Borrowing from the theme of the one-time hit song "You're Still the One," after all these years the Honda Odyssey is still the minivan for me.
1999 was the year Honda redesigned this van, making it roomier, more stylish and more functional. At the time, it set the bar style and comfort in the minivan market. Five years later, Honda has made few modifications to the basic vehicle -- which tells you that the cutting-edge design is still tops in its class.
Having driven Plymouth Voyagers prior to this vehicle, the first thing you notice is how roomy the Odyssey is. It seats 7, all comfortably.
Cargo space is no problem. You can fit quite a bit in the hollowed out trunk. Also, the seats are raised from the floor so there is plenty of room to slide skis, snowboard, poles, etc. underneath.
The fold-down rear seat was an industry leader when the vehicle was new, and remains one of the Odyssey's best features today.
The first thing my wife and I did when we got this vehicle was pile our three children in it, pack our belongings and drive New York to Disney World. We may not have always enjoyed the ride, but it wasn't the vehicle's fault. We were never cramped even with all we had packed, and the seats are easy to get comfortable in.
There are cup-holders everywhere, a key for a family. There is a rear control for air flow, and an adapter in the back to plug in game systems.
Newer vans come with TVs. This one does not, but there is plenty of room to plunk a 9 or 13-inch TV on the floor in the second row of seats to keep the kids occupied while traveling. We've done it.
Mechanically, we have never had any major trouble with this vehicle. It has plenty of power, and handles and accelerates pretty well for a vehicle of its size -- though you are aware you are basically driving a truck.
The biggest flaw in this vehicle is the sliding doors, and we don't even have the power version. Even with the manual doors we have had constant problems with doors sticking in the cold weather -- sometimes to the points of freezing shut. We've had this worked on many times to no avail. Our kids our used to occasionally having to get in and out through the front doors when it's cold.
That, however, has been my only real complaint about this vehicle.
If you need a roomy, reliable vehicle to transport your family from event to event I highly recommend the Odyssey.


Amount Paid (US$): 24,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 1999