2011 Honda Odyssey Touring: Track Tested

That's interesting that you guys like the ESC tuning. Most auto enthusiasts would never admit to actually using one of those electronic nannies.

I'm pretty sure the Mazda 5 is more of a "car guy" van, dynamics-wise, granted you don't actually look at the front end.
The 2011 Dodge GC R/T will definitely be better than this Honda, and maybe even the 5.

Why does the Odyssey have 23 fewer hp and less torque than the Accord V6, which weighs a half ton less?

Is it too late in the game to still mock the styling of the Odyssey? No? OK

"Excuse me, sir, but the rear of your minivan seems to be falling off."

Years ago I read that Japanese cars had styling that highlighted up-close features, because there are so many people crowded together in Japan that nobody could get far enough away from the vehicle to get a good look at the overall design.

Honda designers must be still doing that.

Ed beat me to it...why does this 3.5L Honda motor make so much less power than the one in the Accords? Is it really detuned, or is it just that Honda is giving it the same number that it did in the old Odys and Pilots which always made 248HP? I mean you would think this vechicle would really benefit for the extra 23Hp given its size and weight.

It could be that the space under the hood or how they route the exhaust has something to do with it. The Pentastar V6 in my car is rated at 283HP but in the Challenger it is over 300. Different applications change outputs. This is just a guess on my part however.

The lower HP is likely due to the intake manifold and runner design. The V6 in the oddy is virtually identical to the engine in the Accord but through revised intake tuning, the Oddy is meant to generate more mid-range torque versus peak horsepower. This approach aids drivability especially for 99% of the duty cycle this engine will be required to run (2,000 - 4,500 rpm).

The 1999 Odyssey weighed 300 lbs. less. Roughly the same as your wife, two kids and the dog.

Fugliest thing on the road. Makes the Aztec/BMW X6 look great.

Where is the video?

Just to put a capper on this: Honda couldn't engineer a nicer looking-- or invisible-- gash, and apparently they can't engineer an engine to compete with other minivans.

Quest-- 260 hp
Sienna-- 266 hp
Sedona-- 271 hp
Gr Caravan-- 283

Odyssey-- 248 hp

And Honda can no longer offer a regular Civic with a sunroof and manual transmission. The EX trim level no longer has a manual transmission option. Thanks, Honda.
(Sat in a 2012 LX today-- the interior is subpar, with hard plastic everywhere.)

" The EX trim level no longer has a manual transmission option. Thanks, Honda"

I just checked, it is in Canada. Perhaps if you bought more manuals (like we do) then you would get more.

Just a suggestion.

"And Honda can no longer offer a regular Civic with a sunroof and manual transmission. The EX trim level no longer has a manual transmission option. Thanks, Honda."

It's not Honda's fault that most Americans refuse to buy manuals. It won't be long before they're exclusively offered on performance variants only, like the Si.

Its not America's fault that we like what we like. It is not a crime to drive or like automatics.

ed124c,

There's nothing about this engine -- or the Odyssey's performance numbers -- that aren't class competitive. I'd say that's pretty good acceleration for such a large vehicle and, in typical Honda fashion, I bet the engine is smooth and sounds pretty good.

I'll second the defense of the engine. The J-series V6, while kind of dated technologically, is quite competitive. In various guises from 3.5 to 3.7 liters it produces 248 to 305 hp. Honda could have easily put in the 280 hp version of the 3.5 (from the base TL and TSX V6), but they were clearly focused on fuel economy for the Odyssey and as such put in the VCM version (similar to the Accord) but tuned for more bottom end. The standard VCM version in the Accord has a bit of a midrange hole despite the 271 hp rating that probably wouldn't go over well in a much heavier vehicle carrying more load.

That said, while the engine performance is acceptable and adequate for the class, adequate really isn't what I expect from Hondas after growing up with them in the 90s when they were definitely overachieving. And in terms of real world _performance_ I still think the Toyota 3.5 V6 is the best V6 in the class. It not only outruns the Honda V6, but it also gets good fuel economy. In fact, if you look at the performance of the Toyota V6, from the Camry and RAV4, to the Sienna and Highlander, or even the ES350, it tends to be a top performer and gets great economy. Haven't seen enough off the new Pentastar engine to comment on that one yet.

"Its not America's fault that we like what we like. It is not a crime to drive or like automatics."

My wife agrees with you. She says as long as you can move the stick thingy to D and it goes she's happy (really, I'm not kidding).

I'm guessing I'll always have to have one of my cars with an automatic.

"Its not America's fault that we like what we like. It is not a crime to drive or like automatics."

But if someone wants to bitch about the lack of manual transmission offerings we can only blame ourselves for not buying them.

@firstwagon: I was referring to the new 2012 Civic. By the way, how do you get info about
Canadian versions of cars?

To all: I have done my best to perpetuate manual transmissions.
1. I taught my ex-wife to drive stick. After our divorce, she still buys stick only.
2. I gave my daughter several of my old cars, which were sticks. She now owns a Jetta TDi wagon with a stick.
3. I, personally, have not purchased an automatic since my 1978 LeMans.
4. In convrsations, I congratulate those who drive manuals, and I encourage those who don't to try it.
5. I rant and rave on Edmunds.

Ed/Chrisa, why do you choose to only view performance simply by looking at numbers on paper? Honda has never been a company who tries to offer the most hp in the segment and the Odyssey is no exception. Like Church123 stated, the Odysseys v6 differences vs the Accords is simply it's tuning as the applications are different. The Odysseys v6 is tuned moreso for more bottom/midrange torque vs the Accords more slightly higher strung approach. The Odysseys v6 may look subpar on paper but when it comes to real world performance and efficiency I think the Odyssey can easily hold its own and then some.

The Odyssey is one of the lighter vans so the power difference really doesn't hurt it at all. As a matter of fact the current Odyssey has been in the top half or even the quickest in terms of acceleration with the least amount of power. Also the Odyssey has proven to be the most frugal in all comparison tests
I've read/viewed. So what's the problem again?

"But if someone wants to bitch about the lack of manual transmission offerings we can only blame ourselves for not buying them."

Why bitch or worry about something you cant control? I know you guys like manuals and I do too but life will go on just fine without a Civic with a five speed and a sunroof. The market has been going to automatics for decades now and nothing is going to stop it. Hey if you want to go tilting at windmills be my guest, but its not going to change a thing.