2017 Honda Odyssey – Honda’s fifth-generation Odyssey

Odyssey Update 12/20/2016

(MUST READ: article 2018 Honda Odyssey is on market NOW!)

Starting from December 19th, the 2017 Honda Odyssey will be available to customers. Japanese company decided to keep the most popular minivan as similar as possible to the previous version, and the starting price of the model will be $30,750. This is without a destination charge which will cost you an additional $900.

Just like the previous year’s version, this new one returns good fuel economy that has been rated by EPA at 19 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined. The Odyssey can fit a maximum of eight passengers which, along with being quite affordable and gentle to your pocket, makes the Odyssey a very lovable vehicle.

The 2017 Honda Odyssey runs on a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine capable of producing 248 horsepower. The minivan is available only with a six-speed automatic transmission.

An acoustic windshield will be available as an option on SE and EX-L trim levels. Higher levels now include several comfort features such as a rear entertainment system, Forward Collision Warning, Sirius XM radio and even an in-vehicle vacuum cleaner. Those top models are often used for luxury limo services, according to TLT, which fleet couldn’t go without the Odyssey.

The HondaVAC vacuum cleaner is positioned in the rear cargo area, and it has an extendable hose which can cover every corner of the cabin. If the engine is turned off, the vacuum cleaner can run up to eight minutes since it is powered by vehicle’s 12-volt electrical system. This decision was made to prevent the battery from fully discharging. Of course, if the engine is running, the vacuum cleaner will run continuously.

Update 10/05/2016:

This is not the first time we are seeing spy photos of the Honda Odyssey 2017. It has been spotted on few occasions going through various tests that thoroughly checks out its reliability and how will it perform in different conditions.

Again, just like before, we have heavily camouflaged vehicle so, obviously, Honda wants to hide as much as possible about new elements and design changes. Since everything indicates that new model is coming to dealerships before the end of this year or at the beginning of the next, it is reasonable to get more details about it in the next few months.

It is possible to notice few similarities of this one and Honda Pilot crossover so we can conclude that few things will be carried over or at least influenced heavily. Among those things that will be offered we could see upgraded headlights with LED tech plus the redesigned lower bumper segment that now gives it a more aggressive look.

All info indicates that changes to the rear will also come but with the amount of camo it carries it is impossible to conclude what will be modified. What can be seen even Honda tried to hide it is the changes to the belt line that will now cause it to look more in line with other conventional vans on the market.

Recently we heard rumors about the hybrid version, but until that happens, we are sure that the 3.5-liter V6 will be implemented here. This is the latest generation engine, and we could see it in Pilot where it produces 280 hp and is paired with the nine-speed automatic transmission. One of the segments, where crossovers and SUV’s could have an advantage over new Honda Odyssey 2017, is the all-wheel drive as it has been reported that this one will come with only front wheel drive setup.

The Odyssey is one of the best selling cars on the US market thanks to the features it provides, good acquisition price and great value for money. However, because new models have been released on the market and due to the fact the car released back in 2010, redesigned version 2017 Honda Odyssey has been rumored. Stories about successor are available for quite a while now and despite the fact Honda didn’t release much information about the car, a camouflaged model has been spied testing ever since the mid of last year.

This means that Honda is certainly preparing something quite interesting with their Odyssey, especially since it takes them a lot longer than usual to develop the car. Only limited details are available, but we expect this to be changed in the next few months.

So far we think that the upcoming model of the car will be released with the 2017 Honda Odyssey some time at the end of the year and go on the market shortly after that. Just like with the current model, the car will likely share the same platform with the Pilot but this time around instead of being released just like a front wheel drive minivan, we might get an all-wheel drive version which will indeed sell quite well in the northern part of the country. The price will likely still start at $30,000 while the all-wheel drive version might cost around $2,000 more than the base model.

Honda Odyssey Design

Probably the most important segment of a minivan is its interior which has to be great in terms of space and quality. The spy shots of the camouflaged model do reveal that the future 2017 Honda Odyssey will likely come with a lot of driver assistance features which are not available on the ongoing version. On top of that, it seems that the car will be offering similar specs and materials to those found on certain Acura models which will bring the value of the car up for sure.

When you buy your car, the next important thing which you need to consider is tires. According to AutoClown, the best tires for Honda Odyssey are Michelin Defender LTX.

2017 Honda Odyssey Engine

Most cars based on the platform of the upcoming Odyssey are using a 3.5-liter V6 so it is quite safe to assume that the 2017 Honda Odyssey will use the same unit. Upgrades will be offered here also, and instead, 248 hp that the previous version pumped out we expect power figures to be bumped higher. Direct injected V6 petrol engine should now make around 280 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque.

We do hope however that Honda’s new 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four mill will also be installed which would make a really interesting minivan as it would be able to provide a similar amount of power while using quite a bit less fuel. This hasn’t been confirmed, but hopefully, Honda will make few additional changes here.

Don’t forget to see new 2018 Honda Civic Type R @ Paris Motor Show!

Video of spied 2017 Honda Odyssey

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What about 2016 Honda Oddysey?

2017 Honda Odyssey Drivetrain Engine type SOHC 24V V6, direct fuel injection Displacement 212 cu in (3471cc) Power/torque 280 hp @6000 rpm; 262 lb-ft @4700 rpm Transmission 6-speed automatic/9-speed automatic w/manual shifting mode Dimensions Wheelbase N/A Length N/A Height N/A Passenger volume N/A Cargo volume N/A Performance 0-60 8.1 sec (est) Top speed 104 mph (est) PRICE RANGE: $26,000 – $34,000 (est) Competitors: Toyota Sienna

Minivans may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying their usability. A minivan is perhaps the perfect everyday vehicle. It can carry lots of people, stuff, and they even tow a decent amount. If you opt for the right make and model, you’ll even get good fuel economy and reliability. Well, those are the exact words that come to mind when you say the word “Honda.”

The Japanese company has always been a manufacturer of reliable vehicles, perhaps the most reliable vehicles on the planet. It’s only logical that their take on the minivan would be one of the best on the market then. Well, with the original Honda Odyssey they created just that. The most popular minivan on the planet was born.

Here we are 22 years later, and the Odyssey name is still going strong. The car has evolved into so much more than just a big people carrier. The 2016 Honda Odyssey is now a great highway cruiser, daily driver, and even the occasionally fun vehicle. Yes, you read that right. You can have fun while driving this car now more than ever.

Video

For the 2016 refresh, Honda has introduced a new Special Edition trim (SE) which includes a few range-topping options from the Touring Elite but leaves a few out, making it a more affordable package. Other than that nothing else has changed but why would you change something that’s already at the top of the game? It makes no sense spending more money to develop something which works exactly as it should and pricing it more expensive. That would be bad for the consumers as well.

Design

Anyway, let’s get back on track. The looks. The one thing minivans are most criticized for. Well, the 2016 Honda Odyssey manages to be stylish without being too in your face. Well, it’s as nice looking as a minivan can get. The front is good looking with the headlights and grille following definitive Honda styling cues and even it is close to other models in the lineup it is still clear that this is a minivan. Other than that it brings standard minivan boxy shape but what can you do with it. There are a lot of dull and flat surfaces when looking it from a profile. The only thing breaking up the dullness is the line for the sliding doors.

2016 Honda Odyssey Interior

That rather uninspiring exterior hides a practical and huge interior. There’s a large array of seating arrangements you can do. The second-row seats can be adjusted so that a middle aisle or a side aisle can be created to gain easier access to the third-row of seats. On trims higher than the EX (including the EX) the center portion in the second row can slide forward more than 5 inches, putting the youngest occupant closer to the front seats where mom and dad usually sit. The two outward seats in the second row can also be slid outward to give even more space.

There are loads of cubby holes everywhere, and there’s even a flip-up trash bag in the removable center console making it very easy to dispose of. The addition of a cooling compartment is always welcomed as it keeps your drinks nice and cold at all times. All trims except the base LX have a big touchscreen display which can act as a rearview camera and an access point to the infotainment options including the audio system and apps like Pandora. Ergonomics are excellent, and all of the buttons are where you want them to be, and even it’s not driver oriented you will be able to access all settings quickly. Certainly one of the selling points is that it’s very easy to use and user-friendly.

The top-level Touring Elite model is loaded with all the bells and whistles and is usually the most popular choice in the 2016 Honda Odyssey range. It gets entertainment for the rear seats with a widescreen monitor which has the option to display two different sources. So, for example, one side can play a DVD movie and the other a video game simultaneously. There’s even a built-in vacuum cleaner with a long 10-foot hose to clean quickly any mess or debris on the seats and floor before it even has a chance to dry or go stale.

Practicality shouldn’t even be a question with the Odyssey. It will totally devour anything you throw at it. Fully loaded with passengers it can still haul 38.4 cubic feet worth of stuff behind the third row. Fold the third-row with a 60/40 split into the floor and you suddenly have a massive 93.1 cubic foot of cargo space. Removing the second-row of seats gives you a scarcely believable 148.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity although you will have to remove the seats altogether to achieve that number since they don’t enter the floor like the third-row does. With a diminishing number of competitors on minivan market, we can easily claim that these figures are among the best in class.

What do you think about 2017 Honda Odyssey Rumors?

Engine of latest Honda Odyssey

There’s only one engine option, and it’s a 3.5 liter V6 which is capable of developing 248 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes mated to a six-speed auto transmission. There is no option of the all-wheel drive, so the only wheels spinning are the fronts. This setup is capable of returning 22 miles per gallon on the combined run. The top-spec Touring Elite model managed to reach 60 miles per hour in a quick 8 seconds. Overall, engine capabilities of the Odyssey are on par with other vehicles in the segment, and we are glad to see an engine that has been tested and proven for so many times.

When tackling the twisty roads and sharp corners, the Odyssey outshines its competitors. It may be down a few horsepower on them, but regarding road compliance and body roll, it trumps all of them. It’s got just enough dampening to absorb the bumps and be the best highway cruiser, but the confidence-inspiring steering and suspension make it feel smaller than it is. There’s active noise-cancelling technology which brings road and wind noise to an absolute minimum. The V6 doesn’t feel like it lacks any power and is easily able to do everything other minivans are capable of doing. You will find that 248 hp in this vehicle is quite enough for all your daily errands.

2016 Honda Odyssey Price

Prices for the base model start at around $29,400. For this, you’re getting a great people mover and daily driver. Expect to pay more for the top-spec model loaded with everything but we highly recommend you do. In case that you choose Touring Elite version it will set you back for about $44,875, It’s more than worth the money and the original investment.

We will update.

UPDATE Januar 2017 : (2018 Honda Odyssey is official now)