While crossovers and SUVs have literally taken over the automotive industry, there are still many situations in which minivans play an important role.
In fact, there is no better “efficient” and easy way to carry multiple passengers and loads of cargo than minivans, despite attempts by many car companies to introduce minivan-like large SUVs. Simply put, minivans may no longer be popular, but they are still the best way to carry a group of people in utmost comfort.
And no other minivan is as modern, up-to-date and fun to drive as the Honda Odyssey – a benchmark model that delivers world-class performance even if compared to today’s full-size sedans and SUVs.
The Honda Odyssey minivan carries over into 2019 with no major changes because it was completely redesigned in 2018. Honda’s long running minivan competes with the Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, Kia Sedona and Toyota Sienna; not a lot of competitors exist any longer as this is a shrinking market. The Honda Odyssey, in any case, is the most enthusiastic vehicle in the segment, with a surprising level of performance for a so-called family car.
Design
The Honda Odyssey shares the same chassis as the Honda Pilot and Ridgeline, and so it is no wonder there are design similarities. Showcasing a sophisticated exterior design – for a minivan anyways – the Odyssey has two-tone 19-inch wheels, winged LED headlamps, a “lightning-bolt” chrome belt line kink, and a deep side-swoop imprinted into the side doors.
The interior is upscale and well-designed with plenty of room for people and cargo. Specifically, there is a large space below the centre stack for big handbags and the centre storage bin can swallow even larger bags. There are cupholders everywhere to ensure all passengers have access to hydration. Just as expected for a minivan, cargo space is ample at 4,103 litres (158 cubic feet) when second-row seats are removed and third-row seats are flat. The Odyssey seats up to eight people easily and in relative comfort.
Truly a family-oriented vehicle, the Odyssey features options like CabinWatch, which is an eight-inch display that allows you to monitor the second row; CabinTalk, which allows you to broadcast your voice to the second and third row (so you don’t have to shout); and the Blu-ray Rear Entertainment system to keep everyone entertained. The How Much Farther app is a child-friendly navigation tracking app that allows passengers to track the trip’s progress in a fun and playful way. Mess made inside the vehicle can be cleaned up immediately if you opt for the built-in HondaVAC vacuum cleaner, and the upholstery is made of a spill-resistant fabric.
As to be expected in a minivan with a focus on family, the safety features for the Odyssey are well-developed. Even the most basic trim (LX) comes standard with Honda Sensing, which includes driver assistance technologies such as Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Collision Mitigation Braking. Because of this and excellent crash ratings, the Odyssey has a Top Safety Pick+ and five-star NCAP ratings.
Performance
Minivans aren’t the type of vehicle you would assume are built for handling and performance. This, however, is no ordinary minivan, as it delivers a fun-to-drive factor that’s above and beyond the norm. In fact, as I drove the Odyssey around town and on highways it was easy to forget that I was driving a family van and not a sports sedan, thanks to a strong V-6 engine and sharp, predictable handling. The 2019 Honda Odyssey comes equipped with a 3.5-litre V-6 engine, providing 280 horsepower and 262 foot-pounds of torque. The fuel economy for the Honda Odyssey measures in at 12.6, 8.4 and 10.7 litres/100 kilometres for city, highway and combined respectively.
The ride is silky smooth and, once again, provides a level of compliance not seen in a minivan before.
There are no packages or stand-alone options offered, instead you have six trim levels from which you can choose. This includes the LX, EX, EX-RES, EX-L RES, EX-L NAVI and the Touring trim. The first four trim levels come with a nine-speed automatic, and the last two trims (EX-L NAVI and Touring) come with a 10-speed automatic transmission. As the LX trim is bare bones, I would highly recommend a trim level from EX and up.
Summary
The 2019 Honda Odyssey starts from $35,290 MSRP for the LX base trim, and moves up to $50,960 for the Touring Trim. The 2019 Honda Odyssey is more expensive than other minivans in the same class, but the world-class performance and family-friendly options available make it a worthwhile purchase. Ease of use, loads of space, great handling and luxurious features make the Honda Odyssey the best minivan in the industry, bar none.
Honda has a vision to create a safer, smarter world in which people experience the joy of mobility. The 2019 Honda Odyssey is a shining example of the blending of reliability, efficiency, practicality and style for the modern family. This minivan is so good that it might even help consumers return to this market and create a demand once again.
