Honda Odyssey 2008 :

Honda Odyssey Redesigned and Upgraded for 2008

By Evander Klum

The Honda Odyssey comes freshly upgraded for 2008. Honda placed so much impressive new style and interior features for the model to give it a more distinct and prestigious look as a minivan.

According to Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda, "The Odyssey is the king of the Honda lineup when it comes to moving the maximum number of people in maximum comfort."

"For 2008, the Odyssey strengthens its styling and functional advantages while adding even more premium features," he added.

More than equipped with premium Honda multi rib belt, the 2008 Honda Odyssey is now powered with more fuel-efficient VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) I-VTEC V6 engine. This engine is made capable of deactivating either two or three of the engine's six cylinders upon deceleration or acceleration.

Meanwhile, the interior was also given upgrades, with Honda providing it with notable optional features such as Bluetooth HandsFreeLink (provided available in Odyssey EX-L and Touring), 4-way power passenger seat (standard in Odyssey EX-L and Touring), rearview camera display in the rearview mirror (standard in Odyssey Ex-L) and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt down (standard in Odyssey Touring). For wider selection, new colors and trims were also made available.

The 2008 Odyssey has been also provided with interior refinements coming from the Honda 3rd-Row Magic Seat that allows three passengers. No worries about the space though, for the new Odyssey still provides enough at 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which is highly desired by customers with families. The 3rd row seat can also be folded completely flat into the floor, providing 91.1 cubic feet of cargo volume without sacrificing the comfort of five passengers. The 2nd row seats can be removed, expanding the cargo volume up to 147.4 cubic feet. That makes a total interior volume of 209.8 cubic feet for both passenger and cargo volume.

Moreover, Honda made safety more significant and has been considered top priority as the federal government considered ranking the Odyssey the highest five-star crash safety rating for both frontal and side impacts. Honda, holding on with a goal that shall provide "Safety for Everyone", equipped all Odyssey models with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) or electronic stability control; standard anti-lock brakes with brake assist; advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Protection Detection System (OPDS); three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; and a pedestrian safety design in the front of the vehicle. For frontal collision occupant protection, Honda stuffed the Odyssey with Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. Among new features for the 2008 Odyssey were the active front seat head restraints and daytime running lights.

Capturing the family-sized customers, the 2008 Odyssey comes with three Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child seat attachment systems, of which two are in the outboard second-row seating positions and one in the middle third-row seating position.

Among the standard comfort and convenience features were dual-zone air conditioning (tri-zone automatic climate control on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), tilt and telescope steering wheel, power windows and door locks, keyless entry and cruise control. As with the optional features, these things were included: Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition, an 8-inch screen, and Zagat Survey guide information, and a Honda DVD Entertainment System with a 9-inch screen. 

A rearview camera is also present to aid rear visibility on the Odyssey EX-L, which is also equipped with the available navigation system. While the Odyssey EX-L models without the available navigation system provide a rearview camera display thanks to a 2.5-inch monitor embedded in the rearview mirror.

On the technical side, the Odyssey is held available in two engine variations. First, a 3.5 L, all-aluminum SOHC VTEC engine is provided on the Odyssey LX and EX, producing 244 hp at 5750 rpm and 240 lb-ft. of torque at 5000 rpm, respectively. This allows both models to achieve an EPA rated city/highway fuel economy of 16/23 mpg. Second, a 3.5 L, all-aluminum, SOHC I-VTEC V-6 engine with VCM exist on the Odyssey EX-L and Touring models, producing 241 hp at 5700 rpm and 242 lb-ft. of torque at 4900 rpm, to enhance fuel efficiency.

The new Odyssey promises to deliver comfortable and refined ride performance coming from an independent front and rear suspension and a rigid unit body structure. The chassis was additional sustained with power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes and variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. The Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models were equipped with 16-inch wheels (alloy on EX and EX-L) together with all-season 235/65R16 tires. While, the Odyssey Touring models are found with 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season 245/60R17 tires (standard); Michelin PAX System run-flat technology wheels and tired were made available (460 mm wheels and 235-710R 460A tires).

All premium features provided, the 2008 Honda Odyssey is then much pleasing and impressive as compared to its predecessors, especially when it regards to style, comfort and safety.

About the author:

Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present, he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.