2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite - Four Seasons Introduction
By Jennifer Misaros
Due to the ever-growing popularity of crossovers and sport-utility vehicles in America -- there are about 90 currently for sale in the U.S. -- many automakers have chosen to drop minivans from their lineups, leaving only seven manufacturers to duke it out in the small but competitive segment. It's even more competitive now, since Chrysler, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota each introduced all-new or significantly revised minivans for 2011. After driving the all-new Odyssey last fall, we decided that it was an obvious choice to receive one of our ten coveted 2011 All-Star awards. The true test of a vehicle's fitness, though, is putting it through the rigors of daily life, and so we welcome a Black Cherry 2011 Honda Odyssey into our Four Seasons test fleet to see how it fares in a year of heavy use and tough scrutiny by our staff.
The Odyssey's sole engine choice is a carryover 3.5-liter V-6 that was mildly revised for 2011, increasing output to 248 hp. Despite the bump in power, standard cylinder deactivation combined with a new six-speed automatic transmission helps the Odyssey achieve a best-in-class, 19/28 city/highway fuel economy rating. We wanted to test this impressive rating in the real world, so the six-speed was a must on our Odyssey. This narrowed our choices down to the highest two trims. Since the top-spec minivan also added a few must-have features, we decided on the Touring Elite with the base price of $44,030.
Over forty-grand for a minivan could be tough to justify, but the Touring Elite comes standard with nearly every convenience and infotainment option available on the Odyssey. Topping the list of entertainment features is a 650-watt audio system that includes twelve speakers and surround sound and a rear-seat, 16.2-inch widescreen monitor that is capable of displaying video from two different sources side-by-side. The system also includes an HDMI input allowing cameras and even some gaming consoles to be connected. But rear passengers don't get all the goodies; those relegated to the front seat have an extensive list of electronics at their fingertips. An 8-inch multimedia screen displays turn-by-turn navigation, rear-view camera images, and, when linked to a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, caller information. The system can be operated in three ways: using a dial located on the central dash, steering wheel mounted controls, or through voice commands.
The system also includes a 15GB hard drive where up to 3500 songs can be stored and controlled via voice commands or through the central control dial. And should all that voice-commanding give driver or passenger a dry throat, a cool beverage is always within reach from the refrigerator located at the bottom of the center instrument panel. The center console between the front seats is also fully configurable or completely removable.
In fact, with seats that slide, flip, fold, or completely disappear, the entire interior of the Odyssey is infinitely configurable to accommodate up to eight passengers-including the ability to hold three child seats in the second-row, a class-first-or up to 148.5 cubic feet of cargo. And in traditional Honda style, no matter where those passengers decide to sit, there is a three-point seatbelt or a LATCH system (five total in the rear two rows), as well as a full array of front, side, and side curtain airbags to keep them safe. We look forward to a year stuffing the Odyssey with kids, dogs, and stuff and hitting the road to test its proficiency as a utilitarian and family-friendly vehicle. Won't you join us?
2011 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING ELITE
Base price (with dest.): $44,030
As tested: $44,613
OVERVIEW
Body style: 5-door minivan
Accommodation: 8 passenger
Construction: Unibody construction
POWERTRAIN
Engine: 24-valve SOHC in-line V-6
Displacement: 3.5 liters (3471 cu in)
Power: 248 hp @ 5700 rpm
Torque: 250 lb-ft @ 4800
Transmission type: 6-speed automatic
Drive : Front-wheel
EPA Fuel Economy: 19/28/22 (city/hwy/combined)
CHASSIS
Steering: Electrically assisted
Lock-to-lock: N/A
Turning circle: N/A
Suspension, front: Strut-type, coil springs
Suspension, rear: Multilink, coil springs
Brakes f/r: Power-assisted vented disc brakes; ABS
Wheels: 18-inch aluminum alloy
Tires: Michelin Primacy MXv4 all-season
Tire size: 235/60 R18
MEASUREMENTS
Headroom f/m/r: 38.3/38.8/38.0 in
Legroom f/m/r: 40.9/40.9/42.4 in
Shoulder room f/m/r: 64.4/63.5/60.9 in
Wheelbase: 99.6 in
Track f/r: 68.1/68.2 in
L x W x H: 202.9 x 68.4 x 79.2 in
Passenger capacity: 170.1 cu ft
Cargo capacity: 38.4/93.1/148.5 cu ft (behind third/middle/first row)
Weight: 4560 lb
Weight dist. f/r: 56/44%
Fuel capacity: 21.0 gal
Est. fuel range: N/A miles
Fuel grade: 87 octane (regular unleaded)
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
3.5L V-6 engine
6-speed automatic transmission
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
Traction control system (TCS)
Electronic brake force distribution (EBD)
4-wheel Antilock Braking (ABS)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Blind-spot Information System (BSI)
Front and rear parking sensors
650-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with 12-speakers and subwoofer
MP3/Auxiliary jack
USB audio interface
MP3 CD-ROM playback capability
Navigation with voice recognition and multi-view rear camera
16.2" DVD rear entertainment system w/ HDMI and wireless headsets
XM Satellite radio
Bluetooth
Hard disk drive
115-volt power outlet
12-volt power outlets
Multi-function steering wheel
Tilt/telescope steering column
Tri-zone automatic climate control
10-way power driver's seat with memory
4-way power passenger seat
Heated front seats
60/40 split 3rd-row seat that folds into floor
Multi-function 2nd-row center seat
Power windows, locks
Second- and third-row sunshades
Exterior temperature gauge
Power moonroof, with tilt
18-inch allow wheels
Dual power sliding doors
Power tailgate
Auto-leveling HID headlights
Heated power-door mirrors
OPTIONS
Roof rails, $210
Cross bars, $373
Credit: Automobile Magazine (www.automobilemag.com)
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