    2014 Honda Odyssey Touring cargo area configurations. Click image to enlarge |
The Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler T&C Stow n’ Go second rows tumble relatively quickly into their sub-floor wells, and the Nissan Quest offers more limited space, but conveniently flat without any Herculean chair-wrestling feats required.
Part of the reason for the weight of those second row chairs is the sheer comfort, thickly padded upholstery with outboard armrests that can recline and slide fore and aft for plenty of space and a comfortable seating position. That’s not all, folks. The outboard seats can also slide an inch or so outwards to allow greater space for a passenger in the middle seat (fine for even full-size adults like myself and even has its own set of LATCH anchors), extra room for access to the third row with the jump seat removed, or just greater distance between squabbling siblings. But wait, there’s more! Both sides can flip on their front hinge to allow access to rear even with ginormous kid seats installed, though the limited range of motion of the sliding door obstructs some of that opening. Speaking of children’s seats, the Odyssey is the prefect compromise height and tall door opening for my average height (5’10”) and my wife’s shorter stature (5’0″), making seat and child installation an easy and back-strain-free endeavour.
   2014 Honda Odyssey Touring third row seats, removable second row middle seat, cabin. Click image to enlarge |
Once ensconced in the third row, you’ll notice impressive headroom and legroom and even a few amenities – definitely not second-class citizens with USB plug on one side and VGA and 110V on the other, and double cupholders and vents on each side. However, the seats themselves are mounted close to the floor, pushing adult knees back up into your chest and low headrests show it is clearly intended for short people and kids.
The third row has a couple tricks of its own, too. Of course it easily flips down to stow away, but it’s a bit heavy to lift back up. Its party trick is that you can also keep the seats open and flip them back for a tailgating perch at the back of the van.
The parent’s room up front features two fully power adjustable lounge chairs that promise long-haul comfort. Light grey leather on our tester, showing over 23,000 km, was starting to show some pretty heavy transfer staining from the endless stream of denimed auto writers getting in and out. Within reach (though a bit of a long reach because the vehicle is fairly wide) is an endless array of car controls and entertainment features. The usual radio plus satellite radio, Bluetooth phone and audio, navigation, and more are accessed through the large touchscreen or the large knob beneath it, it has most of the same issues we complained about in the long-term Acura MDX. Heating and A/C are old-fashioned dials and buttons for the multi-zone auto climate control.
   2014 Honda Odyssey Touring map lights & cabin mirror, overhead display, passenger media input & power outlet. Click image to enlarge |
Centre storage console between front seats includes a couple cupholders, a wide tray and large covered bin that can even hide a camera bag or purse. This console can also be removed to allow for lumber runs, a ladder or skis with that second row middle seat removed as well. There is also a cooled compartment under the stereo and DVD slot that make for a teensy little mini-fridge. The second-row screen is extra wide and has the option to play split-screen content, but the DVD player only takes one DVD, so the other has to come from another source, like the HDMI or VGA inputs back in the third row. No matter, our boy seemed happy enough sitting through his sister’s My Little Pony marathon, and I’m not one to look a gift pony in the mouth.
The modern minivan is quite an amazing machine, truly a boon to families that are willing to focus on their needs and wants rather than the trends and fashion of the day. The driving experience is little worse than a typical SUV or crossover, and modern safety equipment (Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning being the two most recent additions) and structural improvements to the body helped it earn a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Personally, I prefer the taller but usually firmer ride of some crossovers like the Hyundai Santa Fe XL or Ford Flex, but the Odyssey serves well either commuting to and from work or shuttling the kids to school or extra-curricular activities, and the interior space is such that it can easily grow with your kids into their teens or into a larger family. A minivan is the smart choice for most needs, and the Honda Odyssey is one of the best I’ve experienced to date, packing many of the most desirable features (I wouldn’t have minded cooled, ventilated seats in the hot week we had it). Although it’s an expensive machine when fully kitted out, the basic convenience and usability of the minivan, comfortable, spacious interior, composed yet comfortable ride and Honda’s efficient and well-balanced driving experience help it stand out in the segment.
Pricing: 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring
Base Price: $29,990
Base Price (Touring): $45,050
Options: None
Freight & PDI: $1,695
A/C Tax: $100
Price as Tested: $46,845
Competitors:
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Kia Sedona
Mazda5
Nissan Quest
Toyota Sienna
Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
