2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite - Four Seasons Update - June 2011
By Jennifer Misaros
Photography by Matt Tierney
Miles to date: 5,222
Months in service: 2
The Odyssey has been with us for a couple months now and our editors have begun to weigh in on its functionality and design. It's been enlisted as a cargo carrier for numerous errands and chores including duty as a work van for DIY home improvement projects, where the reconfigurable seats have come in handy. The third-row bench, which Honda calls a "Magic seat," folds flat into the floor, a common feature in modern minivans, but what sets this one apart is how effortless it is. "Honda's fold-flat third-row seat is arguably one of the easiest to use," commented assistant web producer Evan McCausland, who used the Odyssey to transport a door and several sheets of drywall. "It's literally a one step process; yank firmly on the release strap and continue to pull it towards you until the seat tumbles into the floor in one fell swoop." Senior web editor Phil Floraday, added that it's also nearly as easy to pull the seat back out of the floor and restore it to its upright position when the cargo is removed or when more people room is needed.
Minivans are rarely credited with being stylish or fashionable but, as evidenced by the company's recent racy ad campaign that portrays the vehicle as an object of desire, Honda is hoping to change that with the redesigned 2011 Odyssey. Staff opinions on the exterior styling range from "dynamic" and "futuristic" to "overstyled" and "busy," but most agree that, if nothing else, the Odyssey's new design makes it stand out in the minivan crowd. Copy editor Rusty Blackwell was the first to come to the defense of the controversial zigzag rear windowline and art director Matt Tierney agreed, but he went on to say: "I like the Odyssey's stylized look, but I think the concept version was better. I wish the inset door handles, which created a seamless, smooth side surface, had been preserved in the production model. It was one of the most striking details."
Looks aside, the versatile and entertainment-packed Honda is sure to become a coveted vehicle as the summer travel season gets into full swing. Check back for our latest adventures in the Odyssey.
2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
Base price (with dest.): $44,030
As tested: $44,613
OVERVIEW
Body style 4-door minivan
Accommodation 8 passenger
Construction Unibody construction
POWERTRAIN
Engine 24-valve SOHC V-6
Displacement 3.5 liters (212 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 Hydraulically assisted
Lock-to-lock 3.5
Turning circle 36.7 ft
Suspension, front Strut-type, coil springs
Suspension, rear Multilink, coil springs
Brakes f/r Vented disc brakes; ABS
Wheels 18-inch aluminum alloy
Tires Michelin Primacy MXv4 all-season
Tire size 235/60TR18
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 118.1 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 460 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
Satellite radio
Bluetooth
Hard disk drive
115-volt power outlet
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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