Better than: Most SUVs for most people's needs
But not as good as: A magic carpet
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 51.73
Wanna hear a funny story? Whenever a new Honda Odyssey shows up at GRM World HQ, staff members quickly put their quarter on the machine, eager to reserve it for a night. That trend has continued.
The Odyssey has been redone for 2011. The new van is lower and wider than its predecessor; among the advantages are better fuel economy and a more efficient use of interior space.
Our test subject was the new Touring Elite model, basically the super-loaded version of the van. It adds a 12-speaker sound system, auto-leveling HID headlights, blind spot info system, HDMI input and 16.2-inch rear entertainment system to an already posh package. (The leather-trimmed interior, 18x7-inch wheels, and USB inputs, for example, are available on "lesser" models.)
In typical Honda fashion, this one doesn't have much in the way of individual options. Our window sticker didn't list any, as just destination and handling raised the MSRP to the total vehicle price.
Wow---if every model change could be this effective with so few downsides, cars would already be totally perfect by now. After two years in a 2009 Odyssey, I was pleased to see very thorough, yet subtle changes to an already great platform. Things like the inside "kid" mirror that allows you to see your kids in the back seats. It's not changed—it's subtley improved so that you can see both seats equally, not just the seat on the right.
Overall, I really am interested in this new Odyssey bodystyle and will probably buy one in a few years.
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