Topic: Test Drive: 2012 Honda Odyssey Touring

[Autos_Editor]

If you've got lots of money and lots of kids, this is the vehicle for you.

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[nlm]

I've always been impressed with the Odyssey cargo cap with the 3rd row seats up.

The article mentions that child seats can be installed in any of the 2nd row seats but can the 2nd row accomodate 3 child seats at a time, with at least one rear facing?

Can the child seats also be installed in the 3rd row?

[whaddaiknow]

I've always been impressed with the Odyssey cargo cap with the 3rd row seats up.

The article mentions that child seats can be installed in any of the 2nd row seats but can the 2nd row accomodate 3 child seats at a time, with at least one rear facing?

Can the child seats also be installed in the 3rd row?

Yes and Yes.

I have 3 kids and just took delivery of a new EX RES. I have 3 car seats, well actually 1 rear facing, 1 forward facing and one booster all at the same time. There are a few inches between the booster in the middle and the car seats on each side so I am positive you can replace it with a full car seat.
Absolutely love it so far.

[JRM]

This is probably the best of the so called "mini" vans available.  My neighbor just bought one.  This thing is huge!  I think it's high time to drop the mini reference to this class of vehicle.  It's become a laughable oxymoron.

[hemusbull]

Come on, if we need simplicity why you don't say simply "van" instead "mini-van"? Other abbreviations for the similar vehicles like SUV and CUV are just three letter words as well. Simple like that!

[greengs]

We have an EX RES and love it.  Even the 3rd row is designed for 2 child seats unlike other vans in the class that can take none or just one. 

[opg210]

Good review of a great vehicle. It has gotten big but that space is soooo handy.

By the way, please drop the "soccer-mom" references and cliches - I've been at under-8 soccer practices all spring with 200 other parents, and they mostly drive SUVs. Looks like the pervasive negative stereotype has chased them all away. In future to be technically accurate (at least in my neighbourhood, which is pretty standard suburbia) please start referring to X5s/Land Rovers/Tahoes as "soccer-mom vehicles"!

[bombastic]

It is a good vehicle, but at 50k$ it is in a luxury territory. And this mini-van is not luxury for sure. I would take a Grand Caravan at 1/2 price (or even lower) over this one any day.

[dkaz]

If I needed a minivan today, this would be tops on my list, though in the less expensive EX form.

[tpl]

I will never need a minivan but if I had needed one the Ody would be it and I would probably have bought the Touring just because.

[2JDM]

It is a good vehicle, but at 50k$ it is in a luxury territory. And this mini-van is not luxury for sure. I would take a Grand Caravan at 1/2 price (or even lower) over this one any day.

The Caravan CVP is a good value, but you get what you pay for.

[jaari]

I think I would go for a caravan or sedona and put a few $$ away for repairs down the road.
This thing looks like a dead mans taxi...

[dkaz]

You spend $30k on a Grand Caravan Crew Plus to get features comparable to an $33k Odyssey EX, so I guess the value is there. The $20k CVP is not comparable at all, but it's great value if you need a no frills people mover.

I saw an SXT ad that said 2nd row power windows were an upgrade over a CVP model... what the heck does the CVP have for 2nd row windows then? Are they stationary or roll up?

[SaskSpecV]

Does anyone have access to the breakdown of minivan sales by model trim?  I wonder how many $48K Odysseys, Quests, and Siennas are actually sold, compared to their more plebian base models.   Or CVP Grand Caravans vs. SXTs and Town & Countrys. 

We've discussed ad nauseum the decreasing return in value when moving up the model chain (see Focus, Ford), but this seems especially pronounced in the minivan market.  A difference of 40 to 48K between trim levels?  I'm sure you get a lot of kit for that 8K, but how much is the extra in-car electronics really worth?  Considering the target market (young families who generally have less cash), that seems like a really steep premium.

[nlm]

Does anyone have access to the breakdown of minivan sales by model trim?  I wonder how many $48K Odysseys, Quests, and Siennas are actually sold, compared to their more plebian base models.   Or CVP Grand Caravans vs. SXTs and Town & Countrys. 

We've discussed ad nauseum the decreasing return in value when moving up the model chain (see Focus, Ford), but this seems especially pronounced in the minivan market.  A difference of 40 to 48K between trim levels?  I'm sure you get a lot of kit for that 8K, but how much is the extra in-car electronics really worth?  Considering the target market (young families who generally have less cash), that seems like a really steep premium.

Tis a good question and I am curious about the numbers as well but I suspect if you combine all of the models and order the data by price ranges (so all minivans categorized by $20k-$25k, $25-$30k, etc) there would be a non-linear decline in the number of higher priced trims sold.

One take on your question: how much is relative piece and quiet in the back with kids, finding a place without a navigator using a map upside down, and no dents in the rear due to backing into the garage worth? It depends on the family and the auto-purchase decision maker. There are several markets and demographics. There is the $30k no frills base model for young families with less cash. There is the $50k touring model for young families with cash.

[Fobroader]

At pretty well the same price and with the climate I live in, the AWD Sienna I think would be a better buy.....still, $50K for a minivan....WHOA!

[Blueprint]

I wish Honda Canada would stop putting the hardly-selling-in-Canada Touring trim in the press fleet ... The LX is the one with the best value, often sold with a 2k$ discount.  That's the one that might replace my mighty '03, and that's the one I'd like to read about!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I never looked at the loaded up Oddy, but I much preferred the Quest when comparing lower trim levels.

Exterior looks are likely a draw for most people, but the Quest interior was nicer, the folding seats were very practical and the drivetrain worked very well. It also was quieter and had a very plush ride quality without being excessively nautical. The Oddy does have higher cargo volume, but that's a trade off for the Quests nicer seating arrangement.

[Fobroader]

I never looked at the loaded up Oddy, but I much preferred the Quest when comparing lower trim levels.

Exterior looks are likely a draw for most people, but the Quest interior was nicer, the folding seats were very practical and the drivetrain worked very well. It also was quieter and had a very plush ride quality without being excessively nautical. The Oddy does have higher cargo volume, but that's a trade off for the Quests nicer seating arrangement.

Ive only seen a few new Quests running around, cool looking vehicle. I wonder why they are not as popular as the competition??

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I never looked at the loaded up Oddy, but I much preferred the Quest when comparing lower trim levels.

Exterior looks are likely a draw for most people, but the Quest interior was nicer, the folding seats were very practical and the drivetrain worked very well. It also was quieter and had a very plush ride quality without being excessively nautical. The Oddy does have higher cargo volume, but that's a trade off for the Quests nicer seating arrangement.

Ive only seen a few new Quests running around, cool looking vehicle. I wonder why they are not as popular as the competition??

I dunno. I think popular options are included only in higher trim levels which can bump up the price pretty quickly. The styling is polarizing, and the Quest name is an unknown for a lot of people. Caravan, Odyssey and Sienna have been around continuously for a long time. That's just guessing though.