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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2008 Honda Odyssey

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Honda Odyssey

Overview

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2008 Honda Odyssey Review

By KBB.com Editors

Dads will tell you the best vehicle to transport the wife and kids is a big, burly SUV, but Moms know better. Despite its less-than-macho image, the minivan is still the best family transport ever invented. Large sliding side doors make for quick and easy entries and exits, while a low and level cargo floor means minimal muscle is required when loading. If a minivan is in your future, there are a number of makes to choose from, and at the top of that list is the 2008 Honda Odyssey. Renowned for its spacious interior, powerful engine, comfortable ride and exceptional safety rating, the Odyssey leaves little room for criticism. About the only deterrent to purchasing an Odyssey may be its high price and limited availability.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you'd rather be driving a nice sedan but you have a family, a dog and a load of luggage to haul on vacation, the 2008 Honda Odyssey makes for a livable compromise. With all its nifty features, some of your friends may even think it's cool.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you don't like the traditional minivan look, about the only choices left are Nissan's spacey Quest or the sporty new Dodge Grand Caravan. Bargain shoppers may be put off by the high price tag and limited ability to deal.

What's New for 2008

The 2008 Honda Odyssey receives a major exterior freshening, with a new front and rear fascia, new wheels and a new, more fuel-efficient engine (EX-L and Touring). The interior gets a major makeover offering new fabrics and trim colors, as well as some new options.

Driving the Odyssey

Driving Impressions One of the goals of every new minivan is to deliver a car-like driving experience. If the car in that comparison is a large sedan, the 2008 Honda Odyssey succeeds...

on some levels and comes close on others. With plenty of horsepower and usable torque, the Odyssey moves quickly from a stop and easily merges with traffic. Once moving, the ride is smooth and well-controlled, even if rougher roads don't go unnoticed. While few will call its performance inspiring, the Odyssey brakes and corners with a capability some may find surprisingly good for a vehicle of its proportions, and the strong engine can get you quickly back to cruising speed.

Favorite Features

In-Floor Storage
A carpeted panel in the floor in front of the second-row seat lifts to reveal a compartment big enough to swallow the available eighth seat. When you need the room for something else, an optional Lazy Susan makes it easy to access items that might otherwise require a reach.

Comprehensive Safety Features
From Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, Electronic Brake Distribution, Anti-Lock Brakes and Tire Pressuring Monitoring to help keep you out of trouble, to the Advanced Compatibility Engineering Body Structure, Active Front Head Restraints and a full complement of airbags to help protect you if trouble should occur, the Odyssey offers its occupants an extremely comprehensive set of safety features.

2008 Honda Odyssey Details

Interior

There are plenty of innovations worth noting inside the Odyssey, as well as a couple of surprises. Honda engineers have made the third-row seat more accessible, thanks to sliding second-row seats. The third-row seat is also split on a 60/40 bias and very easy to fold flat into the floor. The second row features power windows plus optional twin captain's chairs and a clever in-seat storage compartment (dubbed the PlusOne Seat by Honda). There are three sets of LATCH child safety seat anchors: Two on the outboard second-row seats and one in the middle third-row seat.

Exterior

Rather than pushing beyond the expected limits of minivan styling, the 2008 Odyssey emerges as a refined version of its former self. Honda's designers have conceived an Odyssey that is both sleeker and more sophisticated than the previous generation. The Odyssey's wide stance gives it a more secure visual stance. Appealing features such as available power sliding side doors and a power rear liftgate bolster the Odyssey's desirability.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Every 2008 Honda Odyssey (LX, EX, EX with Leather and Touring) includes the disappearing third-row seat, in-floor storage, CD player, dual-zone air conditioning (tri-zone in EX-L and Touring), power windows, keyless entry and cruise control. Standard safety features include frontal and side airbags up front, three-row side-curtain airbags and Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control. The standard 3.5-liter VTEC engine gives way to a similar, higher-mileage i-VTEC engine with variable cylinder management (VCM) in the top two models.

Optional Equipment

Features available only on select trim levels or as stand-alone options include the stowable eighth seat, leather seating, power sliding doors, four-way power passenger seat, six-disc in-dash CD player, 360-watt stereo, Bluetooth hands-free communication link, memory-linked tilt-down side view mirrors (standard on Touring), more fuel-efficient i-VTEC engine with VCM, power moonroof, nine-inch rear DVD entertainment center, plus a navigation system with voice recognition and an integrated rearview camera with rearview mirror display. Available only on the premium Touring model are a power tailgate, memory driver's seat, power-adjustable pedals, front and rear parking sensors and a run-flat tire system.

Under the Hood

Until someone drops a V8 into a minivan, the Odyssey's 244-horsepower V6 is one of the most powerful engines in its class. The Odyssey's 3.5-liter V6 is a solid piece of work. Strong, quiet and fairly fuel-efficient, its performance attributes are only enhanced by its bulletproof service and repair history. New for 2008 is the addition of Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) which, depending upon load, deactivates cylinders for improved fuel consumption.

3.5-liter V6
244 horsepower @ 5750 rpm (LX and EX)
241 horsepower @ 5700 rpm (EX-L and Touring)
240 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5000 rpm (LX and EX)
242 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4900 rpm (EX-L and Touring)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 (LX and EX), 17/25 (EX-L and Touring)

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Honda Odyssey vehicles for sale near you.

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2008 Honda Odyssey Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.6

Out of 10

Based on 602 Ratings for the 2005 - 2010 models.

Review this car

Value

8.8/10

Quality

8.8/10
Reliability

9.0/10

Performance

8.9/10
Comfort

9.1/10

Styling

9.0/10

Worst vehicle we have ever owned

By mikec (TX) on Sunday, June 09, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 140,000

10 4.0

overall rating 4 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 4/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 2/10
Quality: 3/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "interior design and comfort"

Cons: "reliability"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"I know this is a Honda and is supposed to be the best. That why we bought it. Did not do much research like I normally do for other vehicles, always wanted a honda based on reputation. This was a big mistake. I also currently own a kia sedona van same year and mileage. it gets a lot more use than the honda. the Kia is used for work. So far the honda has had everything that bolts on to the engine replaced (except tranny, but research says those arent too good either). the kia no work required. The interior is nice has everything you could want. It has the comfort and great layout and design. the kia not so much. but if you want to make it there with out any issues or getting stranded the kia delivers. With the honda we have to cross our fingers everytime we turn the key. (and keep them crossed till you get there). It has left us stranded multiple times) the kia(which is our 4th hyundai produced vehicle -2 kia/2 hyundai -has never let us down. If you do decide to take a chance on the honda, make sure if its touring it doesnt have the pax system on it. Those tires are way too expensive and you can only get them serviced at the dealer or specific discount tire stores. plus alignments are only possible at certain places."

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Great car

By Cari (MD) on Wednesday, June 05, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 70,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "good resale value, fun to drive, comfortable"

Cons: "Known to spring leaks"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"We bought the car new and it has worked out well for us. We did have a transmission leak while it was still under the 36k mile warranty and one other leak around 60k miles. However, overall the car has been very reliable. It is very comfortable and drives well. I have no complaints. One of my favorite things is that you (or your passenger) can actually use the navigation while driving--something that isn't true of our Camry and drives me nuts in unfamiliar areas. Overall, I would recommend the Odyssey. Unless something drastic goes wrong, I plan on driving this car for another 3-5 years and then buying another new Odyssey."

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Great mini-van with many features

By Jon (CA) on Friday, May 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 76,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Versatile, reliable, practicle"

Cons: "Road noise."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Very versatile van. Hauls a lot of things with seats removed or folded down. Comfortable space for 6 full size people. Tight space for 7 or 8 people. It would be OK for smaller people or children. Peppy engine. Mileage averages out to 20 mpg with combined highway/city driving. Good navigation system. The back up camera is great but it is a safety requirement since the back up blind spot is huge without it. Very reliable van. I have had no major maintenance issues. One negative about the van is road noise. This is an issue with Honda vehicles in general. Turn up the radio!"

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Best vehicle I've ever owned

By C-Dawg (IL) on Friday, May 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 124,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great value, terrace engineering. Really enjoy tho"

Cons: "Replacing run-flat tires is costly."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Inside, PERFECTLY laid out. Everything feels just right. I absolutely have LOVED owning this car. If only it looked like a Corvette...."

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So Good I Will Keep for a While

By Texan (TX) on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 70,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have owned over a dozen vehicles in my adult life and rarely keep one long enough to pay it off. I used to drive SUVs and Trucks, but got a minivan for family reasons. This vehicle is so flexible and dependable that I have not only kept it long enough to pay off, but plan on keeping for much longer!"

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Excellent Value Vehicle

By Happy Honda Owner (AZ) on Monday, May 20, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 115,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Everything above"

Cons: "Little more acceleration"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought my Odyssey new and it has been an excellent car. It hauls all 5 of us plus luggage and gets up to 25 mpg highway at 75+. Plenty of room for everyone, everyone has their own vent and light. I have had no major repair expensenses. Everything still works, no noises or squeaks."

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See all 602 reviews