2014 HONDA ODYSSEY
Base price: $28,825
As tested, including destination charge: $45,280
Great job, guys — three runs in the last inning for a dramatic comeback win.
But was it necessary to track half the infield dirt onto the back seat carpet? Winning is a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.
Not to worry with the new 2014 Honda Odyssey minivan: It has its own vacuum cleaner. That’s right: No need to run to the local filling station and search your pockets for quarters, only to find the dang thing’s out of order again.
It’s stored neatly in the rear-cargo bulkhead and has a neat flex hose that stretches 10 feet — long enough to get all the way to the front seats. It comes with two attachments and suction that, while not as strong as commercial ones, is sufficient for most dirt and leaves, cookie crumbs and fries.
And that’s not all that is new this year. Odyssey upgrades the standards list with an 8-inch color display inside, upgraded audio with Bluetooth and Pandora interface, and four-way power seats for the front passenger, too.
A center stack with a touch screen replaces last year’s buttons. Still, the infotainment functions are a little cumbersome to wade through.
The cabin is roomy with the usual cup holders and niches for stuff. And it’s versatile: The second row can be reconstructed to include a center aisle for access to the third row, or can be benchlike to accommodate three car seats in a row. The second row can slide 5.5 inches for easier reach from the front to finger-warn the wailing kids.
The third row folds into the floor for an expanded cargo area. Remove the second row seats — not exactly an easy task — for 148 cubic feet of cargo space.
Outside, the Odyssey looks pretty much the same, save for some minor touches to the front fascia — like the grille and aluminum hood — and rear.
On the road, Odyssey’s comfort and handling are as impressive as its family-friendly interior. First off, it feels much smaller than it is, feeling more like a nimble midsize sedan at times. The tight turning radius makes U-turns a breeze.
The front-wheel-drive Odyssey returns with the same 3.5-liter V-6 that puts out 248 horses and feels more than up to most roadway challenges. The 4,613-pound van, loaded with five passengers and suitcases en route to the airport, was not a burden. Acceleration from the stoplight was sufficient, and there was enough oomph to pass when necessary.
The six-speed automatic tranny was a smooth shifter and quick to downshift for extra power. And steering is regarded as among the most responsive in its class, so no gripes there, either.
Mileage figures I can gripe about. While they are not in the teens like many in the SUV crowd, the 3.5 doesn’t do as well as I would hope — especially on the highway journeys. Combined city-highway mileage of around 22 mpg is what you might expect, but highway mileage alone didn’t fare much better for me around 23.
Odyssey’s safety features inspire confidence on the road, though. “What’s that little yellow triangle on the side-view mirror?” my son’s girlfriend asked.
That would be Honda’s LaneWatch blind-spot warning system letting us know when it’s safe to merge, I said. Forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems also are standard on the Touring and Touring Elite trims.
And a rearview camera is standard across the board for assistance in backing out of the driveway or mall parking space.
The Odyssey comes in five trim levels. The entry-level LX has steel wheels but does have full power accessories, cruise control, eight-way power seats and 8-inch info display. The midrange EX gets the alloy wheels plus power-sliding doors, the LaneWatch blind-spot system, power lumbar support for the driver and the fully adjustable second-row seat.
Next up is the EX-L which has what most will want: power liftgate, sunroof, leather seats and forward-collision avoidance system.
Then comes the Touring, which offers 18-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors and standard nav and rear entertainment system. The Touring Elite has an upgraded rear-entertainment package and 12-speaker audio plus, as standard, the vacuum cleaner.
No vehicle fits everyone’s needs. If you need more power, Toyota’s Sienna has a stronger V-6. And the Dodge Caravan, though less equipped, offers substantial savings.
But the Odyssey is the only van that will keep Mom and Dad happy when the gang piles in from the ball field.
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