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2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000
 
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Honda Odyssey Luxury |
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In a class that's been on the move for the past couple of years, one thing remains the same: Honda's beautifully built Odyssey will take some beating.
The people mover class has been fairly stagnant over the past couple of years, with only minor equipment changes and facelifts. But now a new breed has joined the club, giving buyers greater variety of choice. The recently arrived two-wheel-drive Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe wagons, with seven seats as standard, are derivatives of the popular SUV models. However, without the four-wheel drive gear their primary function is that of a people mover. There is no doubt the SUV-style vehicles will be a more appealing look to have parked in the driveway for many buyers, but when it comes to performing the intended function of a people mover, it is still hard to go past the Honda Odyssey. Despite stiff competition this year from the Toyota Kluger, Mitsubishi Grandis, Hyundai Santa Fe and Citroen Picasso, the Odyssey Luxury model retained its Best People Mover title for the fourth year in a row. The Odyssey was designed from the ground up as a people mover, and it shows in the comfortable, spacious seven-seat accommodation and car-like handling. Don't be fooled by the low-riding, compact appearance of the Odyssey, as it has more usable cabin space than many of the larger looking vehicles in the class. It's not just the amount of space that matters but also the effective way it is used. Adults are able to sit fairly comfortably in any of the seven seats, which is not something you can say about too many other competitors. Like everything else in the class, luggage space is tight when all the seats are occupied - but clever folding of the rear and centre seat rows provides plenty of useful load and passenger-carrying options. Build quality is first class and the Luxury version's presentation is quite stylish. For the driver, all the controls fall easily to hand and their operation has a quality feel. Standard equipment includes dual front, side and curtain airbags, full leather trim, heated front seats and a power operation for the third-row seat folding, but it is let down by a lap-only seatbelt for the centre mid-row seat and poor positioning of the child-seat mounting points. Also, traction and stability control are not available. Odyssey's car-like driving ease, though, is a standout. It is just as much at home on the open road as it is negotiating peak-hour city traffic. The four-cylinder, 2.4-litre double overhead cam, i-VTEC engine is a willing performer that combines well with the smooth-changing fivespeed sequential-shift automatic transmission, which is fitted standard. Fuel economy is generally good, but when pushed along the Odyssey can get a little thirsty. Even on challenging roads it's surefooted, smooth and quiet. The low centre of gravity and suitably tuned double wishbone suspension takes good care of the handling and ride, while the nimbleness will also be appreciated when getting in and out of tight parking spots at the local shopping centre. Running and repair costs tend to be a little more expensive than the class average and the Odyssey's theft security could be better.
Finalists
Previous Results
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