Honda Odyssey 2004 Review

The term people mover used to be synonymous with cardigans and functional family transport for several people.

The Odyssey is still functional but it has shed the cardigan in favour of what is better described as a designer sweat shirt.

It's long, it's low and it's sleek – one look at the three-dimensional dash is enough to conform this car is all about fun.

Odyssey is priced from $38,790.

• Thin profile: the new car looks like a "chopped" version of the old one with a roof line that it is 8cm lower. From the front the look is lean and aggressive, with broad, blue-haloed headlights. It's not much higher than your average station wagon.
• 2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine delivers 118kW at 5500rpm and 218Nm at 4500rpm. It combines variable valve timing and lift electronic control (VTEC) with variable valve timing control (VTC), that optimises intake valve timing in response to engine load.
• Afraid there is no V6. For whatever reason Honda decided to stick with a four this time. Maybe an issue for owners of the previous V6 looking to update, but it's affordable.
• Performance is good considering it is only a 2.4-litre four. It cruises well and climbs hills relatively easily, but lacks punch down low. The more people you stick in it of course the more it is going to labour – bear in mind it seats seven.
• Five-speed auto with sequential shift makes the most of available power. Stubby shifter mounted rally style on the dash to the left of the wheel is simple to use, providing you remember its position.
• Ride and handling is excellent, very smooth but the handling is not quite as good as Mitsubishi's new Grandis. Bit too much body roll and the front wheels scrabble for traction at times, becoming unsettled in rough corners.
• The three-dimensional dash will simply take your breath away. Honda has taken a leaf out of VW's book with an emphahsis on blue lighting.
• Dash and instrument layout deserve a special mention. Two large control knobs mounted in the middle of the dash are the two knobs most used in a car – volume and temperature control. Audio controls are angled towards front passenger.
• Fuel economy is excellent, with a claimed figure of 9.4L/100km from the 65-litre tank. A BMW style dial albeit a bar graph gives a constant reckoner of how much fuel you are using.
• Rear seat in luxury model folds and packs flat electrically turning the car into a station wagon for all intents and purposes.
• Lots of goodies including front and side airbags, ABS brakes, climate airconditioning, cruise control, power windows and mirrors and a CD sound system.