Cars.com Names Honda Odyssey the Ultimate Minivan

CHICAGO, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com, an online resource for new and used car buyers, announced today that the Honda Odyssey is the winner of its first-ever Ultimate Minivan Shootout. The site took six redesigned 2011 minivans under $45,000 and put them through a series of rigorous head-to-head challenges to determine which one was the best of the pack. The 2011 Honda Odyssey took the title for its styling, comfort and overall ride.

"Minivans haven't always been so cool; in fact, some car shoppers have shied away from them," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's editor-in-chief. "The reality is that today's minivans are sleek, practical and drive very well, which fulfills the needs of many families. Looking at the Honda Odyssey, its overall package of innovative features, design and a great ride propelled it ahead of its competitors. The $42,000 price tag might seem steep, but the features that the consumer gets for that money are unbeatable."

Cars.com, USA Today, Motorweek and an Atlanta-area family of five tested the vehicles over a period of three days. The first day consisted of 175 miles of highway driving to determine the true gas mileage for each van. On the second day, the experts took turns driving each of the six minivans evaluating ride, comfort, handling, style and functionality. On the final day, the local family evaluated the minivans from a car shopper's perspective to determine which features and design aspects were most important to them.

"We wanted to put these minivans through real-life tests with input not just from the experts but from a family with children," said Olsen. "This shootout takes into consideration the important insight of what the family thought was a good minivan and which one truly met their needs, because their opinions are important and reflect what all minivan shoppers would want."

Vans tested in the Cars.com Ultimate Minivan Shootout included the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country priced at $40,835, the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan priced at $34,055, the 2011 Honda Odyssey priced at $42,250, the 2011 Nissan Quest priced at $38,040, the 2011 Toyota Sienna priced at $41,144, and the 2011 Volkswagen Routan priced at $34,750.

ABOUT CARS.COM
Cars.com was recently named the "Best Overall Customer Experience" by Keynote Systems, the world's leading Internet usage research company. Cars.com is an online destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With price listings, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Source;
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carscom-names-honda-odyssey-the-ultimate-minivan-122436373.html

Globe and Mail: The gold standard for minivans, from the inside out

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/

Car and Driver: 2011 Chrysler Town & Country vs. Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna - Comparison Tests

Really comprehensive article with a ton of pics (follow the links) that take you right there....
Family Planning: Minivans throw fashion to the wind. But nothing can match their kid-hauling utility.
BY MICHAEL AUSTIN, PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC URBANO April 2011

Guess what? Minivans are still uncool. Automakers know this. Even the latest ads for the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna acknowledge the squareness of the segment. Sales have stabilized at about 500,000 units per year since tragically hip moms and dads fled to crossovers.

As a mature segment with little potential for growth, minivans are getting comfortable with their squareness. For evidence, we direct your attention to the new Nissan Quest, which not only acknowledges its one-box silhouette but drapes a metaphorical trench coat over the whole thing.
So minivans are cool with being uncool. Can we move on? The premise remains the same as before: Maximize people and cargo space, and forget about the styling. Driving dynamics get second billing. The point is to get you and your kids (or, for aging boomers, your dogs) to and from every destination with the least amount of hassle and the most comfort.

The newest in our assembled quartet is the Nissan Quest, back after a two-year hiatus. Now based on the company’s D platform (shared with the Altima, Maxima, and Murano), the Quest is similar to the Japanese-market Elgrand. For 2011, the Chrysler Town & Country (and its sibling, the Dodge Grand Caravan) gets freshened exterior and interior styling, a retuned suspension, and—most important—a new 283-hp V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic, which replaces all three previous powertrain offerings.

The Odyssey and the Sienna are also new for the 2011 model year, but both offer carry-over engines lashed to new six-speed automatics (available only in Touring trim on the Honda).

There’s a lot of common ground among this set. All four are powered by 24-valve V-6 engines, with only 35 horsepower separating the strongest (Chrysler) from the weakest (Honda). In the top-of-the-line trims we specified for our test group, each minivan comes with power side doors and a power rear hatch. They all offer some sort of flat load floor when the seats are folded and/or removed.

It’s worth noting that although the vans tested here all ring in at about $40,000, each can be had for closer to $30,000. The price of the Sienna, the highest in this test, drops as low as $25,370 for a base four-cylinder model.

In light of the targeted use of these vehicles, we focused on the passenger compartments as much as we did on behind-the-wheel impressions. We watched Team America: World Police multiple times in an effort to evaluate the rear-seat entertainment systems. We also wore a pregnancy-simulation vest while examining each minivan for ease of child-seat installation. And yes, we left some small part of our dignity behind these sliding doors.

4th Place: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited
Highs: Barcalounger second-row seat, two glove boxes, parking-lot friendly.
Lows: Cheesy-looking fake wood, light on refinement, bland as a Camry.
The Verdict: Looks great on paper but fails to inspire in person.
Full review of the Toyota;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_toyota_sienna_limited_page_2

3rd Place: 2011 Nissan Quest LE
Highs: Funky styling, tight turning radius, comfortable front seats.
Lows: Low-rent center-console plastics, only one 12-volt power port in front.
The Verdict: Not the Holy Grail of minivans but headed in the right direction.

For the full review on the Nissan;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_nissan_quest_le_page_3

2nd Place: 2011 Chrysler Town & Country Limited
Highs: Sporty steering, balanced chassis, high level of refinement.
Lows: Underwhelming engine power, dowdy exterior styling.
The Verdict: Chrysler fixed everything that was wrong and kept everything that was right.

For the full review on the Dodge;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_chrysler_town_26_country_limited_page_4

1st Place: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
Highs: Excellent ergonomics, seating for eight, trick folding third row.
Lows: Slow and numb steering, contrived exterior styling.
The Verdict: Good for drivers, great for passengers.

For the full review on the Honda;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chrysler_town_country_vs._honda_odyssey_nissan_quest_toyota_sienna-comparison_tests/2011_honda_odyssey_touring_elite_page_5

2011 Honda Odyssey Achieves Historic Safety Milestone

Odyssey becomes the only minivan to earn top U.S. safety ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA under more-stringent testing guidelines

MARKHAM, ON, March 22 /CNW/ - The 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan achieved a historic safety milestone, becoming the first and only minivan to earn the highest possible U.S. safety ratings from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under their respective more-stringent testing guidelines. No other minivan this year has received both a 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK award from IIHS and an "Overall Vehicle Score1" of five stars from NHTSA.

The Odyssey was recently named a 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK from IIHS, the U.S.-based institute's highest honour. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting vehicle occupants involved in front, side and rear crashes, plus rollover performance based on ratings in IIHS tests, as well as having a standard electronic stability control system. The Odyssey earned the highest-possible score of GOOD in all four ratings, including the more rigorous roof-strength test.

In addition to earning the TOP SAFETY PICK designation, the Odyssey was one of the first vehicles to achieve NHTSA's best-possible "Overall Vehicle Score" of five stars. The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the U.S. government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to 2011 models. The Odyssey achieved its top "Overall Vehicle Score" with five-star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios. The Odyssey also received four stars for the rollover rating3.

All 2011 Odyssey vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.

Overall, the Odyssey improves for the 2011 model year with greater interior functionality, a more distinctive style and higher fuel economy. Significant enhancements to the interior include a new 3-mode second-row seat design that is more comfortable for centre passengers (Odyssey EX and above). A more powerful and efficient 3.5-litre i-VTEC V-6 engine features Variable Cylinder Management (standard on all models for 2011) and produces 248 hp while delivering a city/highway/combined fuel economy of 11.7/7.2/9.7 on the LX, EX and EX-L models and 10.9/7.1/9.2 mpg on Odyssey Touring models.

New technology available on certain models includes a rear entertainment system with a 16.2-inch ultrawide split-screen display and an auxiliary High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video input, an "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with customizable wallpaper and much more.

The 2011 Odyssey is truly a North American-made vehicle - designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama using domestic and globally sourced parts.

# # #

Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact air bags (SABs). Vehicles tested under this program cannot be compared to model-year 2010 and earlier vehicles. Ratings can only be compared with similar ratings on model year 2011 and later vehicles if rated under the new program.

Includes a new, additional test mode for side-pole impact.
Vehicle tested includes electronic stability control as standard equipment, branded as Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) on Honda and Acura vehicles.

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2011/22/c5464.html

IIHS awards Top Safety Pick to 2011 Honda Odyssey, GM Lambda CUVs

Honda minivan and 3 large GM SUV models earn 2011 Top Safety Pick award
After earning the top rating of good for roof strength, the Honda Odyssey minivan, and 3 large GM SUVs (GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Buick Enclave) become the latest 2011 Top Safety Pick winners. The Odyssey is the second minivan to earn Top Safety Pick since the Institute tightened the criteria to include good performance for roof strength in rollover crashes (the other is the Toyota Sienna). These vehicles earlier earned good ratings for front, side, and rear crash protection.

In the latest tests, the roof of the Odyssey withstood a force more than 5 times the minivan's weight. The Acadia's roof withstood a force equal to 4 times weight. By comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight. Top Safety Pick only applies to Acadia, Traverse, and Enclave models manufactured after January 2011, because GM made running changes to improve roof strength for these models.

In addition to good crash test ratings in all 4 Institute tests, award winners must have electronic stability control (ESC), an important crash-avoidance feature.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/12/iihs-awards-top-safety-pick-to-2011-honda-odyssey-gm-lambda-cuv/#continued

Next Gen Honda Odyssey for Japan

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

2011 Honda Odyssey Earns Best-Possible 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in More-Stringent Federal Government Crash Test Safety Rating Program

01/27/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
The all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) best-possible Overall Vehicle Score1 of five stars and is one of the first two vehicles ever to earn five stars in each seating position for all three crash tests, each crash test category and the overall rating, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Odyssey joins the 2011 Accord Sedan as one of the few vehicles to date that achieves the federal government's best-possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score and five stars in the combined frontal and side crash safety ratings.

The Odyssey achieved its top Overall Vehicle Score with five-star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios. Additionally, the Odyssey received four stars for the rollover rating3, the highest achievable in the light-truck vehicle class using the program's measurement methodology.

The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the federal government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to 2011 models. As a convenience to new car shoppers, the Overall Vehicle Score represents the combined results of the overall ratings from the frontal crash tests, the side crash tests and the rollover-resistance into a single, summary score between one and five stars. Additional information is available at www.safercar.gov.

Complete NCAP safety rating results for the 2011 Odyssey are:

All 2011 Odyssey vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.

Overall, the Odyssey improves for the 2011 model year with greater interior functionality, a more distinctive style and higher fuel economy. Significant enhancements to the interior include a new "3-mode" second-row seat design that is more comfortable for center passengers (Odyssey EX and above). A more powerful and efficient 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine features Variable Cylinder Management (standard on all models for 2011) and produces 248 hp while delivering an EPA-estimated4 city/highway/combined fuel economy of 19/28/22 mpg on Odyssey Touring models.

New technology available on certain models includes a rear entertainment system with a 16.2-inch ultrawide split-screen display and an auxiliary High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video input, an "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with customizable wallpaper, integration of FM traffic data on navigation models and much more.

The 2011 Odyssey is truly an American-made vehicle – designed, engineered and assembled in the United States. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) using domestic and globally sourced parts.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2011-honda-odyssey-earns-best-possible-5-star-overall-vehicle-score-in-more-stringent-federal-government-crash-test-safety-rating-program

Consumer Reports Test complete: 2011 Honda Odyssey EX-L

“Mocked as Uncool, the Minivan Rises Again,” proclaims the headline in the recent New York Times’ business section. Long maligned for their dowdy image and shunted to the sidelines as buyers were attracted to SUVs, minivans are experiencing something of a sales resurgence.

Maybe buyers are rediscovering the appeal of minivans: no other vehicle offers their combination of passenger and cargo space, drivability, refinement, and fuel economy. It’s also entirely likely that sales are up because there is fresh product. Every player in the market has been redesigned or updated in the last 18 months.

That includes the Honda Odyssey, currently the top-selling minivan. Trying to appeal to a new generation of buyers who previously wouldn’t be caught dead in a minivan, the redesigned Odyssey has much more swoopy styling and some new interior features. But as our test shows, a minivan that is now more interesting to look at isn’t necessarily more entertaining to drive.

Watch the video for highlights from our testing, and visit the Honda Odyssey model overview page for complete pricing, reliability, road test, and more.

—Tom Mutchler

Source;
Consumer Reports

2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite vs. 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE Comparison Test

Excellent comparison done by Inside Line, I included the final part of the artical....


Crowning the Ultimate Minivan
Though they have different personalities, the 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite and 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE both offer smart, relevant designs in packages that go a long way toward accommodating every possible desire of the modern family. There isn't another vehicle class that's so singularly focused on the very details that make it perfect for the target customer.

Sure, some say the 2011 Honda Odyssey looks like a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer. Others criticize its beltline hitch and not-so-subtle door-slider track, but whether you're talking about seating configuration or slalom performance, the Honda Odyssey Touring Elite is the ultimate minivan of 2011.

Sienna detractors might say it looks like a hospital gurney with a satin sheet thrown over it, and that it handles like a gurney to boot. However, if you're looking for an extremely low-impact, smooth and quiet minivan (or one with a four-cylinder engine or all-wheel drive), there's good reason to consider a 2011 Toyota Sienna.

The Odyssey Touring Elite is the better overall value, though, as its boatload of features easily offsets its price disadvantage versus the Toyota Sienna XLE. Moreover, the Honda's road manners will win the heart of any car-guy-turned-family-man. Forget crossovers. The 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite is the closest thing there is to an eight-passenger sport sedan.

Source;
http://www.insideline.com/honda/odyssey/2011/2011-honda-odyssey-touring-elite-vs-2011-toyota-sienna-xle-comparison-test.html

2011 Honda Odyssey VS 2011 Toyota Sienna

Here's a quick review on two really good vans....

Kelley Blue Book picks Honda minivan for best redesign

Kelley Blue Book selected the all-new Honda Odyssey minivan as the best redesigned vehicle for the 2011 model year.

Honda's engineers and designers succeeded in the tricky task of redesigning an already popular and successful model, Kelley Blue Book, a leading provider of new and used car pricing and other data, said today.

"The 2011 Honda Odyssey improves on its predecessor in every way imaginable, offering a better-looking, more contemporary exterior design, a sumptuous interior stuffed with innovative features, and class-leading fuel economy, " said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com site.

"Its safety, refinement, resale value and trouble-free nature are combined with a surprising level of fun-to-drive."

The Odyssey's lower roofline and improved aerodynamics helped the minivan achieve class-leading fuel economy, KBB said, while the wider stance improved its appearance and expanded the interior space. The cabin has innovative, new features, such as a 'cool box' for drinks and flip-up trash bag ring, and more comfortable seating.

The Odyssey, which starts at $27,800, beat out a list of finalists that included the BMW X3 small SUV, the new Ford Explorer, redesigned Hyundai Sonata, the Infiniti M, Jaguar XJ, Kia Optima, Porsche Cayenne, Volvo S60 and the Odyssey's traditional archrival, the Toyota Sienna minivan.
Automakers typically start launching new model year vehicles in the late summer, though some come out earlier.

Source;
http://www.detnews.com/article/20101216/AUTO01/12160491/1361/Kelley-Blue-Book-picks-Honda-minivan-for-best-redesign

Honda minivan tops in fuel economy

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

The Auto Channel: 2011 Honda Odyssey Review

Honda Odyssey for 2011
By Thom CannellSenior EditorDetroit Bureau The Auto Channel

Why does Honda have the guts to develop an all-new minivan when GM and Ford have abandoned the market? Though sales have dropped, annual sales of half a million per year makes the minivan market larger than many and, one supposes, profitable. And why does Honda think it can outsmart perennial leader Chrysler? That is the story.

Today’s minivan intenders and prospectors are the first kids who to grow up inside those early boxes on wheels. As infants, toddlers and adolescents they were car seated, booster seated, soccer-baseball-football-hockey trans-sported in minivans and very likely went to their proms aboard a minivan (not to mention the extreme likelihood their first kiss occurred behind a sliding door). These new and soon-to-be parents are, at least potentially, not put off by the image of soccer mom and car pool carrier, though research says they lust for BMWs, S/CUVs and Mustangs.

For them, Honda has built a minivan that combines the best minivan attributes along with sport sedan styling while offering sufficient technology to inspire the next FaceBook-like leap of imagination. In short, the 2011 Odyssey easily overcomes its potentially dowdy image.

The new Odyssey was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show as a concept and is little changed. Its signature lightning bolt zigzag side view revitalizes its necessarily boxlike shape and creates an appearance that is sleek and swift, if not racy. Production versions seen either head on or from the rear to be very stylish, better proportioned than most non-sedans of any ilk, and not at all like a brick or barn side. A recent brief test drive disclosed other facts about Odyssey.

Honda asserts that Odyssey has great technology, enviable power and fuel economy, and driving characteristics more sedan than van. These are reasonable claims and we have only minor quibbles about them. Certainly Honda’s power train expertise and the V-6 engine that drives the vehicle is almost magically smooth and complex, shifting seamlessly from using all six cylinders to accelerate briskly and then to four, or even three cylinders to cruise economically. This is not new, but the 3.5-liter 248 hp i-VETEC retains all of its magic and mojo. Mated to a five or six-speed automatic transmission (who would want anything else?), it powers the two and a quarter-ton vehicle to highway speed with grace and finesse. Any transition from powerful passing to more economical cruising goes almost totally unnoticed and five-speed versions deliver 18 mpg City and 27 Highway for a combined 21 mpg average (+1 mpg for 6-speed transmission-equipped models).

Honda also says the vehicle has sporty driving character with a 56/44% weight distribution and improved brakes. Clearly it aspires to sportiness, riding solidly over bad and worse roads while delivering responsive directionality in rain. However the steering is somewhat on the rubber-bandish side of direct when moving off center for our tastes and, while boasting a supportive and massively rigid chassis that never puts a tire wrong, cannot be described as actually sporty. Despite minor negatives (we thought the brakes exhibited more than a hint of sogginess, though solid), Odyssey is better connected to the road than any minivan we’ve driven.

Where Odyssey truly displays differentiation is in its adaptability and interior style. For instance, the front door bins might accommodate most of a paperback library or the most capacious clutch bag while holding any manner of beverage container. The way its multitude of interior surfaces creates harmony would be more familiar to shoppers of Bergdorf Goodman’s or Lord & Taylor than Gap, American Eagle, or Forever 21.

Instruments are clear and the center stack that holds controls for climate and entertainment could be delivered as your den’s media center, complete with a large video screen. That screen—navigation, not television—is easy to understand—once you understand it. We had trouble figuring out how to change mapping scale; it is blindingly obvious once understood. The nav screen is used for a multitude of operations: climate control, rear view camera, incoming call numbers, XM and CD information, and traffic map display.

Depending on model (an LX starts at $27,800 plus destination to the ultra-premium Touring Elite at $43,250) more features are piled on, from the navigation system to humidity-controlled climate control, a variety of audio systems, and a “must have” 16.2” rear video display that can show two channels (video or game systems) simultaneous. How’s that for keeping the back seat free of disputes?

Regardless of price, the functions of a minivan are retained and improved. The third row seat is, as a matter of fact, comfortable for adults of more than modest size and access to that former purgatory is truly easy enough for a child’s muscles. The 60/40 split third row Magic Seat now folds into the floor with a single tug of the pull-rope and the front center console is removable. If you wish, (removable) second row seating can slide outward, and back in to increase elbow room or ease access to the third row. Heck, there’s even a six-pack sized cool box and a bin just for your mobile devices (think handsfree.) This is a very well developed minivan, one conceived, designed, engineered and built in the US.

Source;
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2010/10/18/501792.html

2011 Honda Odyssey: Up Close and Personal

Wow, I got to say, Honda has really out done themselves with this one. I would hate to compete against this van. I am really impressed.

Here are some short form notes that I came away with;

-the 3rd row seats are even easier than the outgoing model with only one step needed to fold the seats into the floor.

-the 2nd row seats not only slide forward and back, but also side to side 'wide mode' (approx 2 inches), so when you have the plus one seat in the middle, you can space out the row more evenly giving much more elbow room or you can fit 3X child seats in. We had the van loaded up 3X adults along the 3rd row and everyone was comfortable.

-great visability for the 3rd row occupants, the 'lightning bolt' side profile design is really effective.

-the spare tire stays inside, going back to the 1999-2004 Odyssey's orig spot located between the front seats and the second row (think about where the lazy susan goes in the 2005-2010). This keeps you and the tire clean when changing a flat in the middle of the winter, you don't have to crawl under the van to get the spare.

-Touring models have a 'Blind Spot Indicator' that will let you know with a indicator light (no beeps!) that there is a car (somehow recognizes vehicles only) in your blind spot behind your rear tire.

-all models have Bluetooth now, except LX.

-the new cool box has it's own AC unit so that you can have your drinks cool even when you have the heat on through the cabin -- most cool boxes have the cabin AC air flow through and when you turn your heat on guess what happens to the cool box, not so cool anymore.

-the Touring models come with Auto Levelling Headlights, so when you tow anything and your front end angles up from the weight, the head lights will level back down so that your lights aren't into oncoming traffic eyes.

-you will be surprised how your phone can be integrated into the entertainment system, through the Bluetooth, you can play any songs loaded on your phone through the sound system.

and much more....

2011 Honda Odyssey Trim Spec's (Canada)

Source;
Honda Canada

Honda Launches Campaign For Odyssey Minivan

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

2011 Honda Odyssey debuts

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

Consumer Reports: Why you should buy a 2010 Honda Odyssey now!

More 2011 Honda Odyssey Information for Canada

Trim Levels
LX
The LX trim replaces the entry-level DX trim - adding more content at a lower price point;
Standard Features (All Trims):
-Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)
-9-way Power Driver Seat
-Privacy Tinted Glass
-Battery Management System
-One Mortion 60/40 Split 3rd Row Magic Seat
-VSA-Traction Control w/Brake Assist, ABS, EBD, and 6 Airbags
-Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Other LX Features:
-229-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA Audio System with 5 Speakers
-17" Steel Wheels with Covers
-Projector Headlights
-LATCH Positions 4
-5 Speed Automatic Transmission
-Keyless Entry
-Cruise Control
-Heated Side Door Mirrors

EX/EX-RES (Rear Entertainment System)
The EX and EX-RES are re-introduced and revamped focusing on unmatched Value and Convenience. Cloth with DVD. Price Reduced from 2010 Model.
Adding or Replacing on the LX
-LATCH Positions 5
-Standard, Wide, Pass-thru modes
-Power Sliding Doors w/Slide Door Switch
-17"Alluminum Alloy Wheels
-Auto on/off Headlights
-Bluetooth
-Rearview Camera
-Driver Power Lumbar
-Heated Cloth Seats
-USB Jack
-i-MID (8") with Selector Knob
-Available (RES) 9" DVD with Wireless Headsets, Headphone Jacks, and 115-volt Power Outlet
-8 Passenger Seating
-Tri-Zone Auto Climate Control
-Security System

EX-L
Now Standard with a DVD and a price reduction from 2010.
Adds or Replaces to the EX RES
-Parking Sensors
-Cool Box
-Standard 9" DVD with Wireless Headsets, Headphone Jacks, and 115-volt Power Outlet
-Leather-Trimmed Interior
-Power Tailgate
-Power Sunroof
-Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror
-4-Way Power Passenger Seat
-XM Radio

TOURING
The top of the line Touring adds new luxurious high-tech features never before seen on a Honda. Again, a nice price reduction from 2010!
Adds or replaces over the EX-L:
-6 Speed Automatic Transmission
-18" Aluminum Alloy Wheels
-Blind Spot Indicators (BSI)
-Auto-Leveling HID Headlights
-16.2" Ultrawide DVD RES
-HDMI Input
-650 Watt AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA Premium Sound System with 12 Speakers w/Subwoofer and 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound
-15GB Memory Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Audio Storage
-Honda Satellite Linked Navigation with Voice Recognition, Multi-View Rear Camera with OnScreen Display Guidelines, Wallpaper Function, Song-by-Voice, and illumiated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls.
-Memory Side Mirrors w/Turn Signals
-Front Fog Lights
-Memory Seat
and more....

Source;
Honda Canada