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