2005 Honda Odyssey

Even more than in other vehicle categories, minivan makers play a game of virtual "leapfrog." Each new and redesigned model is meant to leap ahead of the competition. Some barely manage to nudge themselves forward, but others deliver a healthy lunge.

A new "ultra premium" Touring model features Michelin PAX run-flat tires, a power liftgate and much more.

When Honda redesigned its Odyssey for 1999, the second-generation version ranked as a giant leap, led by its flat-folding third-row "Magic Seat." Analysts quickly dubbed it the minivan leader, and shoppers faced waiting lists. Now, with the third-generation 2005 model, Honda has taken another notable step forward.


Even if nothing else changed, Honda's new optional voice-recognition navigation system makes the Odyssey an unchallenged leader. Anyone who's labored through entry of a destination into a navigation system, selecting each letter and digit individually, will appreciate Honda's accomplishment.


All you do is touch the push-to-talk switch on the steering wheel and say where you'd like to go. The system recognizes 637 commands. It can understand street names and numbers, cities and states. It's designed to recognize native speakers and accents, and an on-screen tutorial is provided. You can even ask it to "Find nearest Chinese food" and get a location for the closest restaurant.

A new 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 with Variable Cam Management (VCM) automatically switches between 6- and 3-cylinder mode.

Honda "looked for ways to add more emotion into the vehicle," said Yutaka Fujiwara, the company's Large Project Leader. Developers also sought "to achieve the feel of a European sedan." Most important, they wanted the Odyssey to be the minivan "benchmark" once again.