2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite: AutoWeek Long-Term Introduction:

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By NATALIE NEFF on 7/19/2011

In bold 28-point Akzidenz Grotesk type, the headline boomed: "Best Minivan Ever?" Just asking the question gave our 2008 Chrysler Town & Country (or the "Norge," as we affectionately dubbed the big white box-on-wheels) major credentials.

Somewhere at the crossroads of its comfortable ride, its family-friendly amenities and its flexible interior space, we did find a sort of driving nirvana with the T&C--not the type that satisfies the inner Parnelli Jones, perhaps, but a perfection nonetheless.

It silenced the quality skeptics, too. In the 33,000 miles we'd racked up on the odo--it crisscrossed the country, traversed the Rockies and shepherded all of our dormitory-bound children off to college and home again--never once did we have to spend a night without our dear Norge. It required nothing more than routine maintenance and a replacement tire. Still, we never did manage to convert any Honda Odyssey loyalists.

It was time for AutoWeek to try the Japanese minivan over the long haul. Enter the redesigned 2011 Odyssey, the newest member of our long-term fleet. For all of the advancements introduced by Chrysler--dual sliding doors (yes, there was a day when minivans had but one sliding rear door, on the passenger side), fold-in-the-floor seats, conversion-van-like amenities--it's the Honda that is cited most often by aficionados of minivans as the standard-bearer.

Our particular long-termer hasn't inspired its own nickname (at least, not yet), but it does bring with it a heck of a lot of stuff. We started with a top-trim Touring Elite model, with a base price of $44,030--far north of a new, top-of-the-line Town & Country Limited's starting point of $39,995. But the Odyssey Touring Elite comes standard with almost everything we could want in a minivan. The only options we tacked on were a trailer hitch with two hitch balls and roof rails and cross bars. The grand total came to $45,369.

For all that coin, we do get a nice power and performance setup. Where lower-trim Odysseys make do with a five-speed box, our Honda has the more fuel-efficient six-speed transmission, paired with a 3.5-liter V6 engine turning out 248 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque, with Honda's Variable Cylinder Management system. Our long-termer also gets bigger 18-inch wheels in place of the stock 17s; a full complement of safety features, including six airbags, front-seat whiplash protection and an alphabetic mélange of electronic systems (ABS, EBD, VSA, BA, BSI); a power moonroof, liftgate and sliding doors; GPS navigation with voice controls; a 650-watt sound system with a 15-GB hard drive, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

With all of those goodies and seating for eight (one more than our Chrysler, whose second-row swivel seats allowed for only seven riders), the sign-up sheet for the Honda is filling up fast. A bonus for the more outdoorsy staffers is that the Odyssey has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, plenty of pull for a small duck boat or a pop-up camper.

2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

PRICING & OPTIONS

Base (includes $780 delivery): $44,030

As-tested price: $45,369

Options: Trailer-hitch kit, with class II trailer-hitch mount, two-inch receiver, automatic-transmission cooler ($936); roof rails ($210); cross bars ($163); two-inch hitch ball ($15); 17/8-inch hitch ball ($15)

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase (in): 118.1

Track (in): 68.1 front, 68.2 rear

Length/width/height (in): 202.9/79.2/68.4

Curb weight/GVWR (lb): 4,560/6,019

Towing (lb): 3,500

ENGINE

Front-transverse 3.5-liter/212-cid SOHC V6

Power: 248 hp @ 5,700 rpm

Torque: 250 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm

Compression ratio: 10.5:1

Fuel requirement: 87 octane

DRIVETRAIN

Front-wheel drive

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Final drive ratio: 4.25:1

SUSPENSION

Front: MacPherson struts with coil springs, gas-charged shock absorbers, antiroll bar

Rear: Multilink with coil springs, gas-charged shock absorbers

BRAKES/ WHEELS/TIRES

Vented discs front, solid discs rear, ABS with EBD; aluminum 235/60R-18 Michelin Primacy MXV4

FUEL ECONOMY

EPA combined: 22 mpg

TRACK TEST DATA

STANDING-START ACCELERATION

0-60 mph: 7.5 sec

0-quarter mile: 15.8 sec @ 89.3 mph

BRAKING

60-0 mph: 132.4 ft

HANDLING

490-ft slalom: 39.7 mph

Lateral acceleration (200-ft skidpad): 0.75 g

INTERIOR NOISE (DBA)

Idle: 41

Full throttle:74

Steady 60 mph: 67

 

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