Honda: Odyssey News
#201
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ Quality and reliability would be nice too.
#203
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ Clearly you have not heard about the major quality and reliabilty issues of the Oddy.
#205
Drifting
That has fallen way short of the concept model I would have considered one then but now, not so much.
#206
#208
Safety Car
Lowest to Insure
The 2010 Honda Odyssey has the highest entry price of the mainstream minivans, yet it costs the least to insure.
This tidbit comes as just another reminder that the cost of a model—even the cost of fixing that model—doesn't matter nearly as much as the profile of the typical driver for that model when it comes to figuring insurance costs.
"The least expensive vehicles [to insure] are ones you have to drive and no one wants to," Kim Hazelbaker, senior vice president of the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) recently told Insure.com.
But that's not a completely accurate picture. The Odyssey stands as one of the best-handling, best-performing minivans, according to the editors of our companion review site TheCarConnection.com and a wide range of other sources.
The base 2010 Honda Odyssey LX starts at $26,805 (plus $780 destination) and costs just $1,095 to insure annually, on average. The Volkswagen Routan S, for instance, starts at $25,900 but costs significantly more—$1,254—to insure.
It's true, though, that minivan drivers do tend to play it safe. And minivans, as a class of vehicle, are typically among the most affordable to insure as it stands. In Insure.com's tally of 2010-model-year vehicles, the Honda Odyssey LX was the second-cheapest vehicle to insure, after only the four-cylinder Mazda Tribute i utility vehicle.
That said, before you sign on the dotted line for any vehicle, you should always give your insurance agent a call and get a quote.
To help with this aspect of your family-vehicle shopping, here are Insure.com's Low Cost Car Insurance Award Winners for 2010 in the Van category:
This tidbit comes as just another reminder that the cost of a model—even the cost of fixing that model—doesn't matter nearly as much as the profile of the typical driver for that model when it comes to figuring insurance costs.
"The least expensive vehicles [to insure] are ones you have to drive and no one wants to," Kim Hazelbaker, senior vice president of the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) recently told Insure.com.
But that's not a completely accurate picture. The Odyssey stands as one of the best-handling, best-performing minivans, according to the editors of our companion review site TheCarConnection.com and a wide range of other sources.
The base 2010 Honda Odyssey LX starts at $26,805 (plus $780 destination) and costs just $1,095 to insure annually, on average. The Volkswagen Routan S, for instance, starts at $25,900 but costs significantly more—$1,254—to insure.
It's true, though, that minivan drivers do tend to play it safe. And minivans, as a class of vehicle, are typically among the most affordable to insure as it stands. In Insure.com's tally of 2010-model-year vehicles, the Honda Odyssey LX was the second-cheapest vehicle to insure, after only the four-cylinder Mazda Tribute i utility vehicle.
That said, before you sign on the dotted line for any vehicle, you should always give your insurance agent a call and get a quote.
To help with this aspect of your family-vehicle shopping, here are Insure.com's Low Cost Car Insurance Award Winners for 2010 in the Van category:
1. Honda Odyssey LX - $1,095
2. Chrysler Town & Country LX - $1,120
3. Dodge Grand Caravan SE - $1,131
4. Toyota Sienna CE - $1,134
5. Honda Odyssey EX - $1,140
6. Dodge Grand Caravan C/V - $1,147
7. Toyota Sienna LE - $1,149
8. Honda Odyssey Touring - $1,180
9. Dodge Grand Caravan SXT - $1,187
10. Toyota Sienna XLE - $1,187
2. Chrysler Town & Country LX - $1,120
3. Dodge Grand Caravan SE - $1,131
4. Toyota Sienna CE - $1,134
5. Honda Odyssey EX - $1,140
6. Dodge Grand Caravan C/V - $1,147
7. Toyota Sienna LE - $1,149
8. Honda Odyssey Touring - $1,180
9. Dodge Grand Caravan SXT - $1,187
10. Toyota Sienna XLE - $1,187
#209
The sizzle in the Steak
Who buys the LX? No power doors....no thanks.
#210
Chloe @ 17mo
#211
The sizzle in the Steak
#213
To arrive with 6spd
Unfortunately the cylinder shut off sticks around.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...Books_LS_Autos
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...Books_LS_Autos
By MIKE RAMSEY
Honda Motor Co. is hoping to jump-start sales of its Odyssey, the top-selling minivan in the U.S., with a sleeker design that it describes as "athletic," while adding space and better fuel efficiency.
Later this year, the auto maker will launch a redesigned version of the Odyssey that is sculpted and shaped to tone down the traditional squarish look and soccer-mom image—factors that have caused many consumers to stop buying minivans and move to sport-utility vehicles for hauling kids and cargo.
Honda, which has steadily increased its U.S. market share for more than a decade, needs a shot in the arm. Honda has an aging lineup with some of its best-selling models, including the Odyssey and Civic compact, facing stiff competition. In the first four months of the year, it has gained little ground even though its biggest rival, Toyota Motor Corp., has been hindered by recall and quality troubles. From January to April, Honda's U.S. sales rose 11.5%, while total light vehicle sales jumped 16.7%. During the same period, Ford Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. saw sales rise more than 30%. As a result, Honda's market share has slipped to 10.5% from 11% in 2009 through that period.
John Mendel, vice president of sales for Honda's U.S. unit, said the company doesn't try to "chase share." Mr. Mendel added that the dip in market share this year comes after strong sales in 2009, when nervous buyers flocked to Honda, while the economy slumped and General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC sought bankruptcy protection. Honda's market share is now settling to a more normal level as the economy improves, he says.
The company is counting on the 2011 Odyssey to win over what it calls "hesitaters"—people who need the space and seating capacity of a minivan but don't like the idea of cruising around in a big box on wheels. Customer research found that people fall into three categories, said Vicki Poponi, a Honda product planning specialist in a presentation to journalists in Chicago a few months ago: "Those who embrace the minivan; those who outright reject it; and those who appreciate its practical value but remain somewhat on the fence due mainly to styling and image concerns."
More than in past years, Honda brought in customers to help them redesign the vehicle. Owners wanted to take away the boxy look and give it better handling and a sportier feel. A common desire by customers and Honda engineers was for a car that would be recognizable from 100 yards in a parking lot, said Christina Ra, a Honda spokeswoman.
To give the new Odyssey a sleeker profile, Honda gave the vehicle a more slanted windshield and a slightly tapered rear roof line. The rear-side window is angled to streamline the back end, and is also taller than the other side windows, creating a lightning-bolt-shaped line above the side panels. The Odyssey also will be wider and lower to the ground and have bumped out wheel wells, making it look more like a sport-utility vehicle. The new version will have a six-speed automatic transmission rather than a five-speed, and technology that can shut off three of its engine's six cylinders to reduce fuel consumption. This minivan, which will get 28 miles per gallon on the highway, is aimed at Gen-Y buyers, who are around 33 years old. The previous van was more suited to older couples, even grandparents who are part of the Baby Boomer generation, Ms. Ra said.
The Odyssey has the potential to be a big seller for Honda. It is the company's fourth best-selling model in the U.S., after the Accord sedan, Civic compact and CR-V crossover. But Honda faces an uphill battle with hesitaters. In Ann Arbor, Mich., Tammy McCollough, a mother of two hockey-playing boys, has been shopping for a replacement for her 2001 Odyssey, and she wants something more fashionable. "No one ever checks you out when you're driving a minivan," she said with a laugh.
The minivan segment has been steadily shrinking. Auto makers sold 424,007 minivans last year, down from more than a million in 2005, according to Autodata Corp. In 2000, total minivan sales hit 1.4 million vehicles. Minivans made up just 4.1% of the U.S. market in 2009, compared with 7.9% in 2000. Both GM and Ford have stopped making minivans and now offer seven-passenger crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Flex as family-movers.
The Odyssey will face competition from Toyota, which just updated its van, the Sienna, and Chrysler, maker of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. This year, the Town & Country has outsold the Odyssey through April.
Honda Motor Co. is hoping to jump-start sales of its Odyssey, the top-selling minivan in the U.S., with a sleeker design that it describes as "athletic," while adding space and better fuel efficiency.
Later this year, the auto maker will launch a redesigned version of the Odyssey that is sculpted and shaped to tone down the traditional squarish look and soccer-mom image—factors that have caused many consumers to stop buying minivans and move to sport-utility vehicles for hauling kids and cargo.
Honda, which has steadily increased its U.S. market share for more than a decade, needs a shot in the arm. Honda has an aging lineup with some of its best-selling models, including the Odyssey and Civic compact, facing stiff competition. In the first four months of the year, it has gained little ground even though its biggest rival, Toyota Motor Corp., has been hindered by recall and quality troubles. From January to April, Honda's U.S. sales rose 11.5%, while total light vehicle sales jumped 16.7%. During the same period, Ford Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. saw sales rise more than 30%. As a result, Honda's market share has slipped to 10.5% from 11% in 2009 through that period.
John Mendel, vice president of sales for Honda's U.S. unit, said the company doesn't try to "chase share." Mr. Mendel added that the dip in market share this year comes after strong sales in 2009, when nervous buyers flocked to Honda, while the economy slumped and General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC sought bankruptcy protection. Honda's market share is now settling to a more normal level as the economy improves, he says.
The company is counting on the 2011 Odyssey to win over what it calls "hesitaters"—people who need the space and seating capacity of a minivan but don't like the idea of cruising around in a big box on wheels. Customer research found that people fall into three categories, said Vicki Poponi, a Honda product planning specialist in a presentation to journalists in Chicago a few months ago: "Those who embrace the minivan; those who outright reject it; and those who appreciate its practical value but remain somewhat on the fence due mainly to styling and image concerns."
More than in past years, Honda brought in customers to help them redesign the vehicle. Owners wanted to take away the boxy look and give it better handling and a sportier feel. A common desire by customers and Honda engineers was for a car that would be recognizable from 100 yards in a parking lot, said Christina Ra, a Honda spokeswoman.
To give the new Odyssey a sleeker profile, Honda gave the vehicle a more slanted windshield and a slightly tapered rear roof line. The rear-side window is angled to streamline the back end, and is also taller than the other side windows, creating a lightning-bolt-shaped line above the side panels. The Odyssey also will be wider and lower to the ground and have bumped out wheel wells, making it look more like a sport-utility vehicle. The new version will have a six-speed automatic transmission rather than a five-speed, and technology that can shut off three of its engine's six cylinders to reduce fuel consumption. This minivan, which will get 28 miles per gallon on the highway, is aimed at Gen-Y buyers, who are around 33 years old. The previous van was more suited to older couples, even grandparents who are part of the Baby Boomer generation, Ms. Ra said.
The Odyssey has the potential to be a big seller for Honda. It is the company's fourth best-selling model in the U.S., after the Accord sedan, Civic compact and CR-V crossover. But Honda faces an uphill battle with hesitaters. In Ann Arbor, Mich., Tammy McCollough, a mother of two hockey-playing boys, has been shopping for a replacement for her 2001 Odyssey, and she wants something more fashionable. "No one ever checks you out when you're driving a minivan," she said with a laugh.
The minivan segment has been steadily shrinking. Auto makers sold 424,007 minivans last year, down from more than a million in 2005, according to Autodata Corp. In 2000, total minivan sales hit 1.4 million vehicles. Minivans made up just 4.1% of the U.S. market in 2009, compared with 7.9% in 2000. Both GM and Ford have stopped making minivans and now offer seven-passenger crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Flex as family-movers.
The Odyssey will face competition from Toyota, which just updated its van, the Sienna, and Chrysler, maker of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. This year, the Town & Country has outsold the Odyssey through April.
#214
current Odyssey is rated 16/23
#215
28 highway....how?
The Accord is rated 19/29 isn't it? Also, are they deleted the tri-mode VCM that the 2008-2010 Odysseys have? Unless I'm mistaken they can run on 3/4/6 cylinders.
They really ought to have the Odyssey herald an entirely new 6-cylinder family anyway.
The Accord is rated 19/29 isn't it? Also, are they deleted the tri-mode VCM that the 2008-2010 Odysseys have? Unless I'm mistaken they can run on 3/4/6 cylinders.
They really ought to have the Odyssey herald an entirely new 6-cylinder family anyway.
#216
The sizzle in the Steak
VCM...still?
Good for Honda to join the 6 speed world....but I wouldn't want to buy the first couple years of the new Oddy.....pretty much every gen of the Oddy has had some sort of tranny issues.
Too bad it appears there will be no new DI V6.
Good for Honda to join the 6 speed world....but I wouldn't want to buy the first couple years of the new Oddy.....pretty much every gen of the Oddy has had some sort of tranny issues.
Too bad it appears there will be no new DI V6.
#217
6AT spreading to more than just the ZDX/MDX (?).... FINALLY!
and oh look, with a 6AT the EPA MPG ratings went up. Whodathunkit?
and oh look, with a 6AT the EPA MPG ratings went up. Whodathunkit?
#218
אני עומד עם ישראל
So Honda is making this Oddy a Swagger Wagon too? Gen Y is born '77-90??
#219
אני עומד עם ישראל
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen_y
Mid '70s to early '00s. I dunno how many people my age with young families are rocking minivans...
Mid '70s to early '00s. I dunno how many people my age with young families are rocking minivans...
#220
Senior Moderator
bout time it gets a 5 speed replacement. They should have went straight to 7 speeds
#221
אני עומד עם ישראל
^ Honda is too conservative for that.
#222
Senior Moderator
#224
אני עומד עם ישראל
#225
אני עומד עם ישראל
You gonna roll in a minivan in 10 years? I know I'm not and my girl doesn't want one. I hope Honda understands the demographics they are trying to market this to. Minivans have I believe always been a boomer ride. The CUV is the Gen X-Y family hauler of choice.
#226
Senior Moderator
With Cafe standards getting tougher they need to think ahead, and unfortunately the direction honda has been going lately i dont think they are thinking ahead at all.
#227
^ they're becoming like the domestics. every single time the domestics came out with a new model, it'd be competitive with the current versions of their Japanese competitors. And then once those redesigns came out, the Japanese would be ahead again.
Now Honda no longer does that it seems. the last 2 gens of Civics were merely just average. I'd say the same for the current Accord - as much as everyone shits on the Camry, in SE guise, it handily outruns and outhandles the Accord sedan, the so-called BMW of family sedans.
Now Honda no longer does that it seems. the last 2 gens of Civics were merely just average. I'd say the same for the current Accord - as much as everyone shits on the Camry, in SE guise, it handily outruns and outhandles the Accord sedan, the so-called BMW of family sedans.
#228
Banned
Our CR-V is fine for now, but I wonder how long that will last. Eventually, something bigger will be needed. And I think then, we'll be looking at the Kia van.
#229
אני עומד עם ישראל
As our family grows we'll need something larger too. Mid-size CUV is the direction we're headed in though. I want something to fit the dogs and a couple of kids (that are supposedly "planned").
Is it okay to say I like the Venza?
#230
אני עומד עם ישראל
Honda 15-20 years ago, yes. They'd be on it, stat. The recent edmunds.com article is I hope creating the buzz Honda needs to pull out of this engineering "slump."
#232
Senior Moderator
#233
The sizzle in the Steak
How cool would it have been if Honda had a diesel engine to put in the new Oddy....
#234
אני עומד עם ישראל
#236
fap fap fap
really? i think it looks horrible compared to the concept. the side profile is funky (bad), they used the crosstour grill (bad). at least the interior is nice
#237
I hope the Crosstour grille doesn't become the official Honda grille for their vans/trucks.
Hate that the side mirrors are black even on the top of the line model.
Other than that, though, I think it looks pretty sharp for a minivan. Considering that it's a rather plain design (and in a gray color) you still see the sharp details in the bodywork. this thing would probably look a whole lot better in a more vibrant color like red.
Hate that the side mirrors are black even on the top of the line model.
Other than that, though, I think it looks pretty sharp for a minivan. Considering that it's a rather plain design (and in a gray color) you still see the sharp details in the bodywork. this thing would probably look a whole lot better in a more vibrant color like red.
#238
The sizzle in the Steak
Side profile looks great when you look at it dead-on....at any other angle it looks odd.
Front and rear...ok....does not excite or offend.
Interior Honda did it again with sooooooo many buttons
Pervious gen was simple and well thought out....this interior adds....well....more buttons.
WHY?!?!?!
As for features.....pretty much a carry over since 2005...nothing new.
...and for the BIG miss: It appears there is no keyless ignition
Hey Honda: The vast majority of drivers of your vans are women with children.
Their hands full of groceries....purses filled with crap.....kids yelling and screaming....
Wouldn't it be cool if you would add a feature borrowed from a Nissan Altima circa 2007....a keyless entry/ignition?!?!? How does anyone at Honda miss this?!?!?
Front and rear...ok....does not excite or offend.
Interior Honda did it again with sooooooo many buttons
Pervious gen was simple and well thought out....this interior adds....well....more buttons.
WHY?!?!?!
As for features.....pretty much a carry over since 2005...nothing new.
...and for the BIG miss: It appears there is no keyless ignition
Hey Honda: The vast majority of drivers of your vans are women with children.
Their hands full of groceries....purses filled with crap.....kids yelling and screaming....
Wouldn't it be cool if you would add a feature borrowed from a Nissan Altima circa 2007....a keyless entry/ignition?!?!? How does anyone at Honda miss this?!?!?
#239
I like the greyish wood and how it isn't slapped all over (Toyota likes to do that).
But it doesn't looks like there are any serious innovation reveals, and they didn't even copy a lot of the cool toys the Grand Caravan offers (it's a piece of garbage, but copy its features!).
And those mirrors look terrible if they're only black. Same V-6, probably the same 5-speed.
Meh. Like the look and interior, but.....
But it doesn't looks like there are any serious innovation reveals, and they didn't even copy a lot of the cool toys the Grand Caravan offers (it's a piece of garbage, but copy its features!).
And those mirrors look terrible if they're only black. Same V-6, probably the same 5-speed.
Meh. Like the look and interior, but.....
#240
I think it looks good, but the concept looked quite a lot better. Not sure if previous-gen minivans could do it but its nice not needing to take out the headrests to fold down the 3rd row down. Admittedly I'm one of the few in my generation but I would rock a minivan any day if it fit my needs. For people hauling I just prefer driving and being a passenger in a minivan. As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, I don't know of anyone with kids, especially around my age that has a minivan.... if anything they have a CUV.
The excess of buttons is blown out of proportion. The MDX has just as many buttons and after driving one on a few road trips I got used to it pretty quickly. I also took delivery of an 8G Accord for a relative and it has the similar sea of buttons but I was able to quickly find anything I needed at stoplights and even on the drive home I learned to change the radio and HVAC settings without looking.
The excess of buttons is blown out of proportion. The MDX has just as many buttons and after driving one on a few road trips I got used to it pretty quickly. I also took delivery of an 8G Accord for a relative and it has the similar sea of buttons but I was able to quickly find anything I needed at stoplights and even on the drive home I learned to change the radio and HVAC settings without looking.