Odyssey packed with fresh features

Mention lazy susan and most folks think about an appliance on the kitchen table. But Mr. Honda thinks it belongs in a minivan. The anxiously awaited 2005 Odyssey is here, and a lazy susan is just one of the nifty features in the totally redesigned people mover.

Honda first introduced the Odyssey in 1995 as a four-cylinder vehicle with four conventional side doors and a clever third-row seat that folded flat into the floor. In many ways it was like the lumbering station wagons of the 70s and 80s, with one big difference -- gas mileage. It immediately cultivated a loyal following of people who wanted lots of space combined with unwavering reliability and fuel economy.

In 1999 Honda redefined the minivan segment with the much larger, more powerful, and more conventional second-generation Odyssey. It was an immediate success, and buyers waited months to pay more than sticker price to own one. The new Honda offered second-row seats that could serve as a bench or individual bucket seats, a 210-horsepower V-6 engine, great safety scores, and improved styling. The automotive journalists loved it as much as the buyers, and piled on award after award.

But Honda hasn't been asleep at the wheel. For 2005 the Honda Odyssey plant in Birmingham, Ala., is poised to crank out 160,000 minivans, and last week I test drove one of the first ones, a Touring model equipped like a luxury sedan and filled with innovative features that Honda has become famous for.

Under the hood

Starting at the front and working back, the most noticeable change is the front-end treatment, with a new grill graced by round "projector" headlamps glowing through bold clear lenses. But the real news is what's under the hood. You could call the Odyssey the hot rod of minivans, because the new one has received a big power boost to 255 horsepower thanks to a potent 3.5-liter V-6 engine managed through a drive-by-wire throttle system. It's coupled to a 5-speed automatic transmission and received a generous 3,500-pound tow rating and an ultra-low emission vehicle rating. It does all this on regular fuel and needs a tune-up only at 105,000 miles.

But that's just the beginning. Thanks to variable cylinder management and variable valve timing, the new engine seamlessly activates or deactivates its three rear cylinders, depending on the driver's demands, which translates into V-6 power when needed, as well as the efficiency of a smaller engine while cruising. The intake and exhaust valves remain closed on the deactivated cylinders, while fuel injection is paused. This results in an EPA highway mileage rating of 28 mpg! And it all happens without the driver even noticing -- I couldn't hear or detect any change under the hood, but that may be because the Odyssey is equipped with active noise cancellation.

ANC has been available in aviation headsets for several years to electronically cancel propeller and engine noise. Honda has brought it to mainstream vehicles and it works in concert with the audio system to quell unwanted interior noise from the engine and other sources. On my test drive I found the Odyssey delivered a hushed, smooth ride, no doubt helped by the rubber-isolated rear subframe, four-wheel independent suspension and new run-flat Michelin tires. Those tires ride on special wheels containing a flexible support ring that enhances handling. In the event of a puncture, they can be driven at 50 mph up to 125 miles. All Honda dealers will have a replacement wheel and tire unit that can be swapped out to enable the vehicle to continue on its way.

The interior is also all-new, but I'll tell you now that the middle row of seats does not disappear into the floor -- only the third row does that. The space under the floor is occupied by the lazy susan I mentioned. Imagine a rotating storage bin large enough to hold kids games, dog toys, work stuff or play stuff. Now make it accessible from either the front seat or the back seat through trap doors. You get the idea. If you want a single, larger storage area you can remove the lazy susan altogether, and the cover is lockable, making it a great place to keep valuables out of sight. What's not out of sight are the cup holders -- 15 of them -- and all the handy nooks, hooks and glove boxes--two of them! Honda has thought of just about everything, including a stowable second row PlusOne seat that can be removed to create some extra space between the two full-size second-row seats. It can be stored under the floor.

A new power rear liftgate, dual power sliding side doors, a power driver's seat and power adjustable pedals, along with power moon roof, power windows, and sliding door power windows that really roll down will keep the most dedicated button pushers happy, while the passengers can adjust their own triple climate controls. And to think it all started 56 years ago with a simple little car called the Civic. It's been quite an Odyssey, Mr. Honda.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at sjr1@robertsonsphotography.com.