Honda Odyssey 2.4 EXV Review: Evolution, not revolution
You’d have to squint to tell that this is the new Odyssey on the outside, but as Raymond Lai discovers, Honda’s large MPV is as convincing as ever.
What we like:
Dynamic nature- strong and revvy engine
- practicality
- Honda dependability
- build quality
What we dislike:
You’d need to squint to mark the new model out from the old
With a cabin that is well made, practical and versatile, changes to the new car’s interior are kept to a minimal. The instrument cluster features new dials that are more vibrant in look while the EXV model tested here, features an all-black interior color scheme with silver coloured inserts on the dash, steering wheel and so on. The EX model features a beige interior colour scheme with brown wood inlays for all exterior colour options.
The dashboard architecture features gentle curves and lines with the new instruments sitting in a deep binnacle. The stereo head unit is a dealer fitted item hence there are no separate controls on the steering wheel like in high spec Civic or Jazz models. This is a problem in the Odyssey though as the head unit is set deep in the centre of the dashboard and you’ll need arms the length of an orang utan to reach for it.
The second row seats offer a variety of adjustments for comfort and convenience. A nice touch is the roof-mounted air-con vents with separate temperature and fan speed controls. Access to the third row is a breeze thanks to the wide opening and relatively long rear doors. Despite the Odyssey’s sleek profile, third row occupants will have little to complain about any lack of head or legroom, which makes for a real testament to the Odyssey’s smart and clever packaging.
The best Odyssey party trick still has to be the one-touch electrically folding third row seats – press a button in the boot and the rearmost row seats electrically fold to the floor to convert the Odyssey into a load lugger and vice versa. This is a really convenient feature that all MPVs should have, we reckon.
The EXV model tested here comes standard with generous levels of kit that includes a full leather interior, 17-inch alloys, HID headlamps, VSA Vehicle Stability Assist system, aero bumpers and side sills, cruise control, sunroof and so on.
With the updated Odyssey, Honda has polished up a well-proven formula to keep its core MPV model showroom fresh in the midst of tough competition in the market. Hopefully for Honda, it’ll be enough to keep the Odyssey as one of the more popular and sought after MPVs here for some time to come.
Credits: Story and photos by Raymond Lai
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