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The Honda Odyssey was once famed for flying in the face of the notion of the ubiquitous people mover – until the most recent version that launched in 2014, that is.
The Odyssey now features sliding rear doors and a seven or eight seat configuration, with the seven seater offering separate reclining bucket seats for the second row. Those seats even slide fore and aft, and contain a pop-out footrest. Both the Odyssey VIL7 and the Odyssey Vilx7 use the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine/CVT auto combo driving the front wheels. They are priced at $40,810 and $55,440 respectively.
The issue of a lack of performance from the Honda’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine is one that has been noted in the past, David. It stems not from the fact that it’s a four-cylinder, rather the way it has been tuned and specified at the factory. Like a lot of Honda engines, the engine was designed to deliver good horsepower and high revs and, while that makes for a sporty feel in the right car, it does nothing for the Odyssey’s role as a people-mover.
The root problem here is that the engine is tuned to make its maximum torque (the force that actually accelerates the car) at 4000rpm. Combine that with the odd nature of the standard CVT transmission and you had a recipe for a car that could feel quite lethargic around town. Throw in a full complement of six bodies and their luggage, and things only got worse.
Unfortunately, there’s no real way around this. You could have the engine retuned with an aftermarket chip in the computer, but it may not do very much except increase fuel consumption. At that same time, you could wave goodbye to any remaining factory warranty as it applied to the driveline. Manufacturers don’t like customers tinkering with that stuff and will usually claim that the modifications contributed to the mechanical failure.
All that being said, I have heard of people `chipping’ the Odyssey’s engine. But of all the examples I’ve seen, the net gain was just 11 or 12 or so kiloWatts; not enough to warrant the cost or transform the vehicle in any major way. Even then, I’d imagine the extra power to be high in the rev range, not down low where you want it.
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The cost to replace your key fob will depend on how old the vehicle is and where you get it done. An automotive locksmith might be cheaper than a dealer but you'll need the spare. You can read more about how to replace your car keys here.
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Honda hasn’t sold a 3.0-litre Odyssey here since 2004, it has used a 2.4-litre engine since then. If you really want a 3.0-litre one your $15,000 will buy the best one on the market and leave you with a pocket full of change.
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The Honda Odyssey offers seating for seven passengers in 2021, as the eight-seat option has now been discontinued.
The arrangement is 2+2+3, with the second-row featuring plush captain's chairs, and the third-row being a bench seat.
The Honda Odyssey is fitted with some nice interior appointments, such as comfortable seats and soft-touch dashboard materials.
The higher-spec Vi LX7 also scores woodgrain dashboard accents and plush leather-appointed seats for all three rows.
Standard equipment on the 2021 Honda Odyssey includes an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a new multi-function steering wheel.
Base grades are fitted with climate control, but the higher-spec Vi LX7 scores three-zone climate control with a rear control panel.
LED headlights are also featured in the update, while wheels measure 17 inches in all grades.
The Honda Odyssey can swallow 322 litres (VDA) of volume with all seven seats in place, expanding to 1725L with the third-row seat folded away.
Honda has not provided a 0-100km/h acceleration time for the 2021 Odyssey, but expect a figure of around 12 seconds.