2003 Honda Odyssey EX

Helping make the most of that newfound muscle is an electronically controlled 5-speed automatic with Grade Logic circuitry. Light and compact, the transmission uses slightly deeper and closer-spaced lower ratios with a taller overdrive to ensure this fleet freighter reigns supreme in stoplight-to-stoplight sprints while maintaining its existing EPA numbers of 18/25 city/highway mpg.


Designed from the ground up to optimize ride without compromising control under a variety of load conditions, the Odyssey's fully independent coil-spring suspension employs MacStruts up front and double wishbones at the rear. Honda engineers modestly tweaked the springs, shocks and front anti-roll bar to enhance handling characteristics while diminishing harshness over choppy surfaces. Filling out the chassis recipe are a well-weighted power rack-and-pinion steering system and 225/60TR16 all-season tires that wrap steel wheels on the LX but cast alloy rims on EX models. Admittedly more at home in freeway cruise mode than on a backroad blitz, the Odyssey nonetheless stands fully prepared to defend its dynamic honor against all of its peers. Despite a tendency to move around a bit in crosswinds and an occasional ungainly moment over larger road imperfections, this versatile Honda still merits very high marks when it comes to transporting people or cargo in style and comfort.

Leather-appointed EXs can also be fitted with a slick DVD-based entertainment system.

Inside, the Odyssey displays the same high levels of fit, finish, and attention to ergonomic detail that have become hallmarks of the marque. It couples this with an amazingly flexible floorplan that provides for equal—and generous—measures of passenger and cargo capacity. Although the front buckets, made even more supportive for 2002, remain the primo perches, the truth is there's not really a bad seat in the house. When people are the priority, the Odyssey's second and third-tier accommodations are equal to anything available today. The former, captain's chairs that offer fore/aft adjustability and fully reclining backs, also can be slid together to make a mini bench should the need arise. While more ideally suited for kids, the third row bench will accommodate full-size adults on shorter runs. Toss in the slick DVD video system with its 7-inch LCD screen, wireless headphones, remote control and the ability to plug in a broad array of audio/video items, and you've got the makings of a brilliant short- or long-range tourer. When big-time hauling takes precedence, the individual rear seats can be folded or easily removed and the aft bench fully retracted into the floorwell, moves that bump the capacity of the Odyssey's rear bay from its normal 38.1 cubic feet to a maximum of 146.1. A large single-piece hatch with bumper-level cutout further facilitates loading and unloading. Our only gripe with the package was a relatively minor one, centering on the slightly cumbersome operation of the power sliding doors.


While DaimlerChrysler still holds the advantage when it comes to absolute sales numbers, unprecedented customer demand has kept the Odyssey seriously supply-constrained and made Honda the de facto hottest minivan builder in the game today. No matter what the payload or destination, if you're looking for a comfortable, versatile hauler awash in class-leading features, this Odyssey is one automotive journey definitely worth taking. (www.honda.com)