Cars.com Names Honda Odyssey the Ultimate Minivan

CHICAGO, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com, an online resource for new and used car buyers, announced today that the Honda Odyssey is the winner of its first-ever Ultimate Minivan Shootout. The site took six redesigned 2011 minivans under $45,000 and put them through a series of rigorous head-to-head challenges to determine which one was the best of the pack. The 2011 Honda Odyssey took the title for its styling, comfort and overall ride.

"Minivans haven't always been so cool; in fact, some car shoppers have shied away from them," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's editor-in-chief. "The reality is that today's minivans are sleek, practical and drive very well, which fulfills the needs of many families. Looking at the Honda Odyssey, its overall package of innovative features, design and a great ride propelled it ahead of its competitors. The $42,000 price tag might seem steep, but the features that the consumer gets for that money are unbeatable."

Cars.com, USA Today, Motorweek and an Atlanta-area family of five tested the vehicles over a period of three days. The first day consisted of 175 miles of highway driving to determine the true gas mileage for each van. On the second day, the experts took turns driving each of the six minivans evaluating ride, comfort, handling, style and functionality. On the final day, the local family evaluated the minivans from a car shopper's perspective to determine which features and design aspects were most important to them.

"We wanted to put these minivans through real-life tests with input not just from the experts but from a family with children," said Olsen. "This shootout takes into consideration the important insight of what the family thought was a good minivan and which one truly met their needs, because their opinions are important and reflect what all minivan shoppers would want."

Vans tested in the Cars.com Ultimate Minivan Shootout included the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country priced at $40,835, the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan priced at $34,055, the 2011 Honda Odyssey priced at $42,250, the 2011 Nissan Quest priced at $38,040, the 2011 Toyota Sienna priced at $41,144, and the 2011 Volkswagen Routan priced at $34,750.

ABOUT CARS.COM
Cars.com was recently named the "Best Overall Customer Experience" by Keynote Systems, the world's leading Internet usage research company. Cars.com is an online destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With price listings, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Source;
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carscom-names-honda-odyssey-the-ultimate-minivan-122436373.html

Globe and Mail: The gold standard for minivans, from the inside out

JEREMY CATO
Globe and Mail Update

First, a few words about the flip-up trash ring. It is ingenious and yet so simple: a small ring attached to the centre stack, it pops into a hoop perfect for fitting a typical plastic grocery bag.

You’ll find it in the 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan. Minivans, of course, are for family road trips where trash collects like dust balls under your sofa. In the Odyssey, it collects in the hanging trash bag, rather than all over everywhere. Why didn’t some other auto maker think of this?
Honda did, and it also thought about loading up the Odyssey’s cabin with cubbies for organizing all the junk minivan users collect. Over there you’ll find little slots, over here useful crannies and big drop-down holders litter the insides.

As you might expect, we’re going to focus this discussion about the new Odyssey from the inside out. Yes, the Odyssey delivers a fantastic ride, passes every safety crash test with flying colours, provides an excellent resale value, has a smooth engine with lots of power and even is relatively fuel-efficient.

But none of that matters if the minivan fundamentals are lacking. By that I mean, a minivan is first and foremost a kind of garage/family room/kitchen on wheels. A great minivan is durable and reliable – expect to find those qualities in the Odyssey – while also practical and useful for active families who need a kind of Swiss Army knife of a ride.

So even though I find the exterior design of the 2011 Odyssey bizarre in the extreme, I love everything else about it. The exterior styling is weird, for sure, but the Odyssey still is the gold standard of minivans. And with the pricing starting at $29,990, it is not obscenely out of reach for most families – unless you want the $46,990 Touring version.

But I digress.

Let’s put the spotlight on the seats. Fantastic. The fronts are thickly and firmly padded and if you can’t find a comfortable position you either have oddball dimensions or you haven’t tried hard enough. After hours and hours on the road you should arrive relaxed, with no complaints from your legs and back.

The passengers in back should have no complaints, either. The second and third rows are nearly as comfortable as the fronts. They provide lots of leg room for adults or kids.

Speaking of kids, if you have an infant in a baby seat, the second row allows you to pull the centre section forward to within easy reach. Moms and dads can tend to little ones without unbuckling. How clever is that?

At the very back, the fold-flat third row opens up cargo space for luggage or other stuff. Yes, you can fold up the second row if you need a panel truck for hauling home stuff from the building supply store.

Alas, all is not perfect. For such a clever company, Honda has trouble creating simple navigation systems. The Odyssey’s is overly complicated, in fact. Why, for instance, are points of interest listed by distance, instead of placing an icon on the map?

And another thing: why is the 110-volt outlet in the third row? Who at Honda thinks it’s a good idea to stretch power cords across the minivan if someone further forward wants to plug in a computer? Moreover, if you have a grounded plug, bring your adapter; the outlet is a two-pronged design.

I’d like to say that driving the Odyssey makes up for the missing ground plug and the not entirely simple navi. So I will. Minivans do not get any better than this. The ride is quiet and comfortable and the 248-horsepower V-6 has lots of muscle.

Not to be overlooked is Honda’s variable cylinder management system. It saves fuel by turning off two or three cylinders when they are not needed. I defy you to identify when these transitions are occurring. Honda’s engineers are so, so clever.

The top-of-the-line Touring model, with the six-speed automatic transmission (versus five-speed in lesser versions) is rated at 10.9 litres/100 km in the city, 7.1 highway, using regular gas. Not bad, given it weighs a portly 2,070 km.

It really is a shame that such a well-packaged, powerful, handy-to-drive van looks like this. Who exactly came up with this lightning bolt beltline? And exactly why did Honda drop the third-row window? Frankly, this minivan looks like it was styled by engineers rather than artists.

The good news is that the Odyssey is wide and lower and long and thus it is roomy and comfortable. This minivan is so good in so many thoroughly practical ways, it’s easy to overlook the grafted-on look of the side doors and that lightning bolt thing.

If you want a minivan that is durable, reliable, safe and as entertaining to drive as a minivan can be, if you want a van with the best acceleration in its class and shortest stopping distance, then that’s the Odyssey.

And did I mention the flip-up trash thing? Brilliant.

Tech specs
2011 Honda Odyssey Touring
Type: Minivan
Price: $46,990 ($1,590 freight)
Engine: 3.5-litre V-6
Horsepower/torque: 248 hp/250 lb-ft
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Drive: Front-wheel
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 10.9 city/7.1 highway; regular gas

Alternatives: Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Mazda5, Kia Sedona, Volkswagen Routan

Source;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/reviews/the-gold-standard-for-minivans-from-the-inside-out/article2021586/print/

Car and Driver: 2011 Chrysler Town & Country vs. Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna - Comparison Tests

Really comprehensive article with a ton of pics (follow the links) that take you right there....
Family Planning: Minivans throw fashion to the wind. But nothing can match their kid-hauling utility.
BY MICHAEL AUSTIN, PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC URBANO April 2011

Guess what? Minivans are still uncool. Automakers know this. Even the latest ads for the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna acknowledge the squareness of the segment. Sales have stabilized at about 500,000 units per year since tragically hip moms and dads fled to crossovers.

As a mature segment with little potential for growth, minivans are getting comfortable with their squareness. For evidence, we direct your attention to the new Nissan Quest, which not only acknowledges its one-box silhouette but drapes a metaphorical trench coat over the whole thing.
So minivans are cool with being uncool. Can we move on? The premise remains the same as before: Maximize people and cargo space, and forget about the styling. Driving dynamics get second billing. The point is to get you and your kids (or, for aging boomers, your dogs) to and from every destination with the least amount of hassle and the most comfort.

The newest in our assembled quartet is the Nissan Quest, back after a two-year hiatus. Now based on the company’s D platform (shared with the Altima, Maxima, and Murano), the Quest is similar to the Japanese-market Elgrand. For 2011, the Chrysler Town & Country (and its sibling, the Dodge Grand Caravan) gets freshened exterior and interior styling, a retuned suspension, and—most important—a new 283-hp V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic, which replaces all three previous powertrain offerings.

The Odyssey and the Sienna are also new for the 2011 model year, but both offer carry-over engines lashed to new six-speed automatics (available only in Touring trim on the Honda).

There’s a lot of common ground among this set. All four are powered by 24-valve V-6 engines, with only 35 horsepower separating the strongest (Chrysler) from the weakest (Honda). In the top-of-the-line trims we specified for our test group, each minivan comes with power side doors and a power rear hatch. They all offer some sort of flat load floor when the seats are folded and/or removed.

It’s worth noting that although the vans tested here all ring in at about $40,000, each can be had for closer to $30,000. The price of the Sienna, the highest in this test, drops as low as $25,370 for a base four-cylinder model.

In light of the targeted use of these vehicles, we focused on the passenger compartments as much as we did on behind-the-wheel impressions. We watched Team America: World Police multiple times in an effort to evaluate the rear-seat entertainment systems. We also wore a pregnancy-simulation vest while examining each minivan for ease of child-seat installation. And yes, we left some small part of our dignity behind these sliding doors.

4th Place: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited
Highs: Barcalounger second-row seat, two glove boxes, parking-lot friendly.
Lows: Cheesy-looking fake wood, light on refinement, bland as a Camry.
The Verdict: Looks great on paper but fails to inspire in person.
Full review of the Toyota;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_toyota_sienna_limited_page_2

3rd Place: 2011 Nissan Quest LE
Highs: Funky styling, tight turning radius, comfortable front seats.
Lows: Low-rent center-console plastics, only one 12-volt power port in front.
The Verdict: Not the Holy Grail of minivans but headed in the right direction.

For the full review on the Nissan;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_nissan_quest_le_page_3

2nd Place: 2011 Chrysler Town & Country Limited
Highs: Sporty steering, balanced chassis, high level of refinement.
Lows: Underwhelming engine power, dowdy exterior styling.
The Verdict: Chrysler fixed everything that was wrong and kept everything that was right.

For the full review on the Dodge;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_chrysler_town_26_country_limited_page_4

1st Place: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
Highs: Excellent ergonomics, seating for eight, trick folding third row.
Lows: Slow and numb steering, contrived exterior styling.
The Verdict: Good for drivers, great for passengers.

For the full review on the Honda;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_honda_odyssey_touring_elite_page_5

2011 Honda Odyssey Achieves Historic Safety Milestone

Odyssey becomes the only minivan to earn top U.S. safety ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA under more-stringent testing guidelines

MARKHAM, ON, March 22 /CNW/ - The 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan achieved a historic safety milestone, becoming the first and only minivan to earn the highest possible U.S. safety ratings from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under their respective more-stringent testing guidelines. No other minivan this year has received both a 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK award from IIHS and an "Overall Vehicle Score1" of five stars from NHTSA.

The Odyssey was recently named a 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK from IIHS, the U.S.-based institute's highest honour. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting vehicle occupants involved in front, side and rear crashes, plus rollover performance based on ratings in IIHS tests, as well as having a standard electronic stability control system. The Odyssey earned the highest-possible score of GOOD in all four ratings, including the more rigorous roof-strength test.

In addition to earning the TOP SAFETY PICK designation, the Odyssey was one of the first vehicles to achieve NHTSA's best-possible "Overall Vehicle Score" of five stars. The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the U.S. government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to 2011 models. The Odyssey achieved its top "Overall Vehicle Score" with five-star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios. The Odyssey also received four stars for the rollover rating3.

All 2011 Odyssey vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.

Overall, the Odyssey improves for the 2011 model year with greater interior functionality, a more distinctive style and higher fuel economy. Significant enhancements to the interior include a new 3-mode second-row seat design that is more comfortable for centre passengers (Odyssey EX and above). A more powerful and efficient 3.5-litre i-VTEC V-6 engine features Variable Cylinder Management (standard on all models for 2011) and produces 248 hp while delivering a city/highway/combined fuel economy of 11.7/7.2/9.7 on the LX, EX and EX-L models and 10.9/7.1/9.2 mpg on Odyssey Touring models.

New technology available on certain models includes a rear entertainment system with a 16.2-inch ultrawide split-screen display and an auxiliary High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video input, an "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with customizable wallpaper and much more.

The 2011 Odyssey is truly a North American-made vehicle - designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama using domestic and globally sourced parts.

# # #

Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact air bags (SABs). Vehicles tested under this program cannot be compared to model-year 2010 and earlier vehicles. Ratings can only be compared with similar ratings on model year 2011 and later vehicles if rated under the new program.

Includes a new, additional test mode for side-pole impact.
Vehicle tested includes electronic stability control as standard equipment, branded as Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) on Honda and Acura vehicles.

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2011/22/c5464.html

IIHS awards Top Safety Pick to 2011 Honda Odyssey, GM Lambda CUVs

Honda minivan and 3 large GM SUV models earn 2011 Top Safety Pick award
After earning the top rating of good for roof strength, the Honda Odyssey minivan, and 3 large GM SUVs (GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Buick Enclave) become the latest 2011 Top Safety Pick winners. The Odyssey is the second minivan to earn Top Safety Pick since the Institute tightened the criteria to include good performance for roof strength in rollover crashes (the other is the Toyota Sienna). These vehicles earlier earned good ratings for front, side, and rear crash protection.

In the latest tests, the roof of the Odyssey withstood a force more than 5 times the minivan's weight. The Acadia's roof withstood a force equal to 4 times weight. By comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight. Top Safety Pick only applies to Acadia, Traverse, and Enclave models manufactured after January 2011, because GM made running changes to improve roof strength for these models.

In addition to good crash test ratings in all 4 Institute tests, award winners must have electronic stability control (ESC), an important crash-avoidance feature.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/12/iihs-awards-top-safety-pick-to-2011-honda-odyssey-gm-lambda-cuv/#continued

Next Gen Honda Odyssey for Japan

The Honda Odyssey is a smaller van in Japan, much in the same vein as the old 1995-1998 Honda Odyssey that was here in North America. This was taken from a MagX (Japanese auto mag) cover. Anyway, not coming here, but nice to see none the less.

Source;
http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/scoop-on-new-jdm-honda-odyssey.html

2011 Honda Odyssey Earns Best-Possible 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in More-Stringent Federal Government Crash Test Safety Rating Program

01/27/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
The all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) best-possible Overall Vehicle Score1 of five stars and is one of the first two vehicles ever to earn five stars in each seating position for all three crash tests, each crash test category and the overall rating, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Odyssey joins the 2011 Accord Sedan as one of the few vehicles to date that achieves the federal government's best-possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score and five stars in the combined frontal and side crash safety ratings.

The Odyssey achieved its top Overall Vehicle Score with five-star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios. Additionally, the Odyssey received four stars for the rollover rating3, the highest achievable in the light-truck vehicle class using the program's measurement methodology.

The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the federal government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to 2011 models. As a convenience to new car shoppers, the Overall Vehicle Score represents the combined results of the overall ratings from the frontal crash tests, the side crash tests and the rollover-resistance into a single, summary score between one and five stars. Additional information is available at www.safercar.gov.

Complete NCAP safety rating results for the 2011 Odyssey are:

All 2011 Odyssey vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.

Overall, the Odyssey improves for the 2011 model year with greater interior functionality, a more distinctive style and higher fuel economy. Significant enhancements to the interior include a new "3-mode" second-row seat design that is more comfortable for center passengers (Odyssey EX and above). A more powerful and efficient 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine features Variable Cylinder Management (standard on all models for 2011) and produces 248 hp while delivering an EPA-estimated4 city/highway/combined fuel economy of 19/28/22 mpg on Odyssey Touring models.

New technology available on certain models includes a rear entertainment system with a 16.2-inch ultrawide split-screen display and an auxiliary High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video input, an "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with customizable wallpaper, integration of FM traffic data on navigation models and much more.

The 2011 Odyssey is truly an American-made vehicle – designed, engineered and assembled in the United States. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) using domestic and globally sourced parts.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2011-honda-odyssey-earns-best-possible-5-star-overall-vehicle-score-in-more-stringent-federal-government-crash-test-safety-rating-program

Consumer Reports Test complete: 2011 Honda Odyssey EX-L

“Mocked as Uncool, the Minivan Rises Again,” proclaims the headline in the recent New York Times’ business section. Long maligned for their dowdy image and shunted to the sidelines as buyers were attracted to SUVs, minivans are experiencing something of a sales resurgence.

Maybe buyers are rediscovering the appeal of minivans: no other vehicle offers their combination of passenger and cargo space, drivability, refinement, and fuel economy. It’s also entirely likely that sales are up because there is fresh product. Every player in the market has been redesigned or updated in the last 18 months.

That includes the Honda Odyssey, currently the top-selling minivan. Trying to appeal to a new generation of buyers who previously wouldn’t be caught dead in a minivan, the redesigned Odyssey has much more swoopy styling and some new interior features. But as our test shows, a minivan that is now more interesting to look at isn’t necessarily more entertaining to drive.

Watch the video for highlights from our testing, and visit the Honda Odyssey model overview page for complete pricing, reliability, road test, and more.

—Tom Mutchler

Source;
Consumer Reports

2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite vs. 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE Comparison Test

Excellent comparison done by Inside Line, I included the final part of the artical....


Crowning the Ultimate Minivan
Though they have different personalities, the 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite and 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE both offer smart, relevant designs in packages that go a long way toward accommodating every possible desire of the modern family. There isn't another vehicle class that's so singularly focused on the very details that make it perfect for the target customer.

Sure, some say the 2011 Honda Odyssey looks like a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer. Others criticize its beltline hitch and not-so-subtle door-slider track, but whether you're talking about seating configuration or slalom performance, the Honda Odyssey Touring Elite is the ultimate minivan of 2011.

Sienna detractors might say it looks like a hospital gurney with a satin sheet thrown over it, and that it handles like a gurney to boot. However, if you're looking for an extremely low-impact, smooth and quiet minivan (or one with a four-cylinder engine or all-wheel drive), there's good reason to consider a 2011 Toyota Sienna.

The Odyssey Touring Elite is the better overall value, though, as its boatload of features easily offsets its price disadvantage versus the Toyota Sienna XLE. Moreover, the Honda's road manners will win the heart of any car-guy-turned-family-man. Forget crossovers. The 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite is the closest thing there is to an eight-passenger sport sedan.

Source;
http://www.insideline.com/honda/odyssey/2011/2011-honda-odyssey-touring-elite-vs-2011-toyota-sienna-xle-comparison-test.html