2008 Honda Odyssey Reviews

Peoplemovers have never been particularly fashionable, they're the ugly ducklings of the motoring world, but there's no denying their practicality when it comes to family transport.There's plenty of reasons to consider buying a peoplemover, particularly one like the Honda Odyssey, instead of an SUV. Honda had done its level best with the Odyssey to make the peoplemover sexy and rid it of the old image of a converted van as most once were. Compared to other peoplemovers the Odyssey is quite a stylish vehicle, it really doesn't evoke images of a delivery van at all. For a family of five or more it makes a lot of sense.The 2009 Odyssey was the result of an extensive makeover, with a new body, improved safety, and better performance and fuel economy. Under the sleek new skin the mechanical platform was basically the same as the previous model. Honda offered two models, the well-equipped entry-level model and the Luxury, which came with leather and a host of other neat features. All it lacked was a parking aid, which would have been a welcome addition in a vehicle of its type. With just 2.4 litres doing the work the Honda is no fireball in the road, but has enough grunt to make for a smooth, comfortable drive with sufficient get and go to get the job done.The five-speed auto is smooth and well matched to the engine. On the road the suspension is supple and delivers a comfortable ride while still giving the feeling that it's clamped to the road. The secret to the Odyssey has always been its comfortable, flexible cabin, which is more like a car than a van. It seats up to seven and the seats can be slid, folded and removed to create the perfect space for your family.IN THE SHOPA Honda specialist mechanic once bemoaned to me that he wished he had of done his apprenticeship on another make as it was tough making a living out of Hondas when they rarely broke down.His mate, who's done his apprenticeship on another make, a German one, was making a nice living from fixing the cars he chose to specialise in. It's not a guarantee that Hondas don't, or won't, break down, but it is testament to their overall level of reliability. They need to be well maintained and service according to the book, but if they are you should enjoy a good run out of them.The Odyssey is no exception. As the Odyssey is primarily aimed at families check the cabin closely for the things that happen when kids are transport, things like stained and torn trim, broken hardware etc. Also look for damage from incidental contact with the scenery because of the lack of parking aids.IN A CRASHWith front, side and curtain airbags, electronic stability control, ABS braking the Odyssey is well equipped to handle a crunch. ANCAP gave it a four-star tick when it was tested.UNDER THE PUMPThe 2.4-litre engine has to work quite hard to propel the Odyssey, but even so it's quite a frugal unit, with a claimed average of 8.9 L/ 100 km. Carsguide recorded an average of 10.1 L/100 km when testing the stylish wagon, and that might be closer to real life reality.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $41,990 to $47,990Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol; 132 kW/218 NmTransmission: 5-speed auto, FWDEconomy: 8.9 L/100 kmBody: 5-door wagonVariants: Base and LuxurySafety: 4-star ANCAP.VERDICTStylish, comfortable, efficient, and sensible means of transporting a family.

Here's our guide to the five biggest-selling people movers on the market (2010 year-to-date, VFACTS).

But the really important question is: what do women want in a car?Finding the answer keeps carmakers tossing and turning at night, because they are well aware that women choose more than half the vehicles sold in Australia. There are all the ones they buy for themselves, as well as the deciding vote on most of the ones bought by households.Sorry, fellas. It’s true. No matter how much you want that souped-up sports car, unless the head of household finances agrees you may as well back away from the vehicle now.One of the earliest attempts to deliver a car for women was the mid-1950s Dodge La Femme. It was actually a 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer under the skin, but the Detroit designers camouflaged that skin as thoroughly as a make-up artist doing Vogue covers.The car was decked out in pink paint, with an interior covered in pink vinyl, set off by pink rosebud tapestry. And to show that this was not merely a cynical marketing exercise, Dodge kitted the car with accessories they thought reflected the growing independence of post-World War II women moving into meaningful career paths - a pink handbag complete with office essentials like a matching powder compact, lipstick case and comb.Sales estimates run as low as less than 1000 cars. And the pink panderer was quickly dropped from the Dodge range at the end of the following year.Australia’s own Carla Zampatti tweaked a Ford specifically for women in the 1980s, but whether it won women - with accessories including a hanging hook for handbags - is still open to question.However, Dodge and Ford weren’t completely on the wrong track. Women want a car to be stylish, but also practical. Luckily, these days there are quite a few vehicles that fit the bill – without playing the pink paint card. These are the best style picks for women today, from a woman's perspective, with the figures for the basic car.Don’t agree with these? Let us know what YOU think women want in a car in our poll at left.LIGHTMazda2Price: from $16,030Engine: 76kW/137Nm 1.5-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 6.4L/kmEmissions: 152g/kmThe baby 2 has cute and slightly edgy looks, is compact with usable space, and the long doors make it easy to get in the back seat. The auto will be preferred by most, but it adds to the weight of the little car.Close calls: Ford Fiesta from $16,990; Peugeot 207 from $22,490.SMALLBMW 1-SeriesPrice: from $38,900Engine: 160kW/270Nm 2.0-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.2L/kmEmissions: 190g/kmA pocket-sized entry in German prestige – without breaking the pocket. Looks stunning, an amazing amount of room, and great to drive.Close calls: Mazda3 from $21,330; Hyundai i30 from $20,390.MEDIUMFord MondeoPrice: from $31,990Engine: 118kW/208Nm 2.3-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 9.5L/kmEmissions: 227g/kmThe best thing Ford has brought to Australia in … ever, possibly. Enough space to make you wonder if you’ll ever need a larger car, elegant design and well built.Close calls: Mazda6 from $31,834; Audi A5 Sportback from $78,400.LARGEAudi A6Price: from $74,500Engine: 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrolTransmission: automaticEconomy: 5.8L/kmEmissions: 153g/kmThere’s not a high chic quotient in this class - where the homegrown Falcon and Commodore lean more to aggressive styling - so the Audi’s restrained elegance makes it a clear winner.Close calls: Honda Accord from $36,381Mercedes-Benz E-Class from $80,900.PEOPLE MOVERHonda OdysseyPrice: from $46,166Engine: 132kW/218Nm 2.5-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.9L/kmEmissions: 212g/kmIn a class that’s dominated by lumpy boxes, the Odyssey is a sleek stand-out. It's low-slung, car-like and leading with a fashionable face.Close calls: Citroen C4 Grand Picasso from $39,990; Chrysler Voyager $60,990.SPORTYBMW Mini Cooper ClubmanPrice: from $36,600Engine: 88kW/160Nm 1.6-litre petrolTransmission: automaticEconomy: 6.8L/kmEmissions: 163g/kmA bonsai wagon with go-kart street cred and revamped retro lines, this one will get admiring glances from everybody.Close calls: Kia Cerato Koup from $23,690; Audi S3 from $69,100.CONVERTIBLEVolkswagen EosPrice: from $47,990Engine: 103kW/320Nm dieselTransmission: automaticEconomy: 6.0L/kmEmissions: 158g/kmThe EOS is streamlined and sophisticated, looks equally good with the roof open or closed – and has enough room in the back to get a couple of extra friends in for short trips.Close calls: BMW Z4 from $86,200; Lexus IS250C from $80,150. SUVHyundai ix35Price: from $26,990Engine: 122kW/197Nm petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.5L/kmEmissions: 201g/kmThere’s heaps of practicality but precious little style in the SUV paddocks. But Hyundai’s new compact ix35 proves you can have both. Ultra-modern lines, trim shape and space to spare.Close calls: Jeep Wrangler (medium) from $31,590; Land Rover Range Rover Sport (large) from $99,900.

Honda's latest luxury people-mover may boast a heap of clever features inside yet it's what's under the bonnet that puts it ahead of previous models, and indeed many rivals. Over the past 15 years Honda has produced several market-leading Odyssey models.Each one has been praised in turn for its practicality, space to fit up to seven adults and looks that Honda has even marketed as being sexy. Which is pretty amazing, considering people movers are generally regarded as boxy vans at worst and useful family haulers at best.The main hurdle to previous Odysseys is that they have all tended to drive on the sluggish side. The various four-cylinder engines have been handed a major job to haul all that weight plus all those people. There certainly has never been spritely acceleration, lively get up and go or a boy racer feel about the Odysseys, and indeed most people movers.The one exception in the range was the short-lived six-cylinder model of the second generation that is still a sought-after used car for families unable to afford a new one. But that has changed with the new fourth-generation model released earlier this year.Honda has re-worked the 2.4-litre four-cylinder to up the power from 118kW in the previous version to 132kW. Considering it is such a big car the power and acceleration is noticeably better than before. Having said that the five-speed auto gearbox is unchanged but there is no suggestion of it hunting for gears as some of the previous models have done.Inside the styling is all about function and practicality for large groups of passengers. Having four children I have always needed such size and as they have become older needed the leg room. Most seven-seater 4WDs have useless rear leg room and it has generally been only the more expensive Chrysler Grand Voyager and Toyota Tarago that beat the Honda for space.The cheaper Hyundai iMax effectively wallops the Odyssey for internal space but it really is aimed at businesses rather than families. Instead for just under $50,000 the Luxury Odyssey offers leather treatment, wood grain, plenty of space and solid performance.The middle row seats, now with three lap-sash belts, after years of Honda having only an outdated lap belt in the middle are easy to move to suit whatever configuration of seating you want.They slide forward while the back seats fold down to give you enhanced luggage space. Rear passengers have separate air vents and a good view. Adults can easily sit here without feeling as they are about to swallow their knees. The other bonus in such a car is plenty of storage space. There are cupholders, large door storage space and a bin in the dashboard near the driver.Between the front seats is the handy flip-up console which is great for holding phones, sunglasses etc. It is a glaring omission from some other people movers. Storage space behind the rear seats for groceries and luggage has always been a compromise in seven seater cars but the flexibility of being able to fold away the third row of seats when they are not needed creates a virtual cavern.Around town, where the cars will spend the bulk of their lives, the Odyssey is an ideal hauler for school trips and sporting events with ease of access to all seats. On the open road it is a very comfortable cruiser including when climbing hills.Road noise reduction has improved over the generations and now is comparable with other cars of the same price range. People don't buy people movers out of choice. You can buy some pretty impressive sports cars and sexy sedans for this money. You have to need to regularly haul more than three people to have any desire for them.But what the Odyssey does is provide a climate where such driving is pleasurable and comfortable. The styling, created by lowering and flattening out the design to become sleek and elongated rather than boxy, goes a long way to enhancing the feeling of pride in driving such a car.Most major carmakers, except surprisingly Holden and Ford who have instead opted for the traditional wagon and AWDs such as the Territory, have people movers on the market in Australia. Some are van conversions, others are packed with luxury and therefore an extra cost, an increasing number are diesel to benefit families looking for economy and there's also the smaller movers which have third-row seats strictly for small children.What sets the Odyssey apart is its ability to take some of the best out of each of these styles to create the best all-rounder in the segment. The bottom line: extra performance enhances an already strong package

Delusion may be frowned upon by people in the ‘real’ world but it has tempting advantages.I, for example, could delude myself that even after having four children, there is an ever-so-slight yearning to have more kids to fill any void in my life and the empty seats in my people mover.And not just any people mover. Australians can kid themselves that they're happy with a hatchback but show them a Honda Odyssey and they go completely gaga over its practicalities.This is a people mover like few others. Though it shares DNA with commercial metal boxes such as the Nissan Nomad and Toyota Lite-Ace, is so many streets ahead it's difficult to speak of them in the same breath.Honda threw away the traditional commercial van design guide by lowering its version's floor. That brought down the roofline and though its lengthy proportions tend to link it with a hearse, it has a very versatile and spacious cabin.The Odyssey seats seven people — real people, not babies — and has excellent centre and third-row seat flexibility. Seats flip, individually fold flat, can be removed and even slide. The third row folds into the floor so creates a flat luggage area. It's easy to get in and out of the third seat row. Once in, you note that visibility is pretty good and there's air vents overhead.Then there's the styling. There are overtones of a fun fair space capsule — a theme Honda infuses in its other car and motorcycle models — and though it can grate, it is never dull. In fact the flowing lines of the dashboard and the varying hues and textures — even the orange plastic wood trim — work to shrink what would otherwise be a big slab of black plastic.Heaps of personal storage spaces include centre armrests for the front and centre seats, big door pockets, cupholders and storage for the third-seat occupants and a handy bin in the driver-side dash. The front-seat centre console also folds down for access to the centre seat.The Odyssey can load up with 600kg — on top of its dry 1700kg weight — so it needs a capable engine to get this all in motion.Honda has upped the power from the predecessor's 118kW to more welcome 132kW. But the figures don't tell the whole story. The engine a 2.4-litre four-cylinder that is basically unchanged from the previous model.Where the old engine sweated out 118kW at 5500rpm, the new one copies the power delivery but Honda has engineered the ability to rev further and keep pumping out the mumbo.So while it still puts out 118kW at 5500rpm, it will run to 6500rpm and record 132kW. Unless they're deluding themselves, no people-mover owner wants to scream through the suburbs at 6500rpm in a desperate bid to attain mechanical Nirvana. Given that there's little change in the torque curve — it's still 218Nm at 4500rpm — the drive experience is unchanged.The same deal applies to the five-speed automatic transmission which, while virtually every component has been redesigned, it still feels like the smooth-shifting gearbox of old.On paper, the combination of a smallish engine, auto transmission and lots of load space can equate a torturous country drive where caravans overtake you on inclines. In fact, the Odyssey is remarkably nimble and doesn't seem too fazed by hills.It's also very comfortable with its long wheelbase able to soak up ruts and the soft seats numbing any harshness. But it's big and the steering is vague so clearly it's no Porsche through the bends.But it is versatile, it is stylish and there's no delusion about the fact that if you have the need or want, it would be easy to fill its seats with your offspring.

Honda has made some raucous machinery in recent times — a swag of Type R models and the S2000, plus the king of everyday supercars, the now-defunct NSX.Its more mainstream models, however, attract less attention when driving past a bus-stop full of school kids — except the Odyssey, which may well have them preparing tickets for entry. The tickets won't stay out for long — the fourth generation of Honda seven-seater is much less bus-like than some of its immediate opposition, in a number of ways.For a start, it's lower-slung, sitting a little lower in overall height than the norm for a peoplemover, thanks to flat-floor engineering of the underpinnings. That makes it a little more car-like to drive, as does the useful amount of vision and the use of conventional doors in place of the sliding units on its opposition.That's great for not feeling like a bus driver but not so good in shopping centre car parks, where the sliding side doors make life easier for rear passengers. There's little to complain about from the rear passengers — the seating is comfortable and there's ample room for a road trip involving adult rear passengers as well as rugrats.Luggage space with all three rows in play is still a problem for peoplemovers, but the Honda is not a bad performer on this front — the specs say it has increased over the old model to 259 litres with all three rows up or just over 700 litres with the third row folded into the floor.The in-cabin storage is also commendable, with versatile little touches like the dropdown table between the front seats, but the light-coloured wood-like trim in a sea of varying shades of grey plastic doesn't work.The positioning of the shifter for the automatic takes some getting used to but in its dash-mounted position it's out of the way and allows for more console storage.The automatic transmission itself is smooth but feels as through it could use another gear beyond its current five, mainly because the engine (as is the case with most Hondas) likes plenty of revs on board before anything urgent occurs. Peak power of 132kW from the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine is up a little on the old car but torque is unchanged, not welcome news when the weight has gone up a little as well.The Odyssey boasts a good ride quality — although it's a little thumpy over small road imperfections — and even though there's a little bit more body roll than would be ideal, the Honda can be hustled through corners with a surprising amount of confidence ... especially for a peoplemover.Other complaints were minor — the front-seat armrests get in the way of the seatbelts on the front seats and the child capsule tether bracket arrangement in the boot is a little at odds with the rest of the car, being ugly and a little poorly executed.Stability control and six airbags — front, side and full-length curtain airbags — The stepped gauge layout is a little odd at first but once accustomed to the look it is informative.Parents don't seem to want to drive peoplemovers — SUV sales suggest the big seven-seater 4WD is the preferred option with a less sedentary image and even the luxury SUV segment has more sales than peoplemovers. But if you're looking to cart the family in comfort and aren't fond of driving a truck, the Odyssey is a useable and versatile machine.

It's the sort of car that more Australian families should be considering, despite the overwhelming popularity of hulking seven-seater SUVs. The 2009 Odyssey is relatively stylish for a family van, comfy and safe, and very good value.The Odyssey has just been through the makeover machine and emerged with a new body, more safety, better performance and economy, and a tight price. It is, in short, just what you would expect.But Honda says the Odyssey is all-new and that is wrong. The 'top hat' bodywork is new for '09 and there is a lot of other new stuff, but the mechanical platform at the base of the car is the same as it was before the update.That's only a minor criticism these days, since even Volkswagen did a similar 'top hat' tweak for the latest Golf, but it shows that Honda is not using the same take-no-prisoners approach to new models which used to set it apart from the Japanese pack. But at least the Odyssey is still made in Japan.These days there are two Odyssey models, the basic car at $43,990 — a price which is not far above the family-favourite Kia Carnival and well under the fully-loaded Chrysler Grand Voyager — and the Luxury model with leather and the rest of the fruit at $49,990. But there is something missing: any sort of parking aid, either a camera or radar, and that's a reflection of the carryover electric system in the car.Still Honda has plenty to trumpet for a car which has been an award winner since the original Odyssey in 1994. The basic idea is still good and the size is right for family use in 2009.Looking at the upgrade work, the 132kW engine promises more go with a five-speed auto and the safety pack of front-side-head airbags and ESP stability control is what is needed these days.Even so, there is tough competition in the people mover class and SUVs totally dominate the family car scene so that means you also need to judge the Odyssey against the Toyota Kluger, Ford Territory and a bunch of other high riders.It is good to slide back into the Odyssey. My previous favourite in the people mover family is the Citroen Picasso, but mostly because of the innovative design work and equipment in the car, and I wanted to see how the Honda stacked up against the French machine and also the top selling Kia Carnival and Chrysler's giant Grand Voyager. Basically, it wins.It's hard to feel the extra go promised by Honda, particularly with a load on board, and I really didn't want to check the improved safety equipment, but the Odyssey is a really relaxing drive and has all the sort of family-friendly stuff you need. It's a seven seater that's more like a car than a giant boring bus, but with plenty of flexiblity.The dash has the latest Honda look — giant circular dial with blue lighting — but the sound system betrays the age of the hidden stuff. We expect better on the entertainment front and the lack of any rear-view camera — Honda says dealers can sell you a radar parking system — is a major mistake in 2009.The Odyssey feels nicely compliant in the suspension, the five-speed auto works smoothy, and the engine is good on the highway and solid — not sensational — around town.The seating position in the front is good and I like the fold-down central table area, which clears space for a walk-through, although it could do with better cupholders. The leather trim in the test car is also compliant and gives a quality look and feel.The test car did well in a variety of roles, from single to multi-purpose trips and even a bunch of heavyweight shopping expeditions. There was very little to complain about.The Odyssey has also been the subject of one reader's search in the past week, including shopping it against the obvious people mover rivals."I was most impressed, and it was top of my list, however the wife was not happy with boot space and ease of getting the kids in the very back. As she will be the main driver the Wife wins," says Ronnie.It's easy to see her points. It's good to have convention hinged doors instead of the barn-style sliders on most family vans, but that means folding the middle bench and creating enough space to get a person through to the very back is not as easy as operating the system in a Voyager.And the luggage space in the very tail is tight-ish, although Honda has a brilliant electric fold-up system for the third-row seat. It zips down into a recess and that leaves plenty of space for bikes or Bunnings, provided you only have five onboard.The Odyssey is not new, but it's newish and didn't really need much changing in any case. Now, if they could just give us a reversing camera...

Peoplemovers must be the least glamorous vehicles of any on our roads, but if you’ve got a tribe of kids there’s no better means of transport for carting them around. The good news is they aren’t the dodgy weapons they once were when most were built on the back of delivery vans.Those early peoplemovers were the sorts of vehicles you avoided at all cost. They were unrefined, uncomfortable and had poor performance and even worse road manners. Thankfully that’s now a thing of the past and the peoplemovers of today are much better vehicles that do most things as well as regular passenger cars.Much of that can be attributed to the Honda Odyssey, the peoplemover Honda built off the Accord platform and one of the first to bring car-like road manners and refinement to the class.MODEL WATCHThe Odyssey was based on an Accord passenger car platform, which meant it sat lower to the road, and drove and handled much like the regular passenger car it was closely related to.The lower stance also meant it was easier to get in and out, you didn’t have to haul yourself up to access the interior. While that’s a real plus for the Honda, it does come at a slight cost in head room.Honda released the Odyssey in two forms, a six-seater which had a pair of ‘captains chairs’ in the middle row in 1995, and a seven-seater which substituted a bench seat for the two individual centre seats a year later.To get into the rear seats in the six-seater it was necessary to walk between the two ‘captains chairs’, in the seven-seater you had to tilt the centre seat forward.Once successfully seated, adults would find there was too little space to be comfortable, but let’s face it peoplemovers are mostly used to transport kids and they’d find it adequate. The location of the spare wheel, a space saver, on the side eats into the space as well.The rear seat could also be folded into a well in the floor making a flat cargo carrying space when the seats weren’t needed for little people. It could also be reversed to make a rear facing seat ideal for picnics.Add to that the ability to completely remove the middle two seats in the six-seater, or fold the middle seat in the seven-seater, converting the Odyssey into a two-seater van.Power was from a 2.2-litre single overhead cam fuel-injected four-cylinder engine in those first vehicles. It was the smallest engine in the peoplemover class, but was smooth and quiet in normal circumstances, and provided adequate if not neck-snapping performance.Power was initially 104 kW and 196 Nm, but a small increase in capacity in 1998 saw that jump to 110 kW and 209 Nm.A smooth four-speed auto was the only transmission available.While the Odyssey was a clever piece of packaging it was the way it drove that impressed both road testers and buyers at the time. Its ride comfort was exemplary, as was its handling and performance.There was nothing lacking in the list of features either, the Odyssey came standard with airbags for the driver and passenger, it had dual-zone air-conditioning, ABS, power windows and mirrors, power steering, tilt column, radio cassette sound, central locking and alloy wheels.Cruise control became standard fitment along with 13-spoke alloy wheels in March 1996, the time the seven-seater arrived.IN THE SHOPVery good build quality equates to a reliable run in the case of Honda generally, and that goes for the Odyssey.The Odyssey’s power train, from engine right on through is pretty much bullet proof so there’s not much to worry about there, but it’s still worthwhile asking for a service record to verify that it has been serviced, preferably by a Honda dealer or specialist.The size of the Honda and the difficulty in judging where the corners are means it’s worth taking a close look at the body extremities for damage, even minor, as it can be quite expensive to repair even small scars on the body coloured bumpers and side protection strips. And those scars, minor as they might be, can strip thousands of dollars from the resale price, and create doubt in the minds of potential buyers about the use a vehicle has been subjected to.Also look carefully at the alloy wheels for damage caused by hitting kerbs, again by drivers unable to come to grips with the Odyssey’s size. If the wheels are damaged check for damage to the suspension and underbody.Body tends to stand up well over the long term, staying tight and rattle-free, while high quality of plastics inside mean the interior also stands up well under the relentless attack of even our junior citizens.OWNER’S SAYCharlie Strike bought his ’98 Odyssey in 2000 with 30,000 km on the odo, and has since added another 90,000 mostly troublefree kilometres. Apart from regularly having to wheel align it, he says because of the nose-in parking in the north-west of NSW, and repairing body damage sustained in seven collisions with kangaroos he’s had no problems with it. He praises its ride comfort and fuel economy, but is critical of its flow thru ventilation, which only seems to deliver air heated by the engine.LOOK FOR• good resale value means a good return when you sell• Honda build quality means few problems down the road• good ride and handling a great leap forward for people movers• small engine means good fuel consumption without losing much performance• flexible interior can be used to kids or cargo

Walking hunched over, arms folded and head tilted toward the ground along the main street of St Helens, the wind whistling off Georges Bay locked on as if it had teeth.To a local it wasn't hard to see that this group was alien to the area.After a leisurely 200km on day one of a six-day driving odyssey, it was time to pull in for the night and soothe our frozen souls with some fine local produce."Where are you people from?" the bloke at the hotel asks."Queensland. Gee it's a bit nippy around here buddy," came the reply."Oh believe me you have struck some magic weather. Doesn't get much better," he fired back with a chuckle.Settling in for the night after a hearty serving of local fried scallops washed down with a few glasses of pinot noir, we came to thinking the guy behind the bar might have a point.The rest of the trip was about 24C in the sun, albeit quite cool in the shade particularly when the breeze sprang up.Wind battered the St Helens hotel all night long, then ran out of puff as if on cue for our 8am departure the next day.The two couples and Maximilian, who turns five in a couple of weeks, piled into the Honda Odyssey ready to tackle another chunk of the A3 south.The pretty seaside town of Bicheno loomed up by morning tea.Not long before rolling into this corking seaside village, Max peered wide-eyed from his snug seat in the third row, mouthing the obligatory words: "Are we there yet?"Bicheno, a postcard perfect place which makes Noosa look pale, was one of several places marked on our Hema road map by V8 Supercar driver and Tasmanian-born Marcos Ambrose.What a lot of people may not realise is that Ambrose is a walking, talking encyclopedia when it comes to the northeast of the state, particularly on areas such as the Ben Lomond national park.And his knowledge goes far deeper than merely pointing out certain places on the map and in which order to see things.He knows a lot of the history, the stories behind obscure little places to the point where he would make a tour guide green with envy.Little Maxie's protest thinly veiled as a question near Bicheno, came after 250km, which started the day before in Launceston.That's good control by any kid's standard and, we figured, a fair indication of the Odyssey's comfort levels.Loaded with five people and eight pieces of luggage of varying sizes and shapes, the Odyssey remained cool and calm, its four-cylinder heart surprisingly not giving out too much protest at the extra weight.There has been a lingering question in motoring circles as to how this 2.4-litre, 118kW four-cylinder Odyssey would perform when loaded with people and gear.This trip has surely answered it.On some climbs the Odyssey started to pant and puff but click the dash-mounted gear lever into sequential, drop a couple of cogs and it can overcome most altitude challenges.More importantly, the comfort level for all occupants, including the little bloke, was five-star.Back on day one Max protested sternly, "but I don't want to ride in the boot," referring to the third row which has split-fold rear seats.By day six you couldn't keep him out of the rear. The Odyssey maintains a silky ride, damping out most imperfections with ease.Leaving the A3 about 15 minutes' drive south of Bicheno, the Odyssey headed down the C302 for the 27km drive into Coles Bay.This sleepy hamlet is the gateway to one of the world's most scenic places, the Freycinet Peninsula.After lunching at the Freycinet Lodge it was time to rejoin the A3 south.The Odyssey's fuel light illuminated after about 500km, not bad mileage considering it was fully loaded.There were more kilometres to be tackled before this day was out as Sorell was the target town by early evening.Winging it for accommodation, the trip struck a submerged log.Sorell, under 30km to the east of Hobart was full up, and it just happened to be the night the Socceroos's date with destiny was booked against Uruguay.Hobart and its surrounds were booked, choked with people attending the Apple Isle's capital for the cricket Test against the West Indies and a tourism conference.B&Bs were full and approaching 6pm on a night of World Cup significance, Max was asking, "Are we at our hotel yet?".No bed, no TV and no hotel.Bugger! Make that a double bugger as the situation was critical.Just when things were looking grim, the Carlton River B&B (about 20 minutes from Sorell), a quaint place off the beaten track, proved to be our saviour for the night.Owner David Siepen, a personality in the Hobart food scene, built a Spanish-style terracotta two-storey home with a wide-water vista near the site of the original Carlton post office, the dilapidated remains of which stand about 100m from the house.He had accommodation which was so good that it formed our base for the next two nights.Carlton River is out of the way, off the A9 which is the major route to Port Arthur, and the road into David's place is scenic if not a little tricky with big sections of unsealed roads but the reward at the end is a warm place with a superb host.A bit of gravel driving in and out of Carlton River for two days was a sound test for the Odyssey, which remained planted and rode sweetly along rough and loose surfaces.Returning to Carlton River after a trip to Port Arthur, the Odyssey tackled its most challenging climb near Eaglehawk Neck.It struggled to do the speed limit in D for drive but found fresh legs in sequential mode.The next day the Odyssey trekked into Hobart, pottering around Constitution Dock, Sandy Bay and Battery Point before tackling the steep, steep, winding climb to Mt Wellington.It was a low-grip day, cold and wet and one of the rear tyres on the Odyssey was not the best, the outer edge worn smooth.Even so, the car remained firm and sound, a bit of under-steer here and there but otherwise quite diligent in trying conditions.Saturday was the designated no-driving day.Everyone was sorted. The girls and Max went to Salamanca Markets and the boys went to the Test at Bellerive.Funny how timing is everything.On day six, the Odyssey pointed toward Richmond and crossed the oldest bridge in the country, which looks as sturdy as it most probably did when it was built in 1823.And after eventually linking up with the Midlands Highway north toward the starting and finishing point of Launceston, the Odyssey motored along quietly and without a whimper.Comfort, space and economy were the fondest memories of a likeable chariot after 1300km of touring around a big chunk of one of Australia's most stunning landscapes.

What better voyage home than in the one car – all seven – for a post-party odyssey?Two of the more petite in our gang took the back seat but all passengers declared it a comfortable ride, with superlatives about leather, leg room and comfort embellished only slightly by the party mood.A true testament of this tardis-like vehicle – the latest model is shorter on the outside but larger on the inside – is that it doesn't look like a people mover. Lord knows how they manage to tuck the 2.4-litre engine neatly away but it certainly responds when it's asked to, and handles smoothly and reliably.With more utility than a Swiss army knife, Odyssey stored the back seats away with the push of a button, leaving roomy wagon space for pram, portable cot and numerous shopping bags the next day.Wide, too, with baby seat and two generous derrieres easily able to sit together on the back seat.Parallel parking is challenging but wide windows allow for easy panoramic vision when reversing.I chose full automatic mode but for drivers wanting more performance, the Odyssey has a five-speed gear-shift option.There's nothing lacking on the features front – leather upholstery, split airconditioning for front and rear, sunroof, vanity mirrors with lights, sunglasses holders and cup holders galore.Honda designers' only fogy faux pas is the plastic walnut wood-grain trim – perhaps an acquired taste.I do find it amusing that TV ads for this car try to sell it as sexy. The scene of a parental couple pashing in the front seat while their wide-eyed children stare on in disbelief is supposed to show just how arousing the style and feel of the car can be.Why do advertisers try to convey the impossible, or is this possibly packed with irony?From where I stand, the Odyssey is all about being sensible, not sensual, from the low chassis clearance to its very unsporty length.After all, it's what the rapidly procreating generation Xers want these days, isn't it?Honda, already with its own hybrid model on the road, heads down the green path, with Odyssey classed as a "low emissions" car.While I'm not quite sure what this means, fuel economy on this four-cylinder car seems good.I got one week's worth of baby ferrying and work commuting done on half a tank of petrol.The only disappointment with Honda's clever people mover was the look on the birthday boy's face when we cleared the dance floor in one swift manoeuvre.