The grille and front bumper are new, every trim level gets standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. If you buy the cheaper L7, rear seat occupants will put up with the same climate settings as the front-rowers.įrom the driver’s seat the 2021 Odyssey has a number of handy improvements, such as a 7.0-inch driver information display in the instrument binnacle, a larger 8.0-inch central display with integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, increased storage space in the glovebox, a retractable cupholder outboard of the new steering wheel which also has more logical button placement.With a styling theme that dates back a decade, the 2021 Honda Odyssey has a familiar look that has been tweaked for the new model year. Our LX7 spec comes with tri-zone climate control, which means rearmost passengers get their own air-conditioning controls to go with dual vents each side. Even with the third row in place, the boot is large enough to take a couple of full-size suitcases or a half dozen shopping bags and a couple of cases of beer or wine – you know, in preparation for another Covid lockdown. And, when you’re not using the third row, it swivels and stows easily in the floor, presenting a huge bootspace with a relatively flat floor for larger loads. The third-row bench seat has the leg- and head-room to take adults without problem, and it’s actually not that hard to get to providing you can stoop-shuffle or Chuck Berry duck-walk.Įach of the three seatbacks in the third row recline individually so occupants can be upright or relaxed. ![]() ![]() This is one seriously business class cabin thanks to plush carpets, leather upholstery and four extremely comfortable captain’s chairs. Keep in mind that this vehicle is not designed for energetic driving and you’ll never hit its dynamic limits.Īnother area where the Odyssey leaves many modern SUVs in its wake is refinement. ![]() On typical roads the ride is cosseting and comfortable, isolating occupants well, although the suspension does feel a touch too soft and could do with more body control in corners. If the interior is limousine-like for comfort, the ride on-road tries to deliver the same, but in the end falls short. The big Odyssey has a compact turning circle (10.8m) and is fitted with cameras front and rear to make parking less stressful. A sharper throttle response would go some way to disguising the Odyssey’s lethargy off the line. On the move, the steering is light and easy but engine response to the accelerator is a touch relaxed, which suggests Honda has tuned it for fuel efficiency. The driving position itself does feel van-like, which takes some getting used to, but it does mean you’re sitting higher than a passenger car and have good all-round vision. The Odyssey is relatively easy to drive, despite its sizeable footprint. Not the rampaging Kia Carnival which outsells it six to one in the Australian market but the perception that people movers are simply not cool. Now, these magic doors are not the Honda Odyssey’s only redeeming feature, but it does go a long way towards making people movers cool again, because that is the Odyssey’s biggest challenge. I highly recommend surreptitiously pressing one with your other hand if the gesture control doesn’t work for you, so your kids still think you’re cool. Lucky for Wardy and me, and the thousands of mums and dads who will own the new Honda Odyssey people mover, the keyfob has buttons for opening and closing the sliding doors as well. But Wardy’s 12-year-old daughter made the gesture control door slide no problems at all. My Jedi mind powers were not strong enough to make the door open, and nor could fellow journalist James Ward. Or at least that’s how it played out during my week with the MY21 Honda Odyssey Vi LX7. Sadly, this Jedi mind control trick is only possible if you’re under 15.
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