Honda Cars : 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite® Makes World Debut in New York with Host of Safety Upgrades and Innovations Including HondaVAC™, the First In-Car Vacuum | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

03/26/2013 - NEW YORK

The 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite® is making its debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), setting the new 'ultimate family vehicle' standard. Thoroughly refreshed for 2014, the Odyssey Touring Elite® provides core safety upgrades, sharpened exterior styling and a revised interior with a host of new features and technologies designed to make the segment's benchmark minivan even better.
Demonstrating trademark Honda innovation, the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite®  will also mark the debut of HondaVAC™, the first-ever in-vehicle vacuum system. Available exclusively in the Odyssey Touring Elite® trim, the all-new HondaVAC™ system is part of a thorough refresh of the Honda Odyssey for the 2014 model year, adding to its already class-leading fuel economy ratings and unmatched safety ratings. The 2014 Odyssey will go on sale at Honda dealerships nationwide this summer.

"The Odyssey is already the leader in its segment, and for 2014, Honda has made the modern family hauler even better," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations at American Honda. "Honda is once again showcasing its reputation for innovation with HondaVAC, and its ability to provide true value to our customers."

The 2014 Honda Odyssey brings an array of improvements to Honda's minivan, including structural upgrades expected to help it achieve top marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) stringent new small-overlap frontal crash test, which is part of IIHS's new TOP SAFETY PICK+ protocol. The refreshed Odyssey Touring Elite® will also come equipped with advanced Honda driver assistive and visibility technologies such as an Expanded View Driver's Mirror, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

The 2014 Odyssey features sleeker, more sophisticated exterior styling with a new, more deeply sculpted aluminum hood, new aluminum front fenders, a new bolder twin-bar grille, and a revised lower front fascia with integrated chrome-trimmed fog lights. New two-tone mirror housings, darker-finish projector-beam headlight housings, LED taillight bars and new badging add to the 2014 Odyssey's premium look.

Inside the 2014 Odyssey, new finishes brighten the cabin and an all-new center stack showcases a host of new features. Additional standard technology on the Odyssey Touring Elite® brings new levels of ease and connectivity to owners, including keyless Smart Entry with Push Button Start, HD Radio®, an SMS text messaging function, and HondaLink™ featuring Aha™ Mobile interface. HondaLink™, which debuted on the 2013 Honda Accord, enables Odyssey owners to connect quickly and easily to a wealth of cloud-based content. The free HondaLink™ smartphone app uses the owner's favorite online content to create live, personalized radio stations, allowing drivers to put away their phones and hear updates and news feeds from Facebook and Twitter, as well as check out restaurant reviews or find the closest coffee shop.

Standard on the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite®, the all-new HondaVAC™ was developed in conjunction with industry-leader Shop-Vac®, and is composed of a powerful vacuum, replaceable filter and canister bag, with nozzle accessories neatly integrated into a dedicated space on the driver's side bulkhead of the rear cargo area. HondaVAC™ makes quick cleanups a snap no matter the location, offering powerful cleaning suction and an integrated hose and cleaning attachments that reach into every corner of the Odyssey's cabin. The HondaVAC™ system's powerful electric motor never needs an outlet or recharging, can operate continuously when the engine is running, and will continue to operate for up to eight minutes when the vehicle is turned off for additional family duties.

Already one of the most lauded vehicles in its segment, the current 2013 Odyssey has earned IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK and NHTSA 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score crash safety ratings. The Honda Odyssey is an AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Award winner, an ALG Residual Value award winner, recipient of the Best Family Cars of 2012 designation from both Parents Magazine/Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, and a Best Cars for Families award winner from U.S. News and World Report. The Odyssey represents Honda's robust product development capabilities in North America with its design, engineering and assembly all taking place in the U.S., using domestically and globally sourced parts. Currently, 95 percent of all Hondas sold in the U.S., are built in North America.

Along with the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite® and Honda's complete lineup of fun-to-drive cars and trucks, the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid and 2013 Fit EV also will be on display at the Honda booth during NYIAS press and public days. The 2014 Accord Plug-In and the fully-electric Honda Fit EV both recently became available in New York.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2014-honda-odyssey-touring-elite-makes-world-debut-in-new-york-with-host-of-safety-upgrades-and-innovations-including-hondavac-the-first-in-car-vacuum

Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Odyssey Offers Unmatched Safety Ratings, Class-Leading Fuel Economy Ratings and High-Tech Convenience Features | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Ultimate family vehicle seats up to eight and offers enhanced standard equipment

08/31/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.

The 2013 Honda Odyssey minivan continues to lead its class in fuel economy and safety ratings, while providing spacious accommodations for up to eight passengers and a refined and engaging driving experience. The Odyssey Touring is rated at a remarkable 28 mpg¹, the highest EPA highway fuel economy rating of any eight-passenger minivan. All Odyssey models are an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK, and the Odyssey has earned the best possible overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score,² an accomplishment that no other currently-tested minivan can claim. The 2013 Honda Odyssey goes on sale September 6, and pricing begins at $28,575³.
There are five models in the Odyssey range: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite. Each provides a unique combination of features, value, luxury and in-vehicle entertainment technology. Changes for 2013 include a rearview camera that"s now standard on all Odyssey trims, and the base Odyssey LX now shares a simplified center stack design with the Odyssey EX. The new center stack includes an 8-inch full-color intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) along with a rearview camera, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, USB input, and CD library function.
Powertrain
All Odyssey models are powered by an advanced 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), which provides a balanced combination of performance, fuel efficiency and low emissions. Producing 248 horsepower (hp), it"s the most powerful engine ever for the Odyssey. With 250 lb-ft. of torque at 4800 rpm, the engine offers excellent responsiveness and acceleration, while delivering a class-leading V-6 EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy2 rating of 19/28/22 mpg on Odyssey Touring models (18/27/21 mpg on Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models). A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models. Odyssey Touring models feature a 6-speed automatic transmission for enhanced driving refinement.
Body
The Odyssey has a distinctive body design with a signature "lightning bolt" side character line that creates a dynamic appearance, and improves the outward view for third-row passengers through a larger rear window. Interior quietness was a design priority, and the Odyssey"s highly rigid body is constructed of 59-percent high-strength steel to help isolate road noise and to reduce body weight for agile handling and excellent fuel efficiency.
Chassis
For confident driving performance and a comfortable ride, the Odyssey features a long 118.1-inch wheelbase, with a fully independent suspension and standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with traction control. MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension combine to give the Odyssey a quiet, composed ride. Variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering assures light steering effort in low-speed maneuvering coupled with secure highway manners.
Interior
The Odyssey"s roomy interior offers a wide range of seating versatility to accommodate child seats, adult passengers and cargo. The passenger volume measures 172.5 cu-ft. (Odyssey LX and EX) and the cargo volume ranges between 38.4 cu-ft. of cargo volume (all seats up) to 148.5 cu-ft., depending on the seating configuration. With the second-row seats removed, a 4x8 sheet of plywood can fit inside the Odyssey's cargo bay. With the available front console removed, 10-foot-long 2x4 studs can fit inside the vehicle.
The Odyssey"s interior provides three rows of comfortable seating with generous legroom in each row. Up to five Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) positions for child seats (the Odyssey LX has four LATCH positions) allow parents great flexibility in locating car seats.
The driver's seat is 10-way power adjustable (8-way power adjustable on Odyssey LX) for maximum comfort. A "3-mode" second-row seat design provides the ability to attach up to three child seats across the second row (Odyssey EX and above) by relocating the outboard seats to alternate positions closer to the doors. The one-motion, 60/40 split third-row Magic Seat®, one of the Odyssey's most versatile features, is easy to operate with one hand.
The Odyssey offers an extensive range of standard comfort and convenience features, including air conditioning with manual front and rear controls, power driver's seat, power windows with auto-up/down on the driver's and front-passenger's windows, tilt and telescopic steering column, and a maintenance minder system. Odyssey EX models and above come standard with power sliding rear doors, center console storage and a conversation mirror. Odyssey EX-L models include leather-trimmed seating surfaces (front and outboard second row), heated front seats, power tailgate, a cool box, and XM Radio® capability. Standard equipment on the Odyssey Touring includes the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System⁴, a Rear Entertainment System with a 9-inch display, driver"s seat with two-position memory, 115-volt power outlet, fog lights, parking sensors, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Odyssey Touring Elite adds an Ultra-Wide Rear Entertainment System (RES), blind-spot information system, and High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights.
For 2013, the Odyssey offers more technology than ever before, with a rearview camera, 8-inch, full-color i-MID display and Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard on the entry-level LX model. A Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System² with Voice Recognition is available on the Odyssey EX-L and standard on the Odyssey Touring, and it features an 8-inch, high-resolution VGA color display and GPS technology to provide turn-by-turn guidance. The system also includes subscription-free FM Traffic data and a Zagat® restaurant guide.
The Odyssey Touring Elite features a state-of-the-art, factory-integrated Rear Entertainment System that includes an ultra-wide 16.2-inch flip-down LCD screen and a 12-speaker, 650-watt sound system capable of reproducing Dolby® Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. A High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video input and two wireless headphones for rear passengers are also provided. The Odyssey Touring Elite also includes the Blind Spot Information system (BSI), which helps alert the driver when other vehicles are detected in set zones to the left and right of the Odyssey.
Safety
Safety is a key Odyssey attribute, and an extensive list of safety equipment helps give owners peace of mind. The Odyssey"s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure is a Honda-exclusive body design that can enhance occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional standard safety equipment includes: Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®); anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags.
Third-party analysis highlights the Odyssey"s safety credentials. The Odyssey was named a TOP SAFETY PICK (the highest rating possible) by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The rating recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting vehicle occupants involved in front, side and rear crashes. The rating also factors in standard electronic stability control as well as rollover performance based on ratings in IIHS tests. The Odyssey earned the highest-possible score of GOOD in all four ratings, including the rigorous roof-strength test. The Odyssey was also one of the first vehicles, and still the only minivan to achieve NHTSA's best-possible Overall Vehicle Score of 5 Stars, with 5-Star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios.
Manufacturing and Awards
Designed, engineered and assembled in the United States⁵, the 2013 Odyssey is truly an American-made vehicle that represents the expanding capabilities of Honda in North America. Virtually every aspect of the Odyssey was developed, tested and finalized by Honda associates throughout California, Ohio and Alabama. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Awards and accolades for the Odyssey include the 2012 "MotorWeek" Drivers' Choice Award for Best Minivan and selection as one of 2012"s 10 Best Family Cars by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Parenting magazine also recognized the Honda Odyssey Touring Elite as one of 2012"s "Smartest Family Cars." The Odyssey is well known for its exceptional value, and both the 2011 and 2012 models were recognized with Residual Value Awards from Auto Lease Guide (ALG). The Odyssey also captured AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA), which is based on over 75,000 surveys completed by owners of new cars and light trucks in the United States.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2013-honda-odyssey-offers-unmatched-safety-ratings-class-leading-fuel-economy-ratings-and-high-tech-convenience-features

Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Odyssey Information for Canada | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

There won't be much in the way of changes to the 2013 Honda Odyssey with the exception of a backup camera trim level wide.  Here are the trims and colours that will be available;

2013 Honda Odyssey LX

NH-700MX     Silver Exterior/Grey Interior

NH-731P      Black Exterior/Truffle Interior

NH-737M      Grey Exterior/Grey Interior

YR-573M      Beige Exterior/Beige Interior

NH-603P      White Exterior/Truffle Interior

2013 Honda Odyssey EX

*Same colours as LX

2013 Honda Odyssey EX-RES (Rear Entertainment System)

*Same colours as LX and EX

2013 Honda Odyssey EX-L RES (Leather w/DVD)

*Same colours as LX, EX, and EX-RES adding;

R-529P       Red Exterior/Grey Interior

-This is a different shade of red from 2012's R-549R

2013 Honda Odyssey Touring

*Same colours as EX-L RES

For a list of features, which is essentially the same as a 2012, here is a direct link to Honda Canada's 2012 Honda Odyssey spec sheet;

2012 Honda Odyssey Spec's

Source;
Honda Canada

Honda Cars : Honda Odyssey Named One of the Smartest Car for Family | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Smartest Cars for Families 2012
We test-drive the smartest, tech-iest family cars hitting the carpool lane this year.
By Scott Steinberg

Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

By the numbers: Three rows, eight seats, 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway

Game-changer for lane-changers: The Blind Spot Information System provides an extra pair of eyes on the road (in the form of radar sensors). The door-mounted indicators illuminate when the sensors detect trouble.

One DVD screen, two happy siblings: The split-screen monitor helps you entertain two kids at once.

Source;

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/best-family-cars-suvs?pnid=517378

Honda Cars : Globe and Mail: The gold standard for minivans, from the inside out | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

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/

Honda Cars : Inside Line: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Long-Term Test | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor Published Feb 28, 2011

Our staff is growing up. We've got two new babies and a new hire with a 5-year-old, so it seems fitting that our long-term test fleet should add a little bulk. In the spirit of baby announcements, please join us in welcoming the 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring to our growing family. This rather large delivery took place on February 1, weighing in at 4,541 pounds and measuring 202.9 inches.

What We Got
There are five Honda Odyssey trim levels, with our Touring model ranking second only to the Touring Elite. Included with our Topaz Metallic minivan are 18-inch alloy wheels, dual power-sliding doors, a power liftgate, a sunroof, foglights, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, memory settings for the driver, retractable third-row sunshades — deep breath — a fold-down armrest for third-row passengers and both the navigation and rear-seat entertainment systems. Opting for the range-topping Touring Elite would've added xenon headlights, a blind-spot warning system, an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with a 16-inch HD widescreen video monitor (with HDMI input) and a premium 650-watt, 12-speaker surround-sound audio system.

Like all 2011 Odysseys, ours is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 248 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. Touring and Touring Elite models get a six-speed automatic, while lower trims make do with a five-speed. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 19 city/28 highway mpg and 22 mpg in combined driving.

The 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring is priced at $41,535 with no notable options to kick that figure higher. That makes our latest addition the second most expensive minivan on the market — $2,495 less than the Odyssey Touring Elite. Fortunately, Honda provided the car to us for 12 months, so those children of Edmunds still have a college fund.

Why We Got It
The entire minivan segment has seen significant revisions or complete redesigns for the 2011 model year, and the new Honda Odyssey benefits from a roomier interior, better fuel economy and a longer list of features.

In our most recent minivan comparison test, the Odyssey (in midrange EX trim) tied for 2nd with the new Nissan Quest. The 1st-place Toyota Sienna SE is already in our long-term fleet. Before the Sienna, the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan was the last minivan in our lot. While the new DGC is a vast improvement, it still finished last in the comparison test.

This latest long-termer addition is almost $10,000 more than the Odyssey EX from the comparison, with plenty of other bells and whistles to evaluate. Are these added features worth it? Do they function as advertised? These are questions that we hope to answer in the next year.
In our reviews, we list the Odyssey's agile handling, fuel economy, quiet cabin, configurable second-row seat and easy-to-fold third-row seat among its strengths. On the other end of the spectrum, we count the high sticker price and button-heavy dash among its drawbacks. We'll see how these hold up during the next 12 months and 20,000 miles.

Follow the long-term road test blog for updates about our 2011 Honda Odyssey.

Current Odometer: 1,373
Best Fuel Economy: 23.8 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 19.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 20.8 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.

Source;
http://www.insideline.com/honda/odyssey/2011/2011-honda-odyssey-touring-long-term-test.html

Honda Cars : Next Gen Honda Odyssey for Japan | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

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

Honda Cars : Honda minivan tops in fuel economy | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By ANN M. JOB
The Associated Press Wednesday, December 8, 2010; 12:43 PM

-- The redesigned-for-2011 Honda Odyssey is longer and wider than other major minivans, but it's still tops in fuel economy.

With sleeker styling and lighter weight than its predecessor, the roomy, V-6-powered 2011 Odyssey with six-speed automatic transmission is rated at 19 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway by the federal government.

For 2011, Variable Cylinder Management, which can automatically deactivate engine cylinders when they're not needed, such as when the van is coasting, is standard on all Odysseys. It previously was reserved for the top Odyssey models.

Best of all, perhaps, for everyone riding long distances in this van, the Odyssey has voice recognition commands for navigation and song selection as well as a 16.2-inch, ultrawide, split-screen-capable display that folds down from the ceiling aft of the front seats for good viewing by second- and third-row passengers.

The system has HDMI technology, too, and because of its wide, rectangular shape, this screen does not block a driver's view out the back of the vehicle. This rear entertainment system is on certain Odyssey models.

But all Odysseys still have the one-hand, fold-and-flip down, split rear seats that fit smoothly into a recessed cavity to make way for a flat cargo load floor.

Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, for the 2011 Odyssey is $28,580.

The test model, a top-of-the-line Odyssey Touring Elite with all available factory features already on it, was priced at $44,030.

All Odysseys come with a 248-horsepower V-6 and automatic transmission.
Competitors include the 2011 Toyota Sienna, which has a starting retail price of $27,270 with 187-horsepower four cylinder and $29,910 with 266-horsepower V-6.

Another top-selling van is the Dodge Grand Caravan with a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $25,830 for a passenger van.

Minivans, as they're still called, waned in popularity in the last 10 years as families moved to sport utility vehicles, which have become increasingly car-like in ride and amenities.

Source (and the rest of the article);
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/08/AR2010120803289.html

Honda Cars : 2011 Honda Odyssey Trim Spec's (Canada) | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Source;
Honda Canada

Honda Cars : Honda Launches Campaign For Odyssey Minivan | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

by Karl Greenberg

Honda is hoping that people who have hesitated to buy a minivan because of the soccer-person stigma will think again. The company is launching a humorous campaign for the all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey that plays on the idea of minivans as a rolling epitaph for the freewheeling single life. The theme is that the vehicle's styling gives Gen X and Y owners permission to imagine the car has some street credibility. The new Odyssey is stylish enough to be cool and functional enough to be a kid wagon.

The effort includes three TV spots, one having launched in late August, running in heavy rotation on season premieres, national broadcast, cable, and sports programming. One spot that began airing during the Little League World Series (which is also sponsored by Honda) posits the Odyssey as a rock van. Another makes the minivan a symbol of automotive tranquility for a harried professional mom.

Honda launched that ad as part of its sponsorship of Disney's "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," a TV movie that began over Labor Day weekend. The Torrance, Calif. automaker will have co-branded sweepstakes on Disney Channel, Radio Disney, Disney Online and Disney FamilyFun, dangling the vehicle as a grand prize and featuring talent from the "Camp Rock 2" film. Odyssey is sponsoring the "My Family Rocks" Fest on Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect.com, a month-long community program spotlighting families who rock, as well as the Music Channel on NickJr.com.

The campaign, which was developed by Honda's agency of record Santa Monica-based RPA, also has a co-branded tune-in spot for ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," in which a mom in the Odyssey with her husband and kids dreams of being a dancer. Other tie-ins include a co-branded custom creative airing on NBC Primetime; an online customized vignette starring celebrity chef Cat Cora using the Odyssey at local farmers' markets tied to Disney.com's new Web series "Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora."

The company says other vignettes will run on Nick at Nite, HGTV, Food Network and TNT. Honda is also Sponsoring "Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock" demo and sweepstakes; has placements on MSN TV's Last Night on TV, Yahoo! omg! Celebrity Moms blog and Oscars coverage on EW.com and People.com.

Honda is also doing a campaign on Web-radio channel Pandora involving six Odyssey-sponsored radio stations in either a "Me-Time," category featuring songs for grownups or "We-Time," a collection of songs in the Dan Zanes vein.

Out-of-home will include billboards in 25 key markets, in-theater placements and mall and gym advertising; Odyssey rich media will also run on the Weather Channel iPhone App and banners on a variety of mobile sites important to young parents.

Honda says Odyssey print will run in magazines like In Style, National Geographic Traveler, This Old House and Men's Health. Some unusual elements include a celebrity crossword puzzle in Us Weekly where the answers are hidden in the Odyssey ad and a program in Real Simple mirroring one of the TV spots called "Serenity"/Real Simple Tips" tied to a a relaxation package sweepstakes.

Honda is also advertising the vehicle on iVillage "Don't Miss List" and via roadblocks on Parents.com, on parent blog Dooce.com and across the BlogHer network.

For social media gamers, the all-new Odyssey will appear in in-game integration in Social City, where users build cities based on population, happiness and money. Users are rewarded when they interact with Odyssey creative.

Source;
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=136674

Honda Cars : 2011 Honda Odyssey debuts | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Minivan on display this weekend at Georgian College Auto Show
BARRIE - The 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan will be making its Canadian debut this Friday (Sept. 24) at the 25th annual Georgian College Auto Show in Barrie.

The Odyssey, which is set to go on sale Oct. 22, will be on display at the Honda exhibit Friday from noon until 6 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 25 and 26) it will be on display from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Georgian College’s Barrie campus is located at 1 Georgian Dr. More information is available online at www.georgianc.on.ca.

"The all-new Odyssey is set to once again redefine the minivan segment as the benchmark of minivans," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. "Never before has so much space, functionality and comfort been combined with this much style, safety, advanced technology and fuel economy all in a fun-to-drive package.”

This model will feature over 50 new features. One of the notable improvements include a new “three-mode” second row seat design that can expand laterally. This seating design accommodates three passengers with improved comfort and increased legroom. The new tapered cabin allows for better viewing for third row passengers.

A more powerful and efficient 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 engine features a variable cylinder management system, allowing for better fuel economy. The 2011 Odyssey also has 248 horsepower, an increase of four over last year’s model.

Also debuting this year for the standard model is a five-speed automatic transmission. The touring edition will come equipped with a standard six-speed.

Now in its 41st year of operation in Canada, Honda Canada Inc. has sold more than 3,375,000 Honda and Acura passenger cars and light-duty trucks in Canada. A record high 91 per cent of the Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in 2009 were produced at the company's assembly plants in North America, up nearly 3 per cent from 2008.

Since 1986, Honda has built more than 5,400,000 cars and trucks at its assembly facilities in Alliston, Ontario. More than half of all vehicles sold in Canada last year were also made in Canada. Prior to 2004, the Odyssey model was built in Alliston.

The 2011 Odyssey will be sold for manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $29,990.

Source;
http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/878026--2011-honda-odyssey-debuts

Honda Cars : Autoblog's First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey! | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

This is a really good read and takes a in depth look at the 2011 Honda Odyssey....

Honda doesn't redefine the minivan, they strive to perfect it
by Michael Harley

Honda did something silly during the launch of its all-new 2011 Odyssey minivan. The automaker built a large autocross-type "track" in the parking lot of San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium and invited journalists to take its latest eight-passenger family hauler for hot laps. It was an interesting "fish out of water" introduction to Honda's fourth-generation people mover.

Designed, developed and manufactured in the United States, Honda considers the 2011 model an "American Odyssey." The domestic development team, owners of 46 Odysseys between them, labored to deliver a minivan with distinctive style, greater interior versatility and improved fuel economy. Did Honda build itself a worthy successor and how did it fare on the autocross?

Continue reading...

Just follow the 'continue reading' above to read the full post with even more pics!

Honda Cars : Honda Odyssey gets makeover for 2011 | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Here's a nice little article explaining the basic changes for the next gen Honda Odyssey....
The industry's best-selling minivan, the Honda Odyssey, has been completely redesigned for 2011, and goes on sale in early fall.

No prices have been announced yet, but there will be a new fully equipped top model called the Touring Elite, which comes with a long list of standard equipment, including leather seating and navigation.

Other special features include an ultra-wide rear entertainment system with split-screen capability so two programs can be shown at one time; and there is even a small refrigerator, which Honda calls a “cool box,” that works when the engine is running.

This is the fourth generation of the Odyssey, and it was first shown at the Chicago auto show in February.

Honda says the new Odyssey “seeks to redefine the concept of the minivan with its aggressive stance and sporty ‘lightning-bolt' beltline.”

The roof is more steeply raked toward the rear than the current Odyssey, making the vehicle 1.6 inches lower than the current model, which was introduced for 2005 and given a mid-cycle makeover for 2008.

While there are many changes, the new model is still quite recognizable as an Odyssey. Besides the lower stance, the 2011 Odyssey is 1.4 inches wider than the 2010 model, and has improved aerodynamics to help boost fuel economy.

The new model is 202.8 inches long, 78.5 inches wide and 68.3 inches high, with a 118.1-inch wheelbase.

There are improvements inside to make the vehicle more family-friendly, and that's really where Honda makes its mark both in the minivan and sport utility segments. Nobody does family friendly interiors better than Honda. Busy families spend a lot of time in their minivans, and the Odyssey's designers kept that in mind.

“The Odyssey established its reputation by providing families with what they most want in a minivan — great functionality, an emphasis on safety and good fuel economy," Vicki Poponi, American Honda's product planning chief, said during the Chicago introduction. “The next-generation Odyssey promises to take these strengths to a higher level while adding more style and personality.”

Even with its sportier exterior styling, the new Odyssey has better outward visibility for those sitting in the third row.

Outside, the Touring Elite model comes with high-intensity-discharge headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, 12.6-inch ventilated front disc brakes, power side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a power-operated tailgate.

Interior features of the top model include an AM/FM/XM/CD premium audio system with 12 speakers; the Honda voice-activated navigation system; the rear entertainment center; a 110-volt power outlet for game consoles and other electronic devices such as laptops; a media tray with integrated cup holder; a removable first-row center console with hidden storage; a 10-way power driver's seat with memory; enough anchors for up to five child safety seats; a total of 15 cupholders; second- and third-row sunshades.

There's even a ring to hold a trash bag. Trash can pile up in a hurry on a road trip while the kids having their snacks.

Among other new features are projector beam headlights, LED taillights and “form-fit” fog lights, Honda said.

Advancements in engine design and the vehicle's aerodynamics give the new Odyssey EPA fuel-economy ratings as high as 19 mpg city/28 highway.

The current model has ratings as high as 17 city/25 highway when equipped with Honda's three-mode Variable Cylinder Management. It cuts out either two or three cylinders at cruising speeds to save fuel. Without the cylinder management, the 2010 model is rated at 16 city/23 highway.
Under the hood will be the latest version of the 3.5-liter V-6 engine used in the 2010 model, which puts out 244 horsepower and 240 foot-pounds of torque. Honda hasn't released final performance data for the 2011 model, however.

The new Odyssey will have room for seven or eight passengers, depending on the seating configuration chosen. The middle row has two captain's chairs with a smaller seat in between that can be folded out of the way to create a pass-through to the rear seat.

The third row, which seats three (and is best left to the kids) is Honda's so-called “Magic Seat,” which has a 60/40 split and can be folded completely flat into the floor either in sections or all together to create a larger cargo area when the seat isn't needed for passengers.

The new Odyssey faces stiff competition from the redesigned 2011 Toyota Sienna, which is already on sale and has been its most formidable import-brand competitor.

Standard safety features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control with traction control, front seat-mounted side air bags, and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows.

The vehicle also features Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, designed to lessen its impact on pedestrians and other vehicles in the event of a collision.

Honda assembles the new model at its plant near Birmingham, Ala. Design and engineering work were done in California and Ohio, rather than in Japan.

Source;
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/topdown/detail?entry_id=70599