2002 Honda Odyssey Reviews

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the Honda Odyssey VTi, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Different segments take distinctive approaches to moving family plus friends. Joshua Dowling sets a seven-seat SUV against an eight-seat people-mover.

In the beginning, when the people mover was emerging out of the shadow of the van with seats and side windows, one vehicle led the way. The Honda Odyssey produced ride and handling more like that of a car than a tricked-up commercial vehicle.It seems nothing has changed, with the latest model – the fifth generation – having room for seven or eight occupants, or a stack of gear, while still producing the obligatory car-like going.The super-size Odyssey – it’s significantly bigger than before – cannot help but stand out among its peers. An expansive chrome radiator grille sets the standard, its broad slats providing the right proportions to support a centrally mounted unmissable Honda insignia.Thanks to a compact engine bay the front slopes sharply towards a raked windscreen which in turn connects with a low roof which takes nothing from cabin height due to the ultra-low floor.Flared guards front and rear complete a profile that is designed to emphasise the vehicle’s dynamic character. Deep side skirts and snazzy wheels also ‘sportify’ the wagon. Electric sliding side doors, operated merely by touching the handles or using the key fob, make entry and exit to the rear seats easy.A high lifting tailgate (why no electric power here?) gives access to a rather limited cargo area with the third row of seats in use. With the back seats folded it’s a totally different story. There’s lots of space.Available in two versions – Vti and VTi-L – the Odyssey comes to market at $38,990, plus on-road costs for the VTi, with eight seats, and $47,620 for the VTi-L (the test vehicle), with seating for seven.As befits a luxury vehicle, as the suffix ‘L’ suggests, the latter features twin Captain’s Chairs in place of the second-row bench seat, offering a high level of comfort in a people mover, plus the ability to carry extra-long items of cargo.If the Odyssey is big and brassy on the outside, on the inside it’s a model of restraint. Quality surroundings and thick-pile carpet give the cabin a limo-like feeling.VTi-L occupants can lounge in large leather-clad seats which enjoy added legroom between rows. Despite a low roofline, a redesigned chassis has made for more headroom than in the previous model. The dashboard-mounted gearshift enables a walk-through alley from the front to the rear rows of seats.The driver’s attention is immediately drawn to a large-face speedometer, with a range of information displayed in a centre circle directly behind the steering wheel. The new Odyssey is the first Honda in Australia to incorporate Display Audio. Using a centrally dashboard mounted touch screen, the system displays audio and hands-free Bluetooth functions as well as replicating a compatible iPhone.Users can swipe as with an iPhone, scrolling and zooming in and out as required. Satellite navigation can be downloaded via an app to an iPhone and connected to the Odyssey’s info system, enabling the sat nav software to be stored in the smartphone and not on the vehicle hardware. Hence a route can be input into a smartphone away from the car and connected to the Honda for use on the road.The Odyssey is powered by a refined 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 132kW of power put to ground through the front wheels and a continuously variable automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for the control freaks.Honda estimates fuel consumption of 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle. I achieved the high elevens in town traffic and the mid sixes on the motorway in the VTi-L.Odyssey safety features cannot be faulted. There are front, side and full-length curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist and Traction Control, ABS anti-skid brakes, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Emergency Brake Assist and Emergency Stop Signal via the rear lights. Fisheye cameras around the Odyssey VTi-L give a 360 degree view of the vehicle, while Smart Park Assist will help with parking even in awkward spots. A unique Cross Traffic Monitor keeps an eye out for approaching vehicles behind when reversing. Audible and visual warnings alert the driver.From the push of the start button the powertrain shows its pedigree, 2.4-litre motor revving freely and quietly through the rev range, the upgraded continuously variable transmission taking its lead like a champion ballroom dancer.From rest, the Odyssey glides rather than accelerates, taking its time to reach peak torque of 218Nm. When there, the big wagon behaves in a surprisingly sprightly manner, changing direction confidently and with hardly a hint of body roll. Quite exhilarating.Visibility all round has been improved with thinner pillars, high-set driving position, repositioned large exterior mirrors and flat-top instrument panel. Then there’s the all-round camera view in the VTi-L.One serial Odyssey buyer wavered from the people mover only when Honda dumped the completely removable rear seats. She once claimed to have carried fourteen folding tables and a small sound system in her early model without the rear seating.

Honda has made a major change of direction in its fifth generation Odyssey people mover.

Who kidnapped the Odyssey? For a long time Honda's 7-seat people mover was the refuge of those who needed a "mum bus" but really didn't want one, at least one that looked like a bus.

Honda has launched the fifth generation version of its popular Odyssey people mover with a taller body, extra interior space and, for the first time, the option of eight seats.

Honda's new fifth-generation Odyssey people mover represents the most significant departure from the Odyssey mould since the model first arrived in Australia in 1995.

SUVs look tough and deliver a command driving position - unless everyone else is also sitting up high-and-mighty in a hulking off-roader - but they really don't have the people or carrying capacity you might expect.Even seven-seater SUVs are usually cramped in the back row and you should try fitting a family's luggage needs in the rear when all the seats are occupied.People movers aren't trendy, and they aren't attractive, but there are times when a big box on wheels really is the best solution.Volkswagen got the people movement going with the Kombi, then Chrysler switched the action to the USA before Toyota revolutionised things with the Tarago - named after a NSW country town outside Canberra.These days there are people movers to suit most families and budgets, and these are the obvious contenders:Chrysler Grand VoyagerA fading star that suffers from an ageing design and poor cabin quality, as well as pricetag that means it's a premium contender in a class where there is much better value.Price: from $57,500Seats: 7Engine: 2.8 litre turbodiesel 120kW/360NmTransmission: 6-sp auto FWDThirst: 8.4L/100km; 111g/km CO2Citroen C4 Picasso One of Europe's best people movers drives well and has some great design touches, including a front windscreen that rolls up to the roof. Hurt in Australia by the questions over anything with a Citroen badge.Price: from $39,490Seats: 7Engine: 2.0 litre turbodiesel 100kW/270NmTransmission: 6-sp auto FWDThirst: 5.3L/100km; 137g/km CO2Honda OdysseyIt's getting old but it still does the job, and the price is nice. The Odyssey is not as big as some, and the performance suffers when you load it up, but it is still a smart choice.Price: from $37,100Seats: 7Engine: 2.4L petrol, 132kW/218NmTransmission: 5-speed automatic, FWDThirst: 8.9L/100km, 212g/km CO2Kia Grand Carnival The top choice with the Carsguide crew, thanks to everything from a big body to an available turbodiesel engine and electric sliding doors on the top model. Value is great and there is a big spread of models.Price: from $38,990Seats: 8Engine: 2.2L turbodiesel 143kW/429Nm or 3.5L V6 petrol 202kW/336NmTransmission: 6-spd auto FWDThirst: 8.1L/100km (diesel),  10.9L/100km (petrol)Mercedes-Benz Viano It's the Rolls-Royce of minivans, in Australia at least, lifting the working class Vito van to new highs of comfort and class. Too boxy for some people, but the badge provides plenty of compensation.Price: from $78,990Seats: 6-8Engine: 3.0L turbodiesel 165kW/440NmTransmission: 5-spd auto RWDThirst: 8.6L/100km; 226g/km CO2Toyota Tarago The people mover that time - and Toyota - forgot. Once the best of the breed, particularly in the days of the `giant egg' model, but now just a boring box that's too expensive and doesn't come with a diesel engine.Price: from $48,990Seats: 7-8Engine: 2.4L 4-cyl petrol, 125kW/224Nm or 3.5L V6 petrol 202kW/340NmTransmission: CVT auto, FWDThirst: 8.9L/100km, 207g/km CO2 or 10.3L/100km; 243g/km CO2

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?What is it?Honda's Odyssey needs no introduction. It's the people mover you want when you don't want a people mover, courtesy of the fact it drives more like a car than any of its competitors.How much?Odyssey comes in two flavours. The Luxury as its name suggests is the more expensive of the two at $44,920 (but with sales the way they are we reckon you could probably bargain them down).What are competitors?Noteable competitors include the Kia Carnival, Chrysler's Grand Voyager, Hyundai iMax and of course the Toyota Tarago. Apart from the very van like iMax, they are all more expensive.What's under the bonnet?A 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine with 132kW of power and 218Nm of torque. It's hooked up to a five-speed automatic with paddle shifts.How does it go?Not bad. Lacks low down torque, but the tranny does a good job of harnessing the engine's output. Of course the more people you have aboard, the bigger dent it is going to put in this.Is it economical?Takes standard unleaded. With a 60-litre tank fuel consumption is rated at 8.9 litres/100km (we were getting 9.0).Is it green?Not bad. Scores 3.5 out 5 stars from the Govt's Green Vehicle Guide (Prius sets the benchmark with 5).Is it safe?Fitted with front, side and curtain airbags Odyssey scores four out of five stars for safety. Not bad but not as safe as it could be and more importantly should be.Is it comfortable?Comfort is one of the car's fortes. It's like a loungeroom in there.What's it like to drive?Snack to drive. The reversing camera is a bonus not just in terms of safety but also for making parking easier. At 4.8 metres however you have to be aware of its length and factor this into your cornering calculations.Is it value for money?Odyssey comes with a satellite navigation featuring USB connectivity with iPod integration, Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming, live traffic updates, SD card map updates, rear reversing camera and a DVD player as standard.Would we buy one?It would be very tempting if we were in the market for a seven-seater. It does what it does very well and is going to he heaps cheaper to run than a four wheel drive wagon  but lacks luggage space when all seven seats are in use. Wish they'd stop fooling with the styling which now carries too many embellishments. 

Honda Odyssey is a practical vehicle that makes a lot more sense than the large SUVs that also seat seven. Odyssey doesn’t give its owner the feeling they can conquer the Simpson Desert, nor does it give a – completely inaccurate -- sense of being invincible. What it does offer is a smooth, quiet ride, good interior space and the sort of engineering with which the Japanese company has been associated for decades.DESIGNLower than some station wagons, the Odyssey has slim head- and tail-lights, a stylish grille and a longer than normal bonnet for this class. The roof tapers mildly down at the back to improve aerodynamics and therefore reduce fuel consumption.Odyssey’s interior is almost futuristic in its shape, with a sweeping-wave dash and instruments that sit in no fewer than four layers. The latter seems a bit over the top to us, but in this class where understatement tends to be the norm that’s perhaps no bad thing. A pleasing feature of the Honda Odyssey body is relatively slim A-pillars to give a better and safer view to the front-side, particularly on twisting roads.Large, spacious cabins are the whole reason for buying any people mover. Sit three tall adults behind one another Honda Odyssey and all have good legroom. However, those in the rearmost seat may be tight for headroom. Try it for yourself if teenagers may be riding back there.The secret to the interior space in this low-slung Honda is its low floor. Access to the rearmost seats is never easy in a vehicle of this type, but Honda does it better than most, with back doors that go as far backwards as possible, virtually touching the wheelarches, to create decent space.FIT-OUT AND EQUIPMENTThe latest Odyssey, the subject of this week’s road test, has a touch-screen satellite navigation system with live traffic updates, as well as integrated Bluetooth and steering wheel mounted audio controls. A reversing camera is a very useful safety feature for anyone, no-one more so than the family driver at whom this vehicle is aimed.All seven seats have lap/sash safety belts. Front, side and curtain airbags protect occupants in every row of seating. Boot space is quite good, but the amount of luggage space suffers if all seats are in use. This isn’t unusual in this class and SUVs can suffer more than most due to the need for an extra differential and driveshaft under the boot area.ENGINE AND MECHANICALPower comes from a four-cylinder 2.4-litre engine producing 132 kW of power and 218 Nm of torque. Engine performance is adequate rather than exciting, which is acceptable for a family wagon. If you're going to be carrying a lot of people, and driving in hilly areas you may find the Odyssey struggles at times.The V6 engine once offered in older generation Odyssey’s is no longer available as very few buyers were interested in paying the significant extra cost.The four-cylinder engine has been revised in the latest Odyssey and we found typical fuel consumption to be reasonably low. Expect to use about seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres in easy driving, and around eight to ten litres in suburban running. This number is likely to climb significantly if you use your Odyssey with a big load and/or in hilly conditions because of the engine’s relatively small size.DRIVINGRide comfort is almost car-like as a result of the low centre of gravity. On smooth to moderate roads we were most impressed by the quietness of the ride. Obviously the designers have put considerable emphasis on this important aspect of the latest iteration of the Odyssey. It’s almost limo-like to ride in.Road and tyre noise on coarse-chip was pleasingly low, meaning this family people mover can be used on rough backroads during weekends or holiday trips without overly tiring the occupants.HONDA ODYSSEYMODEL RANGEOdyssey 2.4-litre: $37,100 (automatic)Odyssey Luxury 2.4-litre: $44,920 (automatic)FEATURESABS Brakes: Standard in both modelsAutomatic Transmission: Standard in both modelsCruise Control: Standard in both modelsDual Front Airbags: Standard in both modelsFront Side Airbags: Standard in both modelsElectronic Stability Program: Standard in both modelsRear Parking Sensors: Standard in both modelsReversing Camera: Standard in LuxuryUSB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in both modelsBluetooth: Standard in both modelsSteering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in both modelsENGINE:Capacity: 2.354 litresConfiguration: Four cylinders in lineHead Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinderCompression Ratio: 10.5:1Maximum Power: 132 kW @ 6500 rpmMaximum Torque: 218 Nm @ 4500 rpmDRIVELINE:Driven Wheels: FrontManual Transmission: Not offeredAutomatic Transmission: Five-speedFinal Drive Ratio: 4.437:1DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:Length: 4810 mmWheelbase: 2830 mmWidth: 1800 mmHeight: 1545 mmTurning Circle: 10.8 metresKerb Mass: 1645 kgFuel Tank Capacity: 60 litresBoot Capacity: 259 litres (708 litres with rear seats lowered)Towing Ability: 450 kg (1000 kg with braked trailer)SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:Front Suspension: Independent, double wishbone, coils springsRear Suspension: Independent, double wishbone, coils springsFront Brakes: Ventilated discRear Brakes: DiscFUEL CONSUMPTION:Type: Petrol 91RONCombined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 8.9 L/100kmGREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:Greenhouse Rating: 6/10Air Pollution Rating: 6.5/10STANDARD WARRANTY:Three years/100,000 km