HONDA seems to have created an Odyssey by joining the dots, ticking off all the previous models’ wrongs (no lap/sash seatbelt for middle centre-row occupant, no ESC stability control), while improving performance (slightly), economy, emissions, practicality and functionality. Now, it really is a people-mover designed primarily for the head. But the heart has been left out in the cold, with no more sequential shifter for the automatic transmission and rather less interesting styling. Plus, the hip pocket will feel the 10 per cent price rise.

Honda Odyssey
Released: June 2004
Ended: April 2009
Family Tree: OdysseyHONDA placed the cat among the people-mover pigeons with the third-generation Odyssey, sporting a sleek new body, radically different dashboard and pricing that was around $7000 less than its highly regarded predecessor.
Unsurprisingly, sales boomed, and Honda had another hit on its hands. This was despite two glaring safety omissions – the lack of a middle-row centre lap/sash seatbelt and ESC stability control. Performance from the tried-and-tested 118kW/218Nm 2.4-litre single-cam 16-valve i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine, mated solely to a five-speed automatic with sequential shift – was lively, while the Odyssey Luxury’s long list of standard features helped the Honda snare a few luxury SUV buyers as well. A minor facelift arrived from the middle of 2006, but without major mechanical upgrades. Sadly, this Japan-built Odyssey was never available with its predecessors’ sweet and powerful V6 engine.
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