Honda Odyssey V6 2004 review

Buying a people-mover is traumatic, an admission that time and tide have swept aside youthful dreams and pursuits.

You tell your mates it is only temporary, and they offer a wan smile in sympathy while quietly giving thanks that it was you and not them...this time.

That was before the arrival of Honda's new Odyssey. Gone is the box on wheels with styling that made it imperative to get the thing into the garage as quickly as possible before the neighbours saw it.

Honda has – in a similar vein to Mazda – taken a recent history of design notable only for its blandness and trotted out a string of stunning vehicles.

The funky little Jazz was followed by a pair of head-turning Accords – Euro and V6. And now, in the Odyssey, there is a people-mover most would be happy to be seen in.

This is the third generation of the Odyssey and it is far and away the best. From the sharpish nose to the low-slung roof-line, the Odyssey gives the impression of nothing so much as a stylish sedan.

It is only marginally taller than the baby Jazz, admittedly a "tall-boy" style of design, and with its length, manages to look sleek.

However, it is inside the cabin that Honda's stylists have worked overtime. There is little that is actually new but it is all modern and the way it fits together is a lesson in making an ambience at an affordable price.

The use of wood and metal trim in the curved dash sounds like a potential disaster but actually works a treat to give a strong impression of modern quality. Even the glowing blue feature on the dials doesn't look out of context.

The seven-seat interior can be utilised in a wide variety of ways, with both the second and third rows sliding to apportion leg-room with maximum effect, while the third row folds flat into the floor when it is not needed.

There are few disappointments in the Odyssey but one that stands out is the use of a lap-only belt in the centre position of the second row. That decision effectively reduces the seating to six.

The absence of full three-point seat belts is the only obvious cost-save in the Odyssey's interior – quite amazing in a vehicle with a starting price of $38,790.

Even in the base model, front airbags and ABS are standard, as are air outlets for each seat and a separate airconditioning unit for the rear passengers. The Luxury model adds side curtain airbags, leather trim, heated seats and eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat.

The sound system in both levels is excellent, with the Luxury winning a six-stacker CD over the base car's single in-dash unit.

On the move, the Odyssey is surprisingly well served by its seemingly small 2.4-litre engine. The key to the lively performance is that the engine is from Honda's advanced i-VTEC family and produces a healthy 118kW at 5500rpm and a useful 218Nm at 4500rpm.

Drive is through a five-speed auto with a touch-change manual mode. The gear shifter is dash-mounted and comes easily to hand.

Ride quality is at the upper end of the scale for vehicles of this type, with well-weighted steering. Suspension is a double wishbone front, with a reactive link to the double wishbone rear providing stable and predictable behaviour.

The Odyssey benefits from good manoeuvrability – a 10.8m turning circle – which makes parking and turning easy.

With functionality, style and space, the new Odyssey has set a benchmark for people-movers. More's the pity that those attributes will do little to draw buyers away from the urban four-wheel drive market.