Vehicle Profile: The 2012 Honda Odyssey
The 2012 Honda Odyssey continues to be the class-leader in minivans after its 2011 model year redesign. With outstanding fuel economy and safety ratings, luxury-car style and refinement inside, space and utility when you need it and a driving experience that challenges the convention of how a minivan should perform, the 2012 Honda Odyssey is an all-around utility player.
The eight-passenger 2012 Odyssey (MSRP $28,225) is offered in five trim levels – LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite – each delivering a combination of features targeted to consumers of every level. From outstanding value to state-of-the-art in-vehicle entertainment technology, the Odyssey provides an excellent platform for families on the move.The Odyssey’s 3.5-liter, 24-valve, single overhead cam (SOHC), i-VTEC® V6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) delivers show-stopping performance, thanks to 248 hp and 250 lb/ft of torque, and outstanding fuel economy. Odyssey Touring models deliver an EPA estimated 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway – better than any other eight-passenger minivan – in part because of its standard six-speed automatic transmission. Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models use a five-speed automatic transmission that delivers 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway in EPA estimates.
The Odyssey’s exterior and “lightning bolt” character line give it a distinctive appearance that sets it apart from the average family hauler. More than just a styling exercise, the character line provides for a significantly larger third-row window, enhancing the view for passengers in the rearmost seats. The rigid body structure is constructed of 59 percent high-strength steel, which also enhances the effectiveness of sound-deadening insulation, isolating you and your passengers from unnecessary road noise. Meanwhile, that same high-strength steel allows for a reduction in body weight and a strong body structure for improved fuel economy and improved handling.
Honda designers developed the Odyssey with a solitary goal in mind: To make it the ultimate family vehicle. The Odyssey delivers with three rows of comfortable, accessible seating and “sedan-like” legroom for each row. Depending on the trim level and the seating configuration, the Odyssey can provide up to five Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) provisions for child seats, allowing you not only to cart your own kids around, but your neighbor’s, too. It’s a play date on wheels.
Adding to the Odyssey’s utility is its massive cargo capacity. With all the seats in position, the Odyssey can carry 38.4 cubic feet of cargo. Lower all the seats into their stowed positions and the Odyssey can swallow up to 148.5 cubic feet (approximately the inside capacity of five of the largest home refrigerators on the market today). With the second-row seats removed, the Odyssey can fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood inside, and with the optional front console removed, the Odyssey can haul lumber up to 10 feet in length.
A 118.1-inch wheelbase and a fully independent suspension allow for confident, precise performance and a compliant, comfortable ride quality. Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control helps prevent oversteering when negotiating corners or performing evasive maneuvers. The Odyssey utilizes a multi-link rear suspension system that is significantly more advanced than the torsion beam-style rear suspensions often used on other minivans.
“Top Safety Pick” is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) designation for those vehicles that provide the highest protection for occupants in front, side, rear and roof-strength testing. The Odyssey achieved the highest possible score of “Good” in all tests and the Top Safety Pick. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash testing, the Odyssey also achieved the highest overall vehicle score of five stars for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash-safety tests, in all evaluated seating positions and scenarios.
And those aren’t the only awards the Odyssey has earned. The redesigned Honda Odyssey also won an Automobile Magazine "All-Star" award, Edmunds InsideLine "Editor's Most Wanted" award for 2011, Edmunds.com 2011 “Top Recommended" vehicle and "Best Retained Value Award" for a minivan, About.com "Readers Choice Award", ALG’s 2011 Residual Value Award for “Best Multi-Purpose Vehicle," Cars.com "Family Car of the Year," Kelley Blue Book "Top 10 Family Cars" for 2011 and "Best Redesigned Vehicle for 2011," and more.
You’re sure to love its combination of style, performance, comfort and utility, too. Schedule a test drive of the 2012 Honda Odyssey, and see how it fits your life.
MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $810.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
* Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
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