| The Honda Odyssey and its minivan
| |
| | there's a deep, rectangular space behind
|
| competitors - Chrysler Town &
| |
| | the third seat for additional cargo
|
| Country, Dodge Caravan and Toyota Sienna
| |
| | space.I never drove my test vehicle with
|
| - are often touted as family
| |
| | more more than one passenger, and
|
| vehicles.In television commercials, the
| |
| | that left the second and third rows
|
| Odyssey is showcased with a mother or
| |
| | vacant. With cargo ar additional
|
| father transporting the neighborhood
| |
| | passengers it's likely the ride quality
|
| youth soccer team to practice or
| |
| | would have improved, but wasn't
|
| with a family packing up for a summer
| |
| | bad with only a front-seat passenger only
|
| camping trip.But what if a large family
| |
| | slight bumpy in some
|
| isn't part of the equation? Is a minivan
| |
| | situations. The front bucket seats
|
| still a
| |
| | provide a superior view without any
|
| prudent choice?With the 2004 Honda
| |
| | obstructions.For drivers unaccustomed to
|
| Odyssey, a strong case can be made in
| |
| | automatic shifting adjacent of the
|
| favor of a
| |
| | steering
|
| minivan for a two-person family or even
| |
| | wheel, there's a slight learning curve.
|
| an individual who needs a
| |
| | The shifting arm is positioned
|
| healthy amount of space for cargo or who
| |
| | behind the shorter arm that operates the
|
| enjoys traveling with friends.For my
| |
| | windshield wipers. More than
|
| weekly drive, the Odyssey was the
| |
| | once, I reached for the shifting arm and
|
| 240-horsepower, 24-value
| |
| | engaged the windshield wipers
|
| V6, EX model with a 5-speed automatic.
| |
| | or windshield cleaning spray.Regardless,
|
| With its Redrock Pearl exterior
| |
| | the available options in my vehicle were
|
| and Ivory interior, the vehicle has a
| |
| | plentiful and nicely
|
| confident presence and performs
| |
| | appointed: leather seats, individually
|
| equally impressively.Although a minivan,
| |
| | heat front seats, front and rear air
|
| the Odyssey has surprisingly quick
| |
| | conditioning, driver's 8-way power seat
|
| acceleration
| |
| | with adjustable lumbar support,
|
| and has been timed in under eight seconds
| |
| | cruise control and a audio/visual package
|
| in the standard 0-60 mph
| |
| | than encompasses an AM/FM
|
| test. While obviously not marketed as a
| |
| | cassette/CD stereo, rear DVD played,
|
| high performance vehicle, the
| |
| | second seat, flip-down seven-inch
|
| Odyssey is not tortoise-like in any
| |
| | LCD monitor and remote and wireless
|
| acceleration situation.Still, the
| |
| | headphones.Those features push the
|
| purchaser of a minivan is likely more
| |
| | Odyssey's price well into the low $30,000
|
| interested in substantial
| |
| | range. Still, add such features as dual-
|
| cargo area than drag racing.And that's an
| |
| | powered sliding rear doors on
|
| area in which the Odyssey shines.Beginning
| |
| | both sides of the vehicle, automatic
|
| with front interior, the seats are
| |
| | climate control, steering wheel radio
|
| spacious, wide and
| |
| | controls and efficiently operated and
|
| comfortable. The front center console is
| |
| | illuminated visor mirror and map
|
| actually a folding tray. When not
| |
| | lights, and it's no wonder the Odyssey's
|
| in use, it folds parallel to the
| |
| | reputation as the best value in
|
| passenger seat, leaving ample access to
| |
| | its class continues to expand.2004 Honda
|
| the first of two passenger rows.The
| |
| | OdysseySafety features -- Driver's and
|
| second row of the seven-passenger vehicle
| |
| | front passenger's front and side airbags,
|
| provides superior
| |
| | ABS brakes, traction control system.Fuel
|
| room. The bucket seats are adjustable
| |
| | Mileage (estimates) -- 18 mpg (city), 25
|
| into many settings and can also
| |
| | mpg (highway).Warranty --Bumper to Bumper,
|
| be moved together to form a bench seat
| |
| | 3 Years/36,000 Miles; Drivetrain: 3
|
| that can be slid forward and aft
| |
| | Years/36,000 Miles Corrosion: 5 Years
|
| for appropriate leg room.The third row
| |
| | 50,000 MilesBase price range --
|
| seat folds into the floor, which further
| |
| | $24,490-$30,490.James Raia is a syndicated
|
| extents available
| |
| | journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who
|
| cargo space and alleviates a problem in
| |
| | writes
|
| other similar vehicles. A third
| |
| | about sports, fitness and business topics
|
| seat not in use doesn't have to be stored
| |
| | as well as the syndicated car
|
| elsewhere.If all rows of seats are in use,
| |
| | review column, The Weekly Driver.
|
