2010 Honda Odyssey

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2010 Odyssey Overview

The Honda Odyssey might be the best minivan on the market. Honda Odyssey is powered by a 244-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission, and it's a good powertrain. Even on base LX and one-step-up EX models it features Honda's efficiency-enhancing[1] Variable valve Timing with Electronic lift Control (VTEC). EX-L and Touring upgrade to intelligent i-VTEC with Variable Cylinder Management; VCM shuts down two or three cylinders to conserve fuel when conditions allow it.

Full Review 2010 Odyssey

The current-generation Odyssey is now in its sixth year of production, and in its third season following a 2008 freshening that brought a new look up front and some new technology inside, including refinements to the VCM system described above. Changes have been minimal since then. For 2009, Honda added some more content at the EX-L level. For 2010, the DVD entertainment system is now available on the EX as well as the EX-L and Touring. It includes a 9-inch screen and a 115-volt AC power outlet. The Odyssey has won numerous awards and critical acclaim (Odyssey Awards).

2010 Odyssey Trims

The 2010 Honda Odyssey lineup comprises four models, LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring.

Odyssey LX comes with cloth upholstery and seating for seven with second-row caption's chairs and a 60/40 split fold-down third seat. It also has manual sliding side doors, manual seat controls, front and rear air conditioning, air-filtration system, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, power exterior mirrors, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM/CD four-speaker stereo with MP3/WMA playback and auxiliary input jack, 15 cupholders, rear roof spoiler, and P235/65R16 tires on steel wheels with hubcaps.

Odyssey EX adds power sliding doors, tri-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar support, a storable second-row PlusOne seat, six-speaker stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer and steering wheel audio controls, heated exterior mirrors, automatic headlights, outside temperature display, universal garage door opener, conversation mirror, second-row sunshades, 17 cupholders, roof rails, and alloy wheels. Odyssey EX-L adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power moonroof, XM satellite radio, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Honda's active noise reduction, and the i-VTEC engine with Variable Cylinder Management. The EX-L is available with the DVD rear-seat entertainment system, and the navigation system with rearview camera and Bluetooth can be added to that.

Odyssey Touring is what Honda's Acura luxury division would sell if it sold a minivan. Also standard are a 360-watt audio system with six-disc CD changer and seven speakers (including a subwoofer), the navigation system (including rearview camera and Bluetooth), front and rear park assist, power tailgate, memory for the driver's seat and mirrors, power-adjustable pedals, outside mirror tilt-down backup aid, trip computer, compass, fog lights, and the DVD rear-seat entertainment system.

Safety equipment that comes standard on all models includes dual-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, curtain-style head-protection airbags for all three rows of seats that also deploy in case of a rollover, active front head restraints, a tire-pressure monitor, antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, traction control, and electronic stability control.

The Honda Odyssey cuts a curvy profile, with a front end that looks similar to the Accord sedan. All models come with two sliding doors, manually operated on the LX and electrically operated on all other models. The Odyssey boasts Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. A low drag coefficient helps improve fuel economy and high-speed stability.

2010 Odyssey Interior

Up front, the driver's seat is designed to hold the driver firmly and is positioned in a car-like setting. The tilt/telescoping wheel and the various manual/power adjustments create a comfortable driving position, which is even easier in the Touring model thanks to power-adjustable pedals. The second-row bucket seats are roomy and comfortable.

Cubby storage includes a useful storage area hidden under the middle of the floor, accessible from both the front and middle-row seats. A small panel in the floor between the two front seats lets front passengers access the bin while another panel is provided in front of the second-row seats. Front and middle-row passengers can turn the Lazy Susan and access whatever is stored inside.

If the PlusOne seat is not being used, the right-hand seat can be slid across to allow easier access to the third-row seats. This flexibility makes the Odyssey a versatile people hauler. For cargo, the third-row seats fold (a fairly easy task) and the second row can be removed (not so easy) to offer 147.4 cubic feet of cargo space, more than most minivans and any SUV.

The system also responds to voice commands, and we found it responds effectively. The DVD entertainment system features a large nine-inch widescreen display that folds out of the ceiling for viewing by second-row passengers.

First Drive 2010 Odyssey 

Honda's goal with Odyssey was producing a minivan with the handling of a European sedan, and it hasn't missed the mark by much. Underway, the Odyssey delivers everything you could ask for in a minivan: a smooth ride, responsive handling, stability at speed and a smooth, powerful engine.

The Odyssey belies its size on the road and handles like a sedan. The Odyssey offered a perfectly pleasant ride during a test drive along country roads in Alabama. All in all, the Honda Odyssey is a good vehicle for a long-distance drive. Parking is easy. The park-assist system, with beeping tones that warn the driver of other bumpers front and rear, helps considerably when parallel parking.

Honda's 3.5-liter V6 engine is smooth and powerful. Both versions of the engine now generate 244 horsepower. In short, the Honda VTEC V6 is a great engine, and the i-VTEC version is just a little better.

The brakes work well. Every Odyssey comes with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Vehicle Stability Assist, Honda's electronic stability control system. If the vehicle starts to lose grip on a tight turn on a slippery surface, the system automatically slows the engine and gently applies brakes to help keep the vehicle from skidding out of control. We had no complaints about noise while driving any of the Odyssey models. The Touring model and the EX-L benefit from extra high-tech noise-abatement features. To counteract this, the engine is mounted on special active control engine mounts that electronically adjust themselves to counteract engine vibrations. Further booming sounds are reduced by an active noise control system that automatically sends an out-of-phase sound through the speaker system to cancel out engine noises; it also works when the engine is idling.

2010 Odyssey Conclusions

Honda Odyssey has it all: great road manners, easy passenger and cargo flexibility, a full array of safety equipment and better fuel economy than most SUVs. "When it comes to hauling people and stuff, the minivan was a better alternative twenty years ago, it was a better alternative to all of those big, ungainly SUVs people insisted on driving, and it's still a better alternative today. Among those minivans, the Honda Odyssey remains king." says Automobile Magazine. The Touring model in particular will appeal to buyers seeking the versatility of a minivan with the accommodations and features of a luxury sedan.

[1] Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.