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Don’t let the Nissan Quest’s styling or the Mazda MPV’s
zoom-zoom marketing and size fool you, the Odyssey is the sportiest current
minivan. It is quick and nimble, and has the rare quality of steering feel in
this class. However, it doesn’t feel as much like a luxury vehicle as some
competitors do, which is arguably more important than a sporty personality in
a $30,000 minivan. It isn’t a soft-riding or quiet as some of the others here,
and the interior isn’t as nice. To those uninterested in steering feedback,
the Odyssey will feel a bit rough around the edges for its $33,000 price tag.
But while it may not be the most smooth, quiet, or luxurious, it isn’t a
failure in any of those areas. Consider then its spacious and comfortable
interior and class-leading fuel economy, and it’s a solid choice.
The Odyssey’s ride is firmer than most competitors, and the
run-flat tires standard on the Touring model can make it feel almost harsh
over poor pavement. But it absorbs small bumps very well, and is composed on
smooth highways. This suspension tuning makes the Odyssey feel far nimbler
than its exterior dimensions suggest, feeling more like a good midsize sedan
even than a good minivan. The steering is quick, responsive, and even
communicative, making it the most fun-to-drive minivan. Acceleration is
class-leading, and the standard 3.5-liter V6 is smooth and quiet. Wind noise
is well-suppressed, though road noise is audible, especially with the
Touring’s run-flats. High end Odysseys have a cylinder-deactivation system
that gives the van the best gas mileage in this group.
Inside, the Odyssey's front seats are large, firm,
well-shaped, and very comfortable. The second row is even more so, and quite
roomy. The third row, while roomy enough, is too hard (though not unusually so
for a minivan). The third row folds in two pieces into a cargo well behind it.
Cargo space is impressive. The dash uses
high-quality materials that fit together well, but the Odyssey lacks the
luxury look and feel that is expected at a $33,000 price point. The gauges are
large and clear, and instruments are well laid-out, easy to find and use. The
driver sits very comfortably, and has good visibility. Entry/exit is easy to
all three rows of seats.
The Odyssey has done very well in crash testing. It earned
five stars for both the driver and for the front passenger in the NHTSA
frontal crash test, as well as five stars for the driver and five for the
second-row passenger in the NHTSA side crash test, no doubt helped by its
standard side airbags. NHTSA also estimated that the Odyssey has only a 14%
chance of rollover in a single vehicle accident, good for a four-star rating.
The IIHS awarded the vehicle a rating of Good in both its offset and side
crash tests, but its head restraints were only Marginal.
The Odyssey reviewed here came in at $32,980, the most
expensive van here except for the 2007 Nissan. That price buys a van with
every option but a navigation system, including a front and rear obstacle
detection system, a tri-zone automatic climate control system with rear
controls, power-down second row windows, a memory system for the driver’s
seat, and second-row sunshades.
Overall, the Odyssey not only has the distinction of being
the most fun-to-drive minivan, but it is also is quite roomy, comfortable, and
refined. But it’s not the luxury car that it should be at its price point.
It’s definitely worth a strong look if price is not an issue, and the
refinement level is sufficient, and it’s worth an even stronger look if
driving enjoyment is a factor. The Odyssey is a very competitive van, but it’s
not the class leader.
NEXT: 2nd Place
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