Ohio – Honda revealed its fourth-generation Odyssey minivan last week Thursday in an online news conference from its research and development center in Ohio.
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The location for the conference was important because the new 2011 Odyssey, which will be released in the fall, is the first Honda van developed by a team of engineers in the United States. It will be built at the same plant in Alabama where the current Odyssey is assembled.
The new minivan looks sleeker. It has a roofline that is 1.6 inches lower than the current model and a track (the distance between opposite wheels) that is 1.4 inches wider, also improving aerodynamics for better fuel economy and providing more interior width. Honda added almost an inch of extra shoulder room in the front row.
The engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 with Honda’s three-mode variable cylinder management system, which allows the engine to run on 3, 4 or 6 cylinders, depending on how much power is needed. The old model has the same type of V-6; if any enhancements have been made to the engine for the new model, Honda is not saying.
Much of the information Honda gave out Thursday had to do with the interior and seating.
Honda created a “cool box” that will hold and keep cool six 12-ounce cans or four 20-ounce bottles while the vehicle is running. A new center console between the first row seats is large enough to hold a purse. And it can be removed so someone can walk through to the second row and then be reinstalled.
There are three seating configurations for the second row. The center seat between the two captain’s chairs has been a very narrow affair, but now it is four inches wider so that it might be comfortable for even an adult. The second change is “wide mode” seating that allows both outboard seats to move sideways almost two inches so that some of the largest child seats on the market can fit in all three seats simultaneously. Finally, the center seat has a comfort slide feature so that parents can move an infant in that seat almost six inches closer to the front row.
As for the third row, Honda said the cabin was wider back there to make adults more comfortable by keeping the sliding door motor below shoulder level. Third-row legroom was increased by one inch as well. Honda said it has made the third row “magic seat” that folds into a well in the floor — a concept that Honda introduced to the market years ago — easier to stow or lift. Instead of having to use a handle and a strap, it can now be done with just one strap.
Honda has not announced pricing for the 2011 Odyssey. Preliminary estimated fuel economy for the top-of-the-line Touring Elite model is 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 m.p.g. on the highway. That’s an improvement over the outgoing Odyssey Touring model.
The concept at the auto show looked nicer. Will be a tough fight with the Sienna which looks so much sleeker.
Wow I love it, can wait for it to show up at one of the hundred local leasing companies.
If I want a hatchback, I’ll buy a hatchback. I wonder if they did anything about the noise level inside. Bought my 2000 Toyota Sienna in 2004, and it was much quieter inside the cabin than the new Odyssey we test drove at the same. Plus the Toyota drives more like a car. Maybe they shrunk the new Odyssey because of that.
At a time everyone wants “smaller” cars and hybrids or electric cars, why are they coming out with another ugly looking van. Who needs all that empty space unless you are operating a limo business hauling people to the airport or mikvah.
The front end looks a little like the new Sienna.
“אל תסתכל בקנקן” the Honda is much roomier and is a real family van.
“The location for the conference was important because the new 2011 Odyssey, which will be released in the fall, is the first Honda van developed by a team of engineers in the United States.”
wrong!!
the location should have been in bp, williamsburg or monsey, where most of them will probably be sold
When will it be available at dealers?
I actually had bought a brand new 2003 Sienna and kept it for for 5 years and then sold it. I was very UNHAPPY with that van. Every time i stopped the car and then would start driving again it JERKED badly. Anyway i leased a 2008 Honda Odyssey
and i LOVE the drive of it.
What bothers me though is that the ODYYSEY takes MUCH MORE GAS than the SIENNA!!! You can’t compare it at all…
My lease is uo this pesach.. HOW ARE THE NEW SIENNA’S? Please Advise.
Thanks
What a ugly looking car sienna looks much nicer
will they have an 4WD or AWD Model
How come so many here can afford a new van when everyone kvetches they need tuition relief and vouchers?
Wow, what a beautiful machine. Thanks VIN for posting.
Of the most beautiful cars made to date.
Dash looks like acura already
With that extreeme slanted windshield, tall drivers will have a problem.
I wonder how the lower van will do on those awfull Boro Park streets.
I miss the days of the 9 passenger Chevy and Ford wagons that Yiddin actually owned!
Ah, the machers are out discussing the latest lease vehicle avaialable. Don’t forget your giant bundle of keys, 2 blackberries and heimshe name drop list before running out and getting one!
Unbelivable that this shtus is a topic of discussion on a heimeshe board. I view a car as a method of transport for my family, not an opportunity to show off my ability to get further into hock.
Why does everyone have to be so fancy and not frugal? Just BUY a used ’06-ish Dodge Caravan for $6000. Okay it may need more service, but still you are way ahead and after 3 years, you can still own it. Anyway most people end up with big repairs because they don’t ever lift the hood or do scheduled maintenance. Plus, you won’t have a heart attack when your kid spills his pretzels between the seats or steps on the leather seats! T/f better for your midos and shalom bayis. And your wife won’t have to put on her sheitel just to drive around town in her new black 2010 Odyssey/ Sienna. I think that these new minivans are clearly fancy luxury and are there to do more than just tote our kids off to school. Image. Who needs it? Use that $299 monthly payment to pay off your credit cards!