A five-day Odyssey with Honda’s new MPV

Thumbs up for the Honda Odyssey as a true multipurpose vehicle.

MANILA, Philippines–There are minivans, and then there’s the Odyssey. Honda’s people-carrier has been the gold standard for several generations now—and for good reason. The Odyssey is comfortable, easy to drive, and packed with clever features.

That goes as well for the latest generation of this minivan. For the all-new Odyssey, Honda has chosen to introduce not the US version, but the Japanese-Asian model instead. This has three big implications: size, engine and price.

The new Odyssey has a smaller exterior, with length reduced by a considerable 322 millimeters and width by 191 mm. It is noticeably smaller than the US model, and yet when you go inside, there’s no shortage of space.

The engine is no longer the powerful but thirsty 3.5-liter V6. Instead, it’s a 2.4-liter inline-four mated to a CVT.

Best of all, the new Odyssey is priced at P2.3 million, half a million cheaper than the previous model.

It has a noticeably smaller exterior, but no shortage of space inside.

We took Honda’s MPV on a five-day odyssey across the city, assessing its functionality as a true multipurpose vehicle. Here’s what we discovered:

Day 1: School run. This is a job for… Odyssey. The dual-power sliding doors open to reveal a pair of captain’s chairs. Although we would have preferred a bench for maximum seating capacity, the Odyssey still has room for a junior basketball team and two adults. Heck, even a full basketball team would fit. Shoulder room is adequate and leg room is plentiful. Who said that the Asian minivan was too small?

Kids find it easy to jump in and out of the Odyssey, thanks to its low floor and huge sliding doors. A unique Honda feature is the pass-through space between the front seats and rear cabin. This allows a parent to assist with a seatbelt or mediate in a sibling battle, and then settle back in the front seat. Kids simply love the space and quickly gravitate towards the captain’s chairs.

The middle chairs are plush and soft and can convert into a recliner, complete with ottoman. After a particularly long stretch of summer activities, both kids actually fell asleep on the captain’s chairs. For the first time in recent memory, we could enjoy a moment of priceless tranquility on the road.

DAY 2: Double date. So a so-called “mom mobile” may not be the sexiest vehicle to take on a date, let alone a double or triple date. That’s before we actually got to try it with the Odyssey.

The elegant dashboard is relatively subtle and integrates well with the instrument panel. The touchscreen audio system is easy to pair and use with a phone, allowing for music to set the mood.

For starters, the van is sleek and rather pimped out. The quadruple helping of chrome trim gives the front a Super Robot look.

Inside, the clean, elegant dashboard wouldn’t look out of place in an Accord or in an Acura. The wood trim is relatively subtle and integrates well into the instrument panel. The touchscreen audio system is easy to pair and use with a phone, allowing for music to set the mood.

Dinner plans had us drive into the basement parking of an office building. The Odyssey has a tight turning 5.4-meter radius, allowing easy maneuvering into the depths. Once we located the last parking space in the building, we used the Odyssey’s surround camera system to slot into the space.

The Honda can also steer itself into a parallel or perpendicular parking space for the spatial-ability challenged.

Day 3: Family trip. With its myriad convenience features, the Odyssey defines “surprise and delight.” The rear air-conditioning is easy to control from either front or middle row. There’s a conversation mirror tucked into the ceiling, allowing the driver or front passenger to monitor the kids or folks in the back. The low step-in height also benefits seniors and middle-aged men, with minimal bending necessary when entering the van.

With Dad behind the wheel, he can still be satisfied with the driving experience. The 2.4-liter VTEC engine mated to a continuously-variable transmission gives sufficient grunt, even with a full load of passengers and cargo.

The engine shuts itself off when the car is at a full stop, improving fuel mileage. We got 6.5 kilometers per liter in city driving. Handling is as benign and predictable as an  Accord’s.

Day 4: Airport drop-off. Today exposed one of the Odyssey’s limitations. With the reduced dimensions, the Odyssey can’t easily carry suitcases behind the third row. We positioned the seatbacks into their fully upright position.

This was not very comfortable for the third row folks, but we did manage to fit three full-size suitcases plus two more on top, blocking the entire rear window. Thankfully, there’s the rear camera to provide a view if needed.

The third row folds flush into the floor, which is convenient, but only as one whole piece, which is not. There’s no way to split the seat to carry more luggage or to slide it forward. We resorted to placing the extra baggage into the main cabin, sliding the captain’s chair rearward.

Typically Honda, the rear seat can be pushed down the floor or popped open using one hand.

Day 5: Business trip. Forget the luxury limousine. The Odyssey can challenge any standard sedan for sheer space. With the rear seat tucked away, the middle chairs can slide all the way back for first-class levels of legroom.

The Odyssey is as quiet and smooth-riding as any premium sedan.

With the possible exception of airport transport, the all-new Honda Odyssey ticks all the boxes under desirable family car and then some more.

With its more versatile interior plus increased premium content, the van goes beyond just the mom-and-kid transport. It serves as a true MPV, its clever interior giving it an edge over luxury SUVs and sedans as well.