2010 Honda Odyssey

Honda’s minivan skews to four trims; LX, EX, EX-L and Touring and the 2010 editions are marked by a fresh face plus a high-tech V6 engine option rigged with a more fuel-efficient version of Honda’s engine-modification concept which goes by the acronym of VCMT, meaning variable cylinder management technology.

Inside the spacious cabin, there are up to three rows of seats with options for folding or removing second-row seats and a "Magic Seat" in back which folds into the floor for a slick disappearing act.

Honda introduced the Odyssey in 1995 based on the best-selling Accord sedan and equipped the minivan with the then-novel concept of not one but two sliding slab doors on flanks. That original Odyssey focused on a sedan-height chassis and user-friendly interior features, as Honda incorporated favored traits of rival minivans and developed creative new concepts driven by Honda’s research of the minivan market.

A second design for the Odyssey emerged in 1999 on a larger and broader platform but with the floor still set low like a car so you could step inside or climb out easily.

Making a van more like a car has always been the big idea behind the minivan, of course, but until Honda’s designs appeared no other automaker dared to structure and equip a minivan with so many car-like comforts. That overriding concept of making a minivan easy to drive and easy to use explains why Honda’s minivan has been so successful in a market filled with keen competition.

The next generational design for the Odyssey appeared in 2005 with room for as many as eight riders in an expanded structure with class-capping power and innovations for seat configuration, powertrain performance and personal safety. The unit-body structure maintained the same length as a previous Odyssey but gained more than an inch in width to expand the cabin.

Then in 2008 Honda built upon the 2005 design for the Odyssey by adding updated exterior styling and more on-board equipment, as well as a more fuel-efficient version of the VCM V6 engine.

Similar enhancements continue with the Odyssey of 2010.

Inside, there are up to three rows of seats. The first row shows two tall captain’s chairs with broader seats to accommodate a variety of American body sizes.

Seats on the second row move around to several positions for flexibility in hauling people and cargo. The two captain’s chairs slip fore and aft by ten inches or slide together to convert into a bench when more floor area is needed on the side. Three of the four trims add a ‘PlusOne’ jump seat on the second row that pops up from the floor and squeezes between the two buckets, forging a three-person bench to achieve the minivan’s eight-person capacity. That jumper also tips forward when not needed as a seat and becomes a console with built-in storage tray.

Second-row buckets may be removed easily by simply flipping several latches — and one person can do that job, thanks to lightweight frames.

Reaching second-row seats is also easy: Just open a door, slip aboard and buckle up. Access comes from either side due to the dual sliding doors, and without bending and scooting or crawling.

Accessing the third row’s three-person bench requires more work, but not so to fold it flat into the floor because this thing tips and tucks into a well in the floor. And it’s split in 60/40 sections that fold separately.

Behind the third row is adequate storage space, but with the flexible seat system there are dozens of configurations for people and cargo. Maximum cargo room with second tier seats removed and the third row folded amounts to a cavernous 147.4 cubic feet.

Honda equips the Odyssey with responsive handling systems and powerful V6 engine choices plus an extensive list of standard gear for safety. The standard aluminum V6 engine with 3.5-liter displacement generates 244 hp at 5750 rpm. Base configuration, with a drive-by-wire throttle and Honda’s VTEC valvetrain, produce torque numbers of 240 ft-lbs at 5000 rpm.

The top two trims carry a second configuration with ‘intelligent’ i-VTEC controls and the next generation of Honda’s VCMT device to conserve on fuel by modifying the number of engine cylinders at work.

Honda’s new VCMT device on the Odyssey can switch from six to four or down to three cylinders, depending on the power demand at any particular moment. And the operation is totally automatic and virtually transparent to a driver, with a dashboard light glowing when the VCMT is at work.

This VCMT-equipped V6 generates an almost identical output of 244 hp at 5700 rpm and 245 ft-lbs of torque at 4900 rpm.

The standard V6 engine is rated at 16/23 mpg (city/highway), while the VCMT V6 gets a noticeable improvement to 17/25 mpg.

The transmission for both versions of the V6 is Honda’s excellent electronically controlled five-speed automatic with a lock-up torque converter and grade logic controls.

Brakes include a big disc at each wheel tied to an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with brake assist (BA) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD), a traction control system (TCS) plus vehicle stability assist (VSA).

Passive safety gear consists of frontal and side-impact air bags for the two front seats and curtain-style air bags concealed in headliners above all three rows.

Base model Odyssey LX stocks seats for seven with cloth upholstery and manual sliding side doors, air conditioning, power controls for windows and door locks, a theft-deterrent system and cruise control. Top tier Odyssey Touring brings fancy features like leather upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, power for side slider doors and tailgate, and deluxe audio entertainment equipment.

The minivan buyer is a fickle beast. Several automotive manufacturers have chosen to walk away, while others such as Honda appear here to stay. Soccer and other similar sports should continue to grow in North America, so active moms and dads will need reliable, roomy transportation well into the foreseeable future.

The Honda Odyssey is an excellent utility vehicle with comfortable seating and a high level of standard equipment. It is also quite entertaining to drive and a breeze to own. How large the minivan market will be going forward, none can say. But it seems big enough for Honda and Toyota to compete, and that speaks volumes.