Honda Odyssey 2009 review

Honda's latest luxury people-mover may boast a heap of clever features inside yet it's what's under the bonnet that puts it ahead of previous models, and indeed many rivals. Over the past 15 years Honda has produced several market-leading Odyssey models.

Each one has been praised in turn for its practicality, space to fit up to seven adults and looks that Honda has even marketed as being sexy. Which is pretty amazing, considering people movers are generally regarded as boxy vans at worst and useful family haulers at best.

Drivetrain

The main hurdle to previous Odysseys is that they have all tended to drive on the sluggish side. The various four-cylinder engines have been handed a major job to haul all that weight plus all those people. There certainly has never been spritely acceleration, lively get up and go or a boy racer feel about the Odysseys, and indeed most people movers.

The one exception in the range was the short-lived six-cylinder model of the second generation that is still a sought-after used car for families unable to afford a new one. But that has changed with the new fourth-generation model released earlier this year.

Honda has re-worked the 2.4-litre four-cylinder to up the power from 118kW in the previous version to 132kW. Considering it is such a big car the power and acceleration is noticeably better than before. Having said that the five-speed auto gearbox is unchanged but there is no suggestion of it hunting for gears as some of the previous models have done.

Body and fit-out

Inside the styling is all about function and practicality for large groups of passengers. Having four children I have always needed such size and as they have become older needed the leg room. Most seven-seater 4WDs have useless rear leg room and it has generally been only the more expensive Chrysler Grand Voyager and Toyota Tarago that beat the Honda for space.

The cheaper Hyundai iMax effectively wallops the Odyssey for internal space but it really is aimed at businesses rather than families. Instead for just under $50,000 the Luxury Odyssey offers leather treatment, wood grain, plenty of space and solid performance.

The middle row seats, now with three lap-sash belts, after years of Honda having only an outdated lap belt in the middle are easy to move to suit whatever configuration of seating you want.

They slide forward while the back seats fold down to give you enhanced luggage space. Rear passengers have separate air vents and a good view. Adults can easily sit here without feeling as they are about to swallow their knees. The other bonus in such a car is plenty of storage space. There are cupholders, large door storage space and a bin in the dashboard near the driver.

Between the front seats is the handy flip-up console which is great for holding phones, sunglasses etc. It is a glaring omission from some other people movers. Storage space behind the rear seats for groceries and luggage has always been a compromise in seven seater cars but the flexibility of being able to fold away the third row of seats when they are not needed creates a virtual cavern.

Driving

Around town, where the cars will spend the bulk of their lives, the Odyssey is an ideal hauler for school trips and sporting events with ease of access to all seats. On the open road it is a very comfortable cruiser including when climbing hills.

Road noise reduction has improved over the generations and now is comparable with other cars of the same price range. People don't buy people movers out of choice. You can buy some pretty impressive sports cars and sexy sedans for this money. You have to need to regularly haul more than three people to have any desire for them.

But what the Odyssey does is provide a climate where such driving is pleasurable and comfortable. The styling, created by lowering and flattening out the design to become sleek and elongated rather than boxy, goes a long way to enhancing the feeling of pride in driving such a car.

Most major carmakers, except surprisingly Holden and Ford who have instead opted for the traditional wagon and AWDs such as the Territory, have people movers on the market in Australia. Some are van conversions, others are packed with luxury and therefore an extra cost, an increasing number are diesel to benefit families looking for economy and there's also the smaller movers which have third-row seats strictly for small children.

What sets the Odyssey apart is its ability to take some of the best out of each of these styles to create the best all-rounder in the segment. The bottom line: extra performance enhances an already strong package