2003 Honda Odyssey EX

America's love affair with the minivan may have abated somewhat over the last decade, but you surely couldn't prove that by Honda. While the firm didn't even enter the multi-purpose segment until 1996 with its original Odyssey, today it stands as one of the world's premier purveyors of people movers.


With the arrival of the second-generation Odyssey in 1999, Honda rectified what many buyers rightly deemed as shortcomings in its predecessor, notably a lack of scale and the absence of a V-6 engine. For 2002, the Odyssey was treated to the most wide-ranging mid-iteration improvement program of any product in the company's history. Honda took what was an already class-leading package to an even higher plateau, adding more power, more performance, more refinement and greater safety to the mix. Although one needed a fairly keen eye to pick up the exterior changes that accompanied that upgrading—revised grille, nose badge, tail lamps and wheels—once behind the wheel, the differences quickly became clear. Basically carryover for 2003, new features include intermittent rear window wiper/washer, automatic up/down driver's window and four new exterior colors.

Honda's handsome hauler comes in two basic trim levels, LX and EX, and both are presented as complete packages.

Honda's handsome hauler still comes in two basic trim levels, LX and EX. The former opens at $24,400 and the latter at $26,900, each plus $460 in freight/prep fees. As with other Honda products, both are presented as complete packages. Even the LX brings a massive array of comfort and convenience standards headed by front/rear air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, tilt steering column, AM/FM/cassette stereo, dual 12V powerpoints, dual sliding side doors, 2/2/3 seating with captain's chairs in the first two rows and Honda's patented third-row Magic Seat that folds away into the floor, and no fewer than 11 cupholders. On the safety front, the Odyssey retains its driver-selectable traction control and ABS-abetted stoppers.


Standard front-side airbags—the first such fitment in a minivan—also head the Odyssey's features roster in addition to the basic dual front bags. Stepping up to EX trim adds even more to the mix in the form of automatic climate control, power activation for the sliding doors, keyless remote entry, security system, 8-way power driver's seat and a CD player. Opting for the EX also allows one to specify leather instead of cloth interior trim. Hidebound EXs can also be fitted with a slick DVD-based entertainment system. Both of those upgrades were found on our $29,750 test vehicle. The only other EX factory extra is a navigation package, although it currently cannot be paired with the upgraded audio-video system.

The Odyssey displays the same high levels of fit, finish, and attention to ergonomic detail that have become hallmarks of Honda.

Regardless of trim, all Odysseys rely on the same superb powertrain. Honda's all-aluminum 3.5-liter SOHC V-6 nets a class leading 240 horsepower, while torque registers at 242 lb.-ft. The switch in 2002 to three-rocker VTEC hardware improved both initial throttle response and top end. Despite its extra clout, the engine runs on regular unleaded gas and remains clean enough to meet 50-state LEV smog specs.