Honda Odyssey – A mom’s best friend

by Charity Boozier

It has been said that the dog is man’s best friend, but I am here to propose that the Honda Odyssey is a mom’s best friend.

A dog is fun and playful.  The Honda Odyssey is always ready to play.  Of course, play is a subjective word with multiple outcomes.  My daughter enjoyed the play on the DVD system.  When we traveled to Dallas, this feature was invaluable.  I enjoyed taking the Odyssey on a weekend getaway with my husband visiting the Grapevine, TX wineries.  In this case, the navigation took us away to play.  Being in an unfamiliar area, we used the navigation almost every time we were in the car.  With the additional DVD player, plenty of storage for sports equipment, navigation to guide

After playing, rest is required.  The Honda Odyssey will give you rest in the peace of mind that any mom will have knowing that her family is safe and her budget is too.  With the safety features included in the Touring edition, the roads are a little safer for our precious cargo.  This van is equipped with dual front airbags, front side airbags, and three-row side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor.  Additional LATCH tethers have been added for car seat security, 2 in the second row and 1 in the third row.  Also added for the 2008 model is improved protection for frontal collisions in the body structure.

Okay, enough about our safety, what about the budget.  Gas on this van won’t eat your wallet.  The 3.5 liter, all aluminum V-6 engine lists mileage at 17 for the city and 25 for the highway.  During our trip to Grapevine, I was impressed with the mileage.  After doing more research on the technical aspects of the Odyssey, I learned that they have a unique engine that will disable two or three of the six engine cylinders during cruising and deceleration.  A light on the dashboard will let the driver know when this is occurring.  Don’t let that engineering advance worry you, because this engine still produces 241 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 242 lb-ft of torque at 4900 rpm.

How many times have any of us attempted to “walk” our dog, only to have the dog “walk” us where he wants to go.  Well, with the navigation system, the odyssey will guide you to the destination of your choice.  With options that can utilize highways, back roads, quick routes, short routes, or avoid tolls, this navigation is customizable for just about any driver.  The menus even offer options for restaurants, entertainment, shopping and others.  While in Grapevine, I needed to locate a drug store and was able to quickly and easily find the nearest one by using this menu system.

Finally, how many of us just had to have a new puppy when our old dog left us.  Well, Odyssey owners feel the same way.  I have 2 friends that both own earlier models of the Honda Odyssey.  They desire the new model and will continue to transport their family in this loyal vehicle.  Some of the new additions intrigue them, small improvements to an already wonderful and elegant auto.  The back up camera was especially noted by one friend who could have recently used it to avoid a small collision.  Along with the back up camera, the side mirrors tilt down in reverse gear.  The windows in the side doors that roll down caused another friend to gaze dreamily toward her next Odyssey. 

As a mom myself, how do I believe an Odyssey will help me?  Personally, I like all the automatic doors and locks.  I can use the key fob to open the side doors or the rear door and my daughter just jumps in.  I was also really impressed with a convex mirror on the sunglass holder that allows the driver to see every seat in the car.  A great tool when determining who hit who first…  The rear storage area is deep to allow for the third row to fold flat, but I used for hauling luggage, groceries, birthday presents, and various other toys and equipment that we moms carry from one place to another.  As I was investigating all the seats, I found that the third row has an additional outlet and plugs for headphones.  I only wish I had found these earlier in the week.

The last feature that really impressed me was the second row seat.  Between the traditional 2 seats is a smaller seat that converts to a cup holder and storage unit, called the PlusOneSeat™.  I truly believe that a mother invented this, but I don’t have facts to back that up.  This seat increases passenger capacity to 8.  I don’t normally have that many passengers, but should the need arise, I find comfort in knowing that seat is available.

With a starting price of $25,000, the Honda Odyssey is an average price for your standard minivan.  I drove the touring edition with many of the extras featured in this article.  For that added comfort and luxury, the price increases to a little over $40,000.  A great minivan that is loyal and a great addition to any family.

Female Factor:

Ok, as mom’s we all know that we need all the help we can get.  Even as women who are not moms, organization in this crazy world is crucial.  The Honda Odyssey is a great vehicle to have to get you organized and on the right track to a great future.