Bangkok post : Dual

Dual-Purpose MPV
13 Jan 2014 at 00:00
Honda's all-new Odyssey has made quite a nice landing in Thai showrooms. Even though the Japanese MPV is a
touch dearer than before, it undercuts its intended competition like the Toyota Alphard in price.
With a starting price of 2.75 million baht, the fifth-generation Odyssey is around 600,000 baht cheaper than Toyota's
popular people-carrier when equipped with a four-cylinder engine.
Okay, the Odyssey won't do marvels for the brand in terms of sales volume because Honda is a mass-market
nameplate specialising in mainstream saloons and SUVs priced under 2 million baht.
But let's also not forget that imported Japanese MPVs in this particular price band have been attracting well-to-do car
buyers needing a vehicle with a roomy and versatile cabin for both the daily grind and holiday trips.
True, there's the million baht cheaper StepWGN from Honda's very own stable of MPVs, but it doesn't have the
luxurious cabin of the Odyssey, which hopes to attract people who want to be additionally chauffeur-driven as well.
As many of you now know after our first drive report last month, the
new Odyssey isn't what it used to be. Instead of having a sleek and
car-like profile, the Honda MPV now has a taller body, sliding doors
for easy entry and exit and comfy armchairs inside.
Simply put, Honda wants a slice of the action Toyota has received
with its Alphard model. So, the key question is whether the Odyssey
can really prove to be an alternative with a price-saving difference big
enough to net you another small family car.
Supporters of the Alphard will be quick to open the debate by
suggesting that the Odyssey is still smaller in size, which is very true
if you take the overall height into consideration. Many say that Thais
like the Alphard for its super-airy interior and its "grand" exterior body,
which is why some people would simply opt for the gargantuan
Volkswagen Caravelle despite its origins of a commercial van.
Fascia is easy to use and includes touchscreen
function for both audio and air-con controls.
But if you really don't happen to care whether a grandfather clock can be carried in your car, the Odyssey still has
plenty of usable room fit for most people in the Land of Smiles. And the Odyssey is a proper seven-seater.
The third-row bench can take three adults. And if you really don't need this, the seats can easily be folded away to
create a large flat floor.
Alternatively, you can slide the Ottoman-style seats in the centre back to liberate legroom. The seat on the right hand
side can be pushed further backward than the one of the left.
This may sound a little odd for some buyers in Thailand because the "boss" usually enters and sits in a vehicle on
the left. This comes despite the Odyssey being developed primarily for the Japanese market (Americans get a
different version).
By employing a 2+2+3 seating matrix, there's walk-through access
throughout the Odyssey's cabin. Adding to the practicality are small
details that could only be conjured by the fussiest of Japanese car
interior designers. The adjustable console that can be retracted from
the fascia in two steps is an example.
Individual chairs in the middle are nice to sit in.
Up to this point, it can be said that the Odyssey has good levels of
space, comfort and practicality, even though the Alphard (and
Nissan's Elgrand) still feels more like a living room.
Crucially, however, the Odyssey's more restrained proportions pay
dividends in terms of more car-like styling. It's a bit stodgier than
before but certainly less so than the Alphard.
The Odyssey's exterior LED lights have quite a pronounced appearance and the use of chromium around the vehicle
is hoped by Honda to appeal to Asian buyers.
Even more important is the fact that sensible dimensions translate into a more dynamic driving experience closely
related to that of a saloon. The Odyssey's driving position, for a start, is spot on and instrumentation and the steering
wheel exudes quality like in an Accord.
The steering itself is nicely tailored for driving, as it is light, direct and conceals the vehicle's occasional feeling of bulk
around town well. And if you have 200,000 baht to spare for the EL version as tested here, there's a host of driving
aid systems like all-round view and parking assist.
The Odyssey's driving characteristics outside the city are also quite good for an MPV and much more appreciable
than in the Alphard. It handles corners quite neatly and grips amply to the road in a straight line.
As well, the suspension setting seems to be just right. However, the secondary ride can feel unsettled over road
imperfections, especially at low speeds. The Alphard also suffers such a drawback where underbody vibrations can
be felt when traversing sharp ruts and bumps.
Power for the Odyssey is courtesy of a 175hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder
petrol engine which transfers the power to the front wheels via a CVT
automatic gearbox incorporating paddle-shifters on the steering wheel
should the driver want to manually swap seven forward ratios.
In spite of that, the drive system works at its best in an unhurried
fashion. A slight tap on the throttle is enough to get the vehicle
moving around effortlessly and smoothly.
In fact, most cars equipped with CVT autos are like this.
You can effectively obtain more power when you floor the gas pedal,
but it's at this point that the engine becomes very vocal and the
gearbox begins feeling a little erratic when delivering grunt to the
road. There's enough power, but its execution isn't perfect.
Economy-wise, the Odyssey isn't really going to make any headlines
as our 12kpl average can only be deemed so-so. Although there
aren't many MPVs in the Thai market to compare at this price point,
there are luxury saloons and SUVs that have far superior figures than
that of the Odyssey.
Given that the Alphard rival already has a hybrid option to choose
from and the fact that the Accord _ which shares its underpinnings
with the Odyssey _ is now engineered to take a petrol-electric
combination, it won't be surprising to see Honda fitting semi-electric
propulsion to this MPV in the future.
But even in its current state of tune, the Odyssey is still worth looking
at because it manages to pamper occupants nearly as well as its
intended rival yet offers a better driving experience for those who also
want to be in the front.
Better still is the lower price, which means that the Odyssey is actually the better MPV in objective terms.
Only time will tell whether the average Thai looking for such a vehicle will be able to appreciate the merits it has over
the Alphard.
AT A GLANCE
Styling ................................ 7/10
The Odyssey may have lost that sleek profile, but the bigger proportions haven't really made it stodgy in looks.
Performance and economy.... 7/10
Four-cylinder petrol engine and CVT auto provide ample and smooth performance, if with so-so economy.
Handling and ride .................. 7/10
Steering is tailored well for driving ease, chassis has sufficient grip but low-speed ride can be fidgety.
Practicality ......................... 9/10
Sliding doors, rear seats that can tumble into the floor and cushy middle-row chairs make the car easy to live with.
Safety kit ............................. 8/10
There's an array of active and passive safety features, but some driver aid systems come at a cost.
VERDICT ............................. 8/10
The Odyssey scores well in the definition of an MPV by being highly practical, comfortable and easy to drive. It's
imported status means not very affordable prices but is still worthy when weighed with the Toyota Alphard.
Rear-most seats aren’t just for kids and can disappear by being folded into the boot floor.
OR TRY THESE
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