Used 2017 Honda Odyssey

When it comes to tackling the needs of America’s families, the roomy and reliable 2017 Honda Odyssey minivan is the undisputed champ. It’s America’s best-selling minivan. Big SUVs are tempting, but savvy moms and dads are drawn to the Odyssey’s 5-star crash-test rating and its long list of family-friendly features like a built-in vacuum and power sliding doors. The Odyssey is available in eight trim levels ranging from the entry-level LX to the popular SE and luxurious EX to the fully loaded Touring Elite. All Odysseys are front-wheel drive and each is powered by a 3.5-liter all-aluminum V6 backed by a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine makes a strong 248 horsepower, but manages impressive fuel economy ratings of 19-mpg city and 27 highway.

Although its primary mission is to transport people and cargo in comfort and safety, the new Honda Odyssey is also quite enjoyable to drive. With 248 horsepower, the Odyssey’s V6 isn’t the most powerful in this class (the Chrysler Pacifica takes that honor), but it never feels strained or overburdened, even with a full complement aboard. Honda’s excellent 6-speed automatic is the perfect fit, providing seamless shifts and helping the Odyssey to attain an impressive 27 mpg on the highway. In everyday driving, the Odyssey’s suspension absorbs bumps and road imperfections for a very comfortable ride, yet the settings are not so soft as to induce unwanted body roll in the turns. Numerous driver aids include Honda’s LaneWatch technology. Activate the right-turn signal and LaneWatch uses a passenger-side, mirror-mounted camera to provide a clear view of that side of the van on the dash-mounted screen. Bye-bye, blind spot.

Inside, the 2017 Honda Odyssey wonderfully marries both form and function. The van’s interior is attractive, filled with high-quality materials and artfully ergonomic. We particularly like the Accord-based touch-screen center stack. Fit and finish are best in class and Honda uses every inch of the Odyssey’s generous interior space. The 3rd-row "Magic Seat" splits 60/40, folds into the floor with one pull, while the 2nd-row seats can slide outward, permitting three child safety seats to be placed side by side. For storage there are bins and cup holders everywhere, and the driver’s seat and driving position are comfortable and commanding.

Most people think a minivan can’t be sexy. And they’re correct. But it can be attractive. And it can look good going down the road. That’s how Honda approached the design of the well-proportioned 2017 Odyssey, which manages to look hunkered-down, thanks to its relatively low roofline, exaggerated tumblehome, blacked-out B- and C-pillars and wide stance. The angular lines also emphasize the van’s length, while the "lightning-bolt" window line gives onlookers something to talk about and betters the view out for 3rd-row passengers. Most trim levels receive chrome door handles and chrome trim around the windows.

HondaVAC
The Odyssey was the first minivan to offer an in-car vacuum for when Cheerios escape tiny hands. Integrated in the van’s rear cargo area, HondaVAC operates on the vehicle’s electrical system so there’s no need to plug it in. And an extendable hose reaches every interior corner of the vehicle.

FORWARD COLLISION WARNING INDICATOR
This safety system uses a small camera mounted atop the van’s windshield to detect vehicles ahead. If the system determines you are going to crash, it activates an alarm and visual alert. If you fail to act, the van’s Collision Mitigation Braking System applies the brakes.

The 2017 base-model Honda Odyssey LX comes with power front seats, a 7-speaker AM/FM/CD audio with an 8-inch color interface screen, Bluetooth connectivity and a rearview camera. However, a much more popular choice is the EX model, the next step up. That offers 8-passenger seating, 3-zone automatic climate control, power sliding doors, push-button start and Honda’s LaneWatch camera system. Higher trim levels add leather seating and blind-spot monitoring, and in Touring Elite and SE models the HondaVAC, a built-in vacuum, which can operate continuously with the engine running or up to eight minutes with it off.

Like most Honda vehicles, traditional option packages don’t exist on the new Odyssey; instead the features are grouped into different trim levels. Want an EX with leather seats? You’ll get the EX-L. Although this year the Odyssey expands the availability of an acoustic windshield to SE and EX-L trim levels. The package includes the desirable Rear Entertainment system, Forward Collision Warning, Satellite radio and HondaVAC in-vehicle vacuum cleaner. There are also a handful of individual options, most notably backup sensors, remote engine-start, a trailer hitch, and a variety of roof attachments for cargo boxes and sports gear.

From LX to Touring Elite, there’s only one engine available for the 2017 Honda Odyssey: a 3.5-liter all-aluminum V6 with Honda’s legendary i-VTEC variable-valve-timing system. It produces a strong 248 horsepower. A 6-speed automatic transmission routes that power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not available. The engine is plenty powerful, and the Odyssey is actually on the quick side, but more important to minivan buyers is fuel economy. Here, the Odyssey handily beats its non-hybrid-powered competition with a highway fuel-economy rating of 27 mpg. Helping the Odyssey attain that figure is its Variable Cylinder Management, which shuts off cylinders depending upon driving conditions for maximum fuel efficiency.

3.5-liter V6
248 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
250 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/27 mpg

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.