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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 2014 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 608 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

The Best HONDA yet!!!!

By pj (HI) on Thursday, July 25, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 36,000

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: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Clean, fun to drive, gr8 stereo and plenty of room"

Cons: "None"

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

"We purchased this Certified vehicle just over 5 years ago and all we've have to do was change the oil, replace the tires and fill it with gas. It has been the Best HONDA ever and we've had Hondas for the last 40 years or more for ourselves and our children. I like to due some maintenance on my vehicles but other than tire rotation and oil changes all I've been able to do is wash, wax and gas. I have changed the wipers and light bulbs I might add. We get 15 mpg around town, but we don't have but about 6 miles of paved roads on our little island so we can't wait to drive it one day on the interstate. All together other than my 1989 Acura that I accumulated more than 400K miles on before I gave it away, our Odyssey has been the BEST Vehicle EVER."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Best van I have ever owned! Great for the family!

By Cliff (CA) on Tuesday, July 23, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 150,000

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: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "fun to drive, great value, loaded with features"

Cons: "none"

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

"This is the best van I have ever owned! It runs smoothly and has plenty of features to keep our kids (and me :-0) occupied. Very comfortable and spacious. I've put a good amount of miles on this vehicle and it just keeps on running with out problems. Some of my friends own one of these and they have driven them over 200,000 miles!"

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If you lick the driving and the of this van grabit

By Tom (MS) on Sunday, July 14, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 389,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Everything"

Cons: "Looks"

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

"This is the best van ever so so so reliable it's never let us down but I am a little disappointed with the looks I love it if your looking for a reliable minivan and you see the chans to get an odyssey I say grab it you can put miles and miles an any Honda but exspesholy the odyssey"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Best family van

By Lea on Saturday, July 13, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 97,000

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: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Convenience of going in and out of rear seats"

Cons: "The light colored leather seats stain quickly"

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

"This van is now 8 years old, still in great shape. Has all the gadgets I need. The kids love it on road trips, with Navigation, DVD and very roomy. We also could plug in an X-box with aux plugs in back row. I highly recommend it."

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>100k in less than 5 years and going strong

By RichardinFL (FL) on Saturday, July 13, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 105,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

Pros: "Reliable, quality, great family road trips"

Cons: "None really"

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

"We bought our 2008 EX-L Honda Odyssey new nearly 5 years ago and rolled over 105,000 miles this month. Except for regular maintenance and fuel, we haven't had one issue with it. We're about to put another set of tires on it around 110,000 miles, and just performed the 100k mile timing belt, water pump, etc. replacement, which should keep us in good shape for another 100,000 miles. It needs a good detailing and interior carpets shampooed, and we'll keep working toward 250,000 miles. My only regret is getting an after-market DVD system vs. the integrated factory system - sound would be better. I put off the minivan option longer than I should have, sticking to SUVs before this. It's interesting to see the faces on young people when you leave them at the green light - in a minivan. The Odyssey's V-6 has plenty of power and still gets around 20-23mpg on average."

2 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Biggest money pit EVER!!!

By RennerRacing (PA) on Monday, July 08, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 105,000

10 3.0

overall rating 3 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 3/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 2/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 3/10
Comfort: 5/10

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

"This has been non stop trouble from struts o2 sensors ac not working etc . The stupid runflat tires are the biggest scam in the automotive market today !!!"

2 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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