2001 Honda Odyssey Reviews

Buying a people-mover is traumatic, an admission that time and tide have swept aside youthful dreams and pursuits.You tell your mates it is only temporary, and they offer a wan smile in sympathy while quietly giving thanks that it was you and not them...this time.Abandon all style ye who enter here.That was before the arrival of Honda's new Odyssey. Gone is the box on wheels with styling that made it imperative to get the thing into the garage as quickly as possible before the neighbours saw it.Honda has – in a similar vein to Mazda – taken a recent history of design notable only for its blandness and trotted out a string of stunning vehicles.The funky little Jazz was followed by a pair of head-turning Accords – Euro and V6. And now, in the Odyssey, there is a people-mover most would be happy to be seen in.This is the third generation of the Odyssey and it is far and away the best. From the sharpish nose to the low-slung roof-line, the Odyssey gives the impression of nothing so much as a stylish sedan.It is only marginally taller than the baby Jazz, admittedly a "tall-boy" style of design, and with its length, manages to look sleek.However, it is inside the cabin that Honda's stylists have worked overtime. There is little that is actually new but it is all modern and the way it fits together is a lesson in making an ambience at an affordable price.The use of wood and metal trim in the curved dash sounds like a potential disaster but actually works a treat to give a strong impression of modern quality. Even the glowing blue feature on the dials doesn't look out of context.The seven-seat interior can be utilised in a wide variety of ways, with both the second and third rows sliding to apportion leg-room with maximum effect, while the third row folds flat into the floor when it is not needed.There are few disappointments in the Odyssey but one that stands out is the use of a lap-only belt in the centre position of the second row. That decision effectively reduces the seating to six.The absence of full three-point seat belts is the only obvious cost-save in the Odyssey's interior – quite amazing in a vehicle with a starting price of $38,790.Even in the base model, front airbags and ABS are standard, as are air outlets for each seat and a separate airconditioning unit for the rear passengers. The Luxury model adds side curtain airbags, leather trim, heated seats and eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat.The sound system in both levels is excellent, with the Luxury winning a six-stacker CD over the base car's single in-dash unit.On the move, the Odyssey is surprisingly well served by its seemingly small 2.4-litre engine. The key to the lively performance is that the engine is from Honda's advanced i-VTEC family and produces a healthy 118kW at 5500rpm and a useful 218Nm at 4500rpm.Drive is through a five-speed auto with a touch-change manual mode. The gear shifter is dash-mounted and comes easily to hand.Ride quality is at the upper end of the scale for vehicles of this type, with well-weighted steering. Suspension is a double wishbone front, with a reactive link to the double wishbone rear providing stable and predictable behaviour.The Odyssey benefits from good manoeuvrability – a 10.8m turning circle – which makes parking and turning easy.With functionality, style and space, the new Odyssey has set a benchmark for people-movers. More's the pity that those attributes will do little to draw buyers away from the urban four-wheel drive market.

Everyone who's seen, driven and talked about the Odyssey is keen to give it a compliment. They like the shape, the look and the cool cabin. And they like that it is a people-mover that isn't going to be an embarrassment among the four-wheel-drives on the after-school pick-up run.Some people have even mistaken it for the Honda Jazz, a big compliment for a people-mover. It's a reflection of the work that's gone into the third-generation Odyssey, including a sharp nose and a squished-down roofline that makes it just 25mm taller than the Jazz.The starting price is a relatively affordable $38,790. It has been a real shock to Mitsubishi, which has been forced to rip $4000 off its all-new Grandis people-mover only weeks after it arrived in Australia.So the Odyssey looks a sure-fire winner. And it's already won our 2004 assessment of people-movers, claiming victory over the giant Chrysler Voyager and the compact Holden Zafira.Sadly for Honda, it's a winner in a sector that makes only minimal sales. Even the classy new Odyssey is unlikely to win over too many families from their 4WDs. Pity.But there is plenty of impressive work and impressive stuff in the Odyssey.The body is a new-age design that could easily have been a motor show concept car.The futuristic dash has glowing blue dials and wood and metallic trim panels.The car packs more room into a smaller overall space, with seven seats in three rows.The layout is incredibly flexible, with a fold-up tray between the front buckets, a sliding second row and a third row that folds into the floor.In the Odyssey Luxury model, the third row is electrically powered.The Odyssey still has a relatively small 2.4-litre engine, but it is a hi-tech Honda unit. It is hooked to a five-speed automatic with a cool-looking shift jutting out of the dash, right beside the wheel. It also has a touch-change manual mode.The Odyssey picks up the usual safety gear: front airbags, side curtains in the Luxury, and anti-skid brakes.There are also air outlets for each seat, separate rear aircon and eight cupholders.THE Odyssey is roomy and comfortable, quiet and easy. It's a long way from a sports car to drive, but line ball with the best of the people-mover club.It's not as big or punchy as a Chrysler Voyager, but few people need that much heft, and it shades the Zafira with better looks, more refinement and more space.The Odyssey is the sort of "crossover" vehicle we're going to see much more of in coming years, as companies work to blur the lines – and improve the appeal – from traditional classes.Honda says the Odyssey is for "versatile families", which probably means blended families and older owners who carry friends or grandkids rather than a posse of youngsters. It has always tried to drive the Odyssey that way, but earlier models were too bland, too costly and too cumbersome.The newcomer is a delight to drive, and feels sure and confident on bumpy roads and through corners.It gets along pretty well, responding well on kick-down and with the touch-change auto for times in hilly country or when you have a big load on board. Nobody is going to complain about the performance.The Odyssey is easy to park, has good headlamps and fits into spaces at the mall that are tighter than you expect.The seats are impressively flexible, right down to the armrests on the front buckets, though the centre-row middle seat doesn't have much shape or support. And it has only a lap-style seat belt.There is a lot to like about the Odyssey, and it has impressive fuel economy as well as plenty of space.Our only real complaint was excessive reflections into the windscreen from the great-looking dash. And we're sure a lot of families would have appreciated an optional DVD entertainment system.But that is almost nothing. There is much to explain the Odyssey's easy run to a gold medal in the people-mover race of 2004.

The term people mover used to be synonymous with cardigans and functional family transport for several people.The Odyssey is still functional but it has shed the cardigan in favour of what is better described as a designer sweat shirt.It's long, it's low and it's sleek – one look at the three-dimensional dash is enough to conform this car is all about fun.Odyssey is priced from $38,790. Thin profile: the new car looks like a "chopped" version of the old one with a roof line that it is 8cm lower. From the front the look is lean and aggressive, with broad, blue-haloed headlights. It's not much higher than your average station wagon.2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine delivers 118kW at 5500rpm and 218Nm at 4500rpm. It combines variable valve timing and lift electronic control (VTEC) with variable valve timing control (VTC), that optimises intake valve timing in response to engine load.Afraid there is no V6. For whatever reason Honda decided to stick with a four this time. Maybe an issue for owners of the previous V6 looking to update, but it's affordable.Performance is good considering it is only a 2.4-litre four. It cruises well and climbs hills relatively easily, but lacks punch down low. The more people you stick in it of course the more it is going to labour – bear in mind it seats seven.Five-speed auto with sequential shift makes the most of available power. Stubby shifter mounted rally style on the dash to the left of the wheel is simple to use, providing you remember its position.Ride and handling is excellent, very smooth but the handling is not quite as good as Mitsubishi's new Grandis. Bit too much body roll and the front wheels scrabble for traction at times, becoming unsettled in rough corners.The three-dimensional dash will simply take your breath away. Honda has taken a leaf out of VW's book with an emphahsis on blue lighting.Dash and instrument layout deserve a special mention. Two large control knobs mounted in the middle of the dash are the two knobs most used in a car – volume and temperature control. Audio controls are angled towards front passenger.Fuel economy is excellent, with a claimed figure of 9.4L/100km from the 65-litre tank. A BMW style dial albeit a bar graph gives a constant reckoner of how much fuel you are using.Rear seat in luxury model folds and packs flat electrically turning the car into a station wagon for all intents and purposes.Lots of goodies including front and side airbags, ABS brakes, climate airconditioning, cruise control, power windows and mirrors and a CD sound system.

They call it a people mover but this is no minibus and sets a new standard in the big-family market.The luxurious and stately Odyssey can carry seven in more comfort than a limousine.It is a station wagon with a hidden secret – two generous and comfortable seats that appear in the back at the press of a button. You can even choose to have only one extra seat in the back, via a split-fold mode, to provide storage room.No man-handling is required to access these extra seats.In fact, there is so much electrically operated gear that it almost needs its own power generator.Front seats adjust with electric ease and heated seats are appreciated.The electric sunroof didn't get much of a workout in this frosty weather but the summer potential is obvious.Back and rear seats are serviced by their own airconditioning controls.I really must comment again about the control panel display. It is quite remarkable, almost 3D futuristic: easy to read and user-friendly in bright blue and red.The climate control and radio controls are prominently accessible via two large knobs. Considering these are the controls a driver most often fiddles with while driving, quite a lot of thought has been given to their positioning and functionality.When I think Honda I think the trusty and much-revered original Accord, but Honda has stepped up to a new level with this classy number.It is a genuine challenge to the chunkier people movers usually on offer, and a credible alternative to the iconic Aussie station wagon for families with loads to move.Leather everything, including steering wheel, and a combination woodgrain and satin chrome finish for the expansive dash add to the feeling of a luxurious car. Front, side and curtain airbags offer reassuring safety.The price tag is a surprise of the pleasant variety. This is a very modestly priced car for the amount of comfort and driveability on offer.It's no speed machine, for sure, but the gentle acceleration and heavy feel add to the secure and safe driving experience.Almost like a Volvo on a budget.

Some have even gone as far as describing the motivation as a "grudge purchase".That was then ... this is now.The latest spin on the people mover market – headlined by a pair of sleek, low-slung units from Honda and Mitsubishi – is the quality of versatility.In the next-generation Honda Odyssey and Mitsubishi's all-new Grandis the bar has been raised with higher levels of style, comfort and engineering.The funky-styled luxury Grandis may be $4000 more expensive than the sexy and elegant luxury Odyssey but both offer attributes unique to their badges.Central to the vehicles' appeal are their sleek good looks, clever seating versatility and acknowledgement that driving a family car should not be cause to compromise either safety or enjoyment.CARSguide took the pair and put them through their paces.Despite its size, the Odyssey is easy to manoeuvre and, even with the smooth ride and quiet NVH levels, steering feel is not compromised. The Grandis quickly shrinks around the driver and while the steering is light, and the initial impression is too light, it does grow on you.Both cars are comparatively low-ride, body roll is at a minimum and the drive impression is distinctly large sedan rather than small van. An issue with both cars is learning where the front corners are as the drop-away styling of the nose makes judgment difficult. The Odyssey is powered by Honda's proven 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine with the in-line four producing 118kW at 5500rpm and 218Nm at 4500rpm. Drive through the front wheels is pleasantly linear delivered by the five-speed sequential automatic gearbox.The Grandis features the appearance in Australia of Mitsubishi's MIVEC technology, which gives the single-cam engine a power profile more like that of a DOHC unit.The 2.4-litre in-line four puts out 121kW at 6000rpm with 217Nm on tap at 4000rpm. Drive is through the front wheels via a four-speed INVECS II automatic box with sports mode sequential shift.The Grandis has a better feeling of urgency from lower in the rev range and holds power well through the mid range.Both are very comfortable cruising. Honda claims a 9.4l/100km combined cycle fuel economy while Mitsubishi lists the Grandis as using 10.4l/100km under similar conditions. Neither were able to meet these during the test drives but the Mitsubishi was closer with a combined 11.2l/100km. The Odyssey returned 10.3l/100km. The Odyssey is elegant throughout, borrowing heavily from the Accord's flash interior styling cues. Attention to detail is paramount and the Odyssey offers fold-out map pockets, power sockets and a gaming power outlet. The luxury model has an electrically operated rear seat.Grandis is a little less flash but no less functional. Seats are comfortable and versatile. The third row drops and folds flat in seconds. The middle row also folds flat. There is a flip function allowing the two rear seats to face outwards, so-called stadium seating, with the tailgate raised giving comfortable, dry seating for picnics or sport.There is little between the pair when it comes to family safety. Both have dual front airbags and side and curtain airbags. They provide seat belt pretensioners with load limiters on the front seats, head restraints and front and rear crumple zones.Both have anti-lock brakes with brake force distribution and five child safety-seat anchor points. An Odyssey shortcoming is that the middle row centre seat belt is a lap belt only.Without any electrical aid the Odyssey took three steps to put the rear seats down.In both, the second and third rows fold flat into the floor, with the second rows giving a 60:40 split. Each allows for one-seat middle and rear rows, giving long load space. Odyssey's lower profile and wedge front end give it sedan characteristics and ride height.For Mitsubishi, the Grandis is a world apart from the Nimbus van it replaces, as it flattens out to a wagon rear from the wedge nose.Jaedene Hudson: Some $4000 cheaper, sexy interior and exterior styling, firm steering and better over-all feel tips the scales in favour of the Odyssey.The funky styling, innovative ideas, seven lap-sash seat belts and better performance make the Grandis a good choice if only you didn't have to shell out the extra dollars.Kevin Hepworth: The Odyssey's more substantial feel, interior ergonomics and solid steering are good reasons to lean towards it. Six lap-sash belts and the flatter engine performance are marks against. The tipper is the sharper pricing on the Honda.We tried to compare the two new cars with the people mover market-leading Kia Carnival, which in May accounted for more than 50 per cent of all people mover sales. Due to the Carnival's sales success Kia Australia was unable to find an available car for the test.Are these cars sexy enough to buy? 

Unfortunately, the film fantasy didn't become reality and driving a people-mover is still often regarded as a punishment for couples who have had too many children.Honda wants to change this image, with its stylish new seven-seat Odyssey.The fresh model has sporty styling, including slit headlights, sloping roof line and a futuristic dashboard.It is also $7200 cheaper than the old model, with a starting price of $38,790 with the standard automatic transmission."We believe the new Odyssey will radically redefine the people-mover segment. It will appeal to both the traditional people-mover buyer and those now driving wagons," Honda Australia director Lindsay Smalley says.The Odyssey is nearly $9000 more expensive than the class-leading Kia Carnival, which costs $29,990 (drive away) as a manual and $32,500 (drive away) with auto, but Honda says the Carnival can't compete with the Odyssey's better features, dynamics and quality.Other rivals include the smaller Holden Zafira (from $32,890), Mitsubishi Grandis (from $45,750) and Toyota Avensis (from $43,100).V6 models accounted for 40 per cent of previous Odyssey sales, but the new car is available only from Japan, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.The low-emission motor, producing 118kW of power and 218Nm of torque, is linked to a five-speed automatic with self-shift mode.The standard Odyssey is well-equipped with all seven seats having headrests (in a two-three-two layout), climate control airconditioning, adjustable armrests, electric windows, CD sound and five seat-anchorage points.Anti-skid brakes and front and side airbags are standard, but traction control is not available.The middle seat in the second row of the Odyssey has only a lap belt, without the sash loop you would expect from a company that stands by its safety-first image.Honda suggests this middle seat could be used to hold a baby capsule, but admits it would like Honda Japan to provide a lap-sash belt in future.A luxury Odyssey model is available for $45,290 and adds features such as a sunroof, side-curtain airbag, alloy wheels, leather trim, heated front seats, six-CD sound and electric folding of the third row of seats.Honda engineers paid special attention to increasing the interior space of the Odyssey, while dropping the ride height by 80mm to improve handling and styling.Features including a more compact rear-suspension system and a flatter fuel tank were used to make extra space.The rear seats can fold flat into the floor and the second row can slide back or forwards, depending on the size of the occupants and cargo.The four doors of the Odyssey still open like a regular car, not sliding.Odyssey stalls plan for wagonThe sporty shape of the new Odyssey is likely to kill any chance of the Accord Euro wagon coming to Australia.The sedan version of Honda's mid-sized machine has exceeded sales expectations here, but the wagon is still unlikely.Honda Australia is worried the Accord wagon would only take sales from the Odyssey."It certainly is on the back burner," Honda Australia chairman Lindsay Smalley says."I have spent a bit of time looking at it in Japan and we love it, but there is a lot of closeness and proximity to Odyssey."The Accord wagon, which has a sleek, sloping roof-line, has been popular in Europe, where it is called the Tourer.It has a high level of standard equipment including a power tailgate that opens and shuts at the press of a button.In other Honda news, the Integra Type R will be dropped from the range."We will bring in a Type S Integra, which is not as raw as the Type R," Smalley says."It is a little more sophisticated."The Honda Jazz will be given a slight cosmetic update late this year, while the big MDX all-terrain-wagon will be updated early next year.The all-new Legend large sedan is due to arrive in Australia at the end of next year and is likely to be based on the sporty new shape shown at the New York Motor Show in January.That car, badged as an Acura, featured a hi-tech all-wheel-drive system, but it is unlikely that will be used on the model that makes it to Australia.The small CR-V all-wheel-drive wagon will be updated at the end of 2005 with a cosmetic facelift.

No, it's not also amphibious.There was a 40-minute ferry crossing thrown in there as well.Odyssey was released in 1995 and won the Wheels COTY and several other major awards to become the most awarded Honda product yet.Then it got a V6.Now the third-generation Odyssey redefines what people moving is all about. Although there is now no V6.Gone are the days of vans with a third row of bench seats and a bit of carpet on the floor. Modern people movers are car-like in their dynamics, refinement and driving characteristics.The Odyssey and new Mitsuibishi Grandis seem to take this to a new level.Honda has introduced its new model at a lower price, undercutting much of the opposition, including the Grandis by almost $7000, while maintaining a high level of specifications and engineering refinement.Honda Australia director Lindsay Smalley described it as a people mover you want to be seen in.This is a subtle dig at the many consumers, mostly male, who see a people mover as an admission that they have had a vasectomy and given up on the sexy side of life.The new ads for the Odyssey try to turn this around with a kissing and cuddling couple forgetting they have four children watching from the back rows.One glance at the third-generation model reveals a far sleeker and sexier design. In fact, it looks more like a European wagon than a people mover, with its low, low roof height.And one drive reveals a vehicle that is, well, not quite a joy to drive, but certainly no longer a mini-bus.The stubby sequential gear shift just a few fingers to the left of the steering wheel yields a bundle of fun for the keen driver. And the transmission is quite responsive. It no longer hunts for gears thanks to grade logic control and has one of the smoothest changes around.The ubiquitous 2.4 litre engine oozes refinement, but is still a dozen or so kilowatts off being anything more than simply effective. There is no rush and no punch out of corners. It's a shame it will no longer be imported with the V6.Handling characteristics are also not exactly rally standard, but again nothing like a mini-bus. Swerve sharply and the Odyssey's sophisticated suspension keeps all wheels on the ground with only a hint of slow understeer and no sudden weight transfer.Aerodynamics have been improved all round and the vehicle sits lower with underbody fairings pulling it to the road.Variable steering gear ratio senses friction between the wheels and the road in corners, keeping the vehicle stable at speed, but giving more assistance at slow speeds and allowing a 10.8m turning circle – same as the Euro Accord.Primary safety features include ABS, EBD and brake assist, while secondary safety features include front, side and curtain airbags, front seat belt tensioner, and a maximum Japanese NCAP crash test score of six stars.With just 119mm of clearance, it is lower than a Euro Accord. And with a 65-litre flat plastic fuel tank under the boot floor, it is advisable to tackle shopping centre speed bumps with care, especially when loaded with a full tank, shopping bags and kids.The ride in the back is smooth with no seesawing, so no vomiting kids to worry about. Space in the second and third rows is ample for big kids and adults, with the third row even getting room for feet.While there is 1056 litres of luggage space with rows two and three folded flat, there is room for only one large suitcase with all three rows upright.The base model has a lengthy list of standard features including climate control, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, steering wheel audio controls, outside temperature display and economy meter.Odyssey Luxury costs an extra $6500 for alloy wheels, leather trim, auto headlights, powered driver's seat, heated front seats, six-CD stacker, electric sunroof and curtain airbags for all three seating rows.

There is no cringe factor in wanting or driving the new Honda Odyssey – it has attitude, street cred and looks "the business."Could we be seeing a change in the genre?Quite possibly.With record sales overseas, other car companies will undoubtedly copy Odyssey which introduces a new philosophy to family transportation – the sporty, sexy people mover.The notion is underlined by a confronting TV ad showing mum and dad having a "pash" in their new Odyssey.They should be so lucky.On top of this is extremely keen pricing for the new model, from $38,790, which undercuts its predecessor by thousands and is infact, seven grand below the direct competitor, Mitsubishi's new Grandis.Odyssey has been around since 1995 and this is the third generation of a vehicle that has sold in relatively small numbers here.The new model is smaller than its predecessors but offers more interior room and seven seats as standard.Six seats have three point seat belts but the centre middle row pew has a lap belt only.The interior is not only spacious but is practical and well laid out with stylish and logical controls and a swag of "wow" features.Like all people movers, Odyssey is versatile with folding seats that form a large load area.The top line Luxury even has electrically folding back row seats.No V6 is offered this time but the 2.4-litre four, an ultra low emission unit, passes the stringent Euro IV emissions regs. At 118kW/218Nm, it has adequate power and torque.Fuel economy averages under 10L/100km.Drive goes through the front wheels via a silky five speed automatic with sequential shift mode. The selector is mounted, rally-car-style on the dash.Though constrained by its size and weight, Odyssey has a comfy and controlled ride due in part to the all- wishbone suspension. At 10.8m, the turning circle matches Accord Euro.Brakes are ABS-equipped and resist fade under extreme use. They also have electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.Two models are offered, standard and Luxury and both have climate control air, cruise, remote central locking and power ancillaries.The higher spec' version scores larger alloy wheels, leather, electric sunroof and back row seat folding, heated front seats, more safety equipment and other goodies for the six and a bit grand extra.Odyssey is good to drive or ride in. It is arguably the most comfortable people mover I have driven. The styling is sensational with an aggressive front and cute rear end. It's long and low, looking more like a big station wagon than a people mover.Though not whip-cracking, the engine dishes out good acceleration and you can always resort to the sequential shift.It's fun to drive and is super quiet in cruise mode – like a limo.A reasonable size load area is provided.Honda has been able to reduce Odyssey's price by economies of scale and currency shifts.Though not in the same price range as the top selling Kia Carnival, Odyssey is closer this time and is a much more appealing vehicle.Like I said, no cringe factor here.

And despite the completely new look, increased features and more interior space, the new Honda Odyssey is actually $7200 cheaper than its predecessor.Honda Australia director Lindsay Smalley says Honda is selling so many Odysseys in Japan (where it was released about 12 months ago) that the cost of production is significantly lower than the previous model.This, coupled with a favourable exchange rate, means the customers are the ones who win, getting more for less.The price ($38,790 base and $45,290 luxury) makes the Odyssey an impressive addition to the people-mover market and puts some serious pressure on its rivals.The Toyota Avensis GLX is $43,100 ($4310 more) while the Mitsubishi Grandis is $45,710 ($6920 more). The Holden Zafira is $6100 cheaper, but Honda says that gap narrows to just $200 when the Odyssey's longer list of features is added to the price of the Zafira.And the sales figures speak for themselves – the Odyssey outsold the Toyota Corolla in Japan in its first few months.Honda engineers and designers spent many months labouring over the new Odyssey to achieve three main goals: style, aspiration and advanced technology.And they succeeded.The 2004 Odyssey looks and handles even less like a people mover than its predecessor. Its front is aggressive and sleek. The long, low-slung roofline is more wagon-like and even the rear is not overlooked with twin exhausts poking out. In fact, it would be safe to say that the Odyssey even has a bit of street cred.The clever advertising campaign, which shows a mother and father enjoying a long kiss in the front of the Odyssey before remembering they have four little ones watching on from the rear, conveys Honda's message – one that other companies are sure to adopt – that having a big family doesn't mean you have to settle for a car that has the sex appeal of a bus.No V6 will be available.Powered by a new 2.4-litre engine that combines variable-valve timing control and electronic lift control and produces 118kW at 5500rpm and 218Nm of torque from 4500rpm, the Odyssey is definitely no slouch, up 8kW and 12Nm on the old 2.3-litre version but with a fuel efficiency of 9.4L/100km.The base model has all the mod cons, including climate-control airconditioning, four-wheel disc brakes, dual front and side airbags, cruise control, power windows and eight cup holders.The luxury model adds features including side curtain airbags, sunroof, light-sensitive headlights, 16-inch alloys and a power-retractable third row of seats.The Odyssey sits on re-tuned four-wheel double wishbone suspension, improving stability and ride. The variable steering gear ratio system gives more steering assistance at low speed, giving the Odyssey a turning circle of 10.8m, identical to that of the the Accord Euro. It is pulled up by four-wheel disc brakes that have ABS, with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, and the low centre of gravity means the Odyssey handles similar to a passenger car.There was no body roll on tight and twisty roads, and the only noticeable downfall was a lack of power when accelerating uphill after a tight bend – but sports shift mode helped.