim.

Capt. Janeway's Imaginary Cat > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:04

4

When I saw the interior photos I had forgotten this is a Japanese 2015 model! Maybe I am remembering with rose-colored glasses but these kind of flaws were relegated to American cars back then, say the early 90’s. Has Honda’s relative quality fallen behind so far? :(

RedHotFuzz > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:06

0

Long-time Honda fan/owner here. In looking for a replacement for my ‘04 Pilot, I’ve made the rounds (though I haven’t ventured into minivan territory). Not being a fan of the new Pilot design at all , I’ve decided on a new Durango R/T mainly due to the competitors eliminating themselves (Highlander: mandatory captains chairs with the higher option packages (a no-go in my book); Pathfinder: ugly, CVT; CX-9: ancient; Explorer: seating position like a minivan; etc.). I’ve never owned a Chrysler product (nor anything “domestic” since 1988) and quite frankly am quite terrified of the prospect. “Quality issues” you see. Or so they say. But you look at this Odyssey and your in-depth analysis of its build and you wonder why it doesn’t get the same wary eye from the buying public, as, say, a Durango, which would be publicly crucified for this type of assembly-line slop.

RedHotFuzz > protodad 10/06/2015 at 23:12

7

The current Odyssey is packed with features that you normally pay $60k plus for

Ah, which is this “normally $60k plus” vehicle to which you refer?

RedHotFuzz > celicatrd124 10/06/2015 at 23:13

2

If this were GM we’d be ripping this thing to shreds.

Agreed. I do hate GM, but why does Honda get a pass for this kind of shoddy slopmanship?

RedHotFuzz > jimz 10/06/2015 at 23:14

20

(This is the part where everyone walks away from you at the party.)

motmot > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:15

1

I have the Acura MDX. The general school of thought has been that Honda has been getting worse and worse as more design and manufacturing has moved to the USA. Acura MDX used to be the gold standard when it was built in Canada. Starting with the 2014 model year they moved it to Alabama and all sorts of fit and finish problems started cropping up. Guess who also makes the Odessy van.

Guachi > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:19

0

I am a fan of minivans in theory. I find then far more appealing than cross overs. I don’t have kids so I bought your previous vehicle recently - a VW wagon (2015 golf sportwagen)

That being said, your review is fantastic. It’s incredibly informative and well written. I now have a desire to take a more critical look at my new car.

flyingstitch > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:21

1

I think it’s pretty simple...Honda is not above cutting corners to hold a price point, as I found with my ‘07 Pilot (totaled or I’d still have it) vs. my ‘10. I expect the latter will still be mechanically bulletproof, but they definitely cheaped out on the interior compared with the previous generation. Compared the prices and you’ll see why.

Huell Howitzer > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:28

3

Why did you buy it? I'm confused. Do your research next time. No one should pay to be miserable.

Jaded Helmsman > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:30

2

I have the previous generation — now 10 years old with about 100K on it. A friend traded in their previous generation for the current version and has regretted it ever since. The build quality doesn’t measure up, and the materials feel considerably cheaper. I don’t have any plans to get rid of my van any time soon.

herald > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:31

0

It’s a fugly minivan, therefore F Minus. Seriously these things are the vehicular equivalent of an enema, maybe you have to have one, but you sure don’t want to be seen while you have one.

none8239487234 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:31

3

I can’t believe I read the whole article. I have a neighbor that swears by these vans so I was curious as to the appeal.

Then of course I saw all the photos of the “shortcuts”. And I kept reading. The exact stuff in this article is what bothers me about modern cars. It’s that obvious “fuck you we need to save some money so you just have to suffer” shortcuts that manufacturers make on cars. How much money did they save with all those rough edges? They could have skipped the techno crap and made the van the way it was supposed to be.

It’s good to know that people other than myself see the low quality construction.

chaos-cascade > Bob Chris drives a CX-5 10/06/2015 at 23:32

1

I think the gas mileage difference leads many to the Honda.

Boter > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:38

10

Points for Enigma.

sonderklasse > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:41

0

This doesn’t seem excessively low, it clears the roofline.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:42

0

Ahhhh...Made in America. Clearly that means something very different to Honda.

They make this version for everyone else and charge only a little more for the privledge

Prophet of hoon > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:43

0

PoH’s review

You bought a minivan, you’re life is over and you wish you were dead. Choosing one minivan over the other is like a comparison of straight jackets.... they all represent all that is wrong with the world.

wombat661 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:46

0

Next time if you are going to shoot interior with bright sunlight in the background, please use a flash and set the shutter speed at 1/250 at f6 or so. You have a camera that can do that right? You didn’t use an iPhone now did you? OMG

Super bright background gives me a headache.

TulsaMtnBiker (OkieRising) > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:51

0

Can we say huge backyard?

curbwatching > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:51

0

Did you mean “capacitive” instead of “haptic?”

A haptic touchscreen would be one that vibrates in reaction to touches, to let you know the touch worked. iPhone doesn’t do that yet.

A capacitive touchscreen uses your body’s electrical charge to register touches, rather than pressure, which is what resistive touchscreens use. That’s why they don’t work with most gloves.

Pistons of Fury > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:53

0

What I want to know is how did we get to a point where spending $36k for a relatively stripped down minivan is something that’s considered an ok thing to do?

Jom Gelborn > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:53

0

I can’t forgive that belt line. I don’t care how good the car may be.

Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter > Ash78, voting early and often 10/06/2015 at 23:54

9

This. From this point forward, it looks like one van, and from here back, another. If one van or the other was used for the entire design, either one would be adequate and inoffensive. But this odd break in lines just makes these ugly as hell.

On the other hand, it’s not the ugliest car on the road. Close, but not the ugliest. See Lexus if you’re looking for ugly.

Brian Stieh > Capt. Janeway's Imaginary Cat 10/06/2015 at 23:57

2

That is a USDM Honda built in Ohio if I remember correctly. So it is technically an american car.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Ash78, voting early and often 10/07/2015 at 00:04

0

Your making me miss my hand-me-down 2003 Odyssey. I turned 16, my mom got a new car. I got the mini van/adventure mobile. Camping, bombing down dirt roads like Colin McRae. after 1 hour on muddy dirt roads . It had no shocks, just leaf springs. I still miss that glorious POS.

medhat1 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/07/2015 at 00:05

0

We just (last week) traded in our ‘03 Odyssey (for an Audi Q7 - cue the theme song from “The Jeffersons”, ‘cause we’re “movin on up”). 12 solid years of being ridden hard and put away wet, and damned if the Honda wasn’t as reliable as a Swiss watch, and remained, ‘til the end, laughingly rattle and squeak-free. I don’t like the looks of the current one, and besides, the other adult in the family said, “never again”, but it definitely wasn’t because the Oddy didn’t do it’s job. My feeling, if you’re someone who’ll let owning a minivan define you, you’ve got more issues than cars. But for total cost of ownership, plus versatility, as a measure of value, I’ve never owned something that comes close. I’ll miss that beast, it was like the Millenium Falcon.

Vulcan Has No Moon > Ash78, voting early and often 10/07/2015 at 00:09

0

They charge $36,000 for something so cheaply built and rather ugly? Less an economy vehicle and more a cut-the-corners-to-screw-the-customer vehicle.

M54B30 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/07/2015 at 00:10

1

Interesting write up. My wife and I are heavy in the mini van market and we absolutely love the new Sedona. We never cared for the Odyssey anyways, but the fit and finish is eye openingly bad, especially for Honda.

Quade > Amoore100 10/07/2015 at 00:14

1

And unlike most VWs, it will start every morning. Forever.

Yeah, my idea of build quality isn’t the same as the Authors. To me build quality is all about how reliable it is. 195K miles on mine. Just hauled 800 lbs of gravel with it from Home Depot. It’s the family beater and it just keeps going and going. Just passed both emissions and safety inspections with no issues.

alrockaz1 > Ash78, voting early and often 10/07/2015 at 00:15

0

Almost any vehicle is a set of compromises, until you get to uncompromised budgets. You pay for certain features and other areas get compromised. Want a 4x4 truck? You’re paying for a stout frame, extra hardware, etc. and in turn you usually get a less nice interior. Want the room and power of a Durango? Give up build quality. Want a sub 4 second 0-60? Give up seating for 7.

Want huge amounts of room, expensive sliding doors and other family friendly features? Give up some areas of fit and finish. That’s your Odyssey (and many other vehicles).

For $41,000 you’re perhaps comparing it to equivalently priced cars, which are at this range either entry level lux or range-topping family sedans. None of those vehicles have budgeted for seating for seven, DVDs in the headrests, 7 acres of carpeting, several extra windows, rear wipers, etc.

If you want everything, move your budget up and get a Mercedes SUV or similar and you’ll find your family accommodations, your build quality and the price tag that pays for all of that.

LongTravel > Ash78, voting early and often 10/07/2015 at 00:16

0

I seriously can’t tell if you’re trolling for half this review.

The things that really struck me as 180 opposite opinions from my own were the Lanewatch tirade and your insane nitpicking of details that make absolutely no difference (btw those clips only cost ~$0.08). It blows my mind that you’re ready to kick a whole car company to the curb because you can see some foam when you open the door and there are some parting lines showing even though their product offers what I’d call easily the best powertrain/chassis combo in the segment even though it’s nearing the end of it’s lifecycle and will likely be refreshed soon. As for the door thunk sound do you have a metal lunchbox in the door cubby because I’ve never heard one that wasn’t solid. In the end you’re very much entitled to your opinion but from what I’ve seen you’re targets seem kinda skewed.

Also try running the thing on summer blend E0 gas instead of basing your fuel economy figures on what is likely winter blend E10. Using pure gas makes a real difference on the Honda V6s. Blame the farm lobbyists for that one.

icemilkcoffee > Bob Chris drives a CX-5 10/07/2015 at 00:18