So how much can a Honda Odyssey hold? I have stuffed mine full of kids (class field trips), full of groceries (Costco) and full of furniture (various places). It has hauled many boxes of items to Goodwill, camping equipment to the mountains, and aluminum cans to the recycler.
And besides being roomy and versatile, it’s that rare thing – a stylish minivan – with many great features.
I bought my 2006 Honda Odyssey EX after owning a 2002 Odyssey. I liked my previous Odyssey so much that I definitely wanted another one.
I wanted the Odyssey’s fold-flat third-row seat, which magically creates a huge cargo area when needed, without the hassle of taking out the seats. I wanted the powerful V-6 engine that provides plenty of acceleration when needed. And I wanted the well-designed interior with a million convenient cupholders and pockets.
The 2006 Odyssey EX gave me all that and more.
This model had a number of significant improvements over my previous minivan. One that my children love are the second-row windows, which are able to roll about halfway down. As far as I know, it’s the only minivan which has this. Another great feature is the secret compartment under the floor, where small items can be stowed out of sight, like iPods, cell phones and digital cameras. This compartment can be locked as needed.
Another nice upgrade is the six-CD player, which is standard. The van is also XM satellite ready if you choose this option. The speakers are quite decent as well. Other nice features are the cruise control, side curtain airbags and stability control.
Like my previous Honda Odyssey, the interior is very well designed. Instead of one large glove compartment, there are two, plus two more smaller compartments within easy reach of the driver. The large door pockets can hold everything from a folding umbrella to sunglasses, as well as maps and CDs. There are lots of cupholders – probably too many – but they do come in handy. Pockets on the backs of the seats also hold lots of additional stuff.
The 2006 Odyssey EX can hold eight people if necessary, and seven comfortably. The eighth “bonus seat” fits between the two second-row seats and is really only for a very skinny person. However, I have had occasion to use it, and it does come in handy. And yes, it has its own seat belt.
In addition to comfortable seats, there is plenty of head and leg room, even for really tall people. My teenage sons are both now 6-foot-1 and this is their favorite vehicle for long trips. The power-sliding doors are also wonderful to have, and the second-row windows have built-in shades that can be pulled up or down as needed.
I also really like the Odyssey’s V-6 engine, which is suited to the larger loads that the Odyssey is capable of holding. There is never a problem merging onto the freeway or passing. The van can even accelerate while going up a fairly steep hill. Even so, the Odyssey gets decent gas mileage – about 20 in the city, about 25 on the highway.
I have compared other minivans to my Odyssey and always found others lacking. The Odyssey has a solid, classy feel to it that you don’t find in other minivans. And it’s completely reliable. I had absolutely no problems with my previous Odyssey and so far, two years after I bought my 2006 Odyssey, no problems with this one either.
It’s a great minivan and I would highly recommend it to anyone with a family, or who has large loads to haul on a regular basis.
