New Car Reviews

'95 Honda Odyssey LX
Honda's entry into the minivan fray, the Odyssey, is the latest addition to our long-term vehicle pool. We ordered the six-passenger LX model, which comes equipped with a long list of desirable features, such as front/rear air conditioning, power windows/mirrors/doors, four-speaker AM/FM/cassette stereo, dual airbags, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. To the base price of $23,625 we added floor mats ($99) and a roof rack ($225) to improve overall utility. In the short time we've had it, the Odyssey has converted several naysayers to firm believers in the vehicle's merits. While it isn't as big as purebred minivans, it's hard to argue against the Odyssey's carlike ride, innate Honda quality, and user-friendly nature. Thus far, the standout feature would have to be the slick third seat, which folds down completely into the floor. This versatile seat has already proved handy for impulse buyers who needed extra cargo space for a multitude of sale items.

'95 Lexus LS 400
It's amazing that one of the premium luxury cars on the market is proving to have an ultralow operating cost, but such is the case with our LS 400. Since we took possession of it last March, the world-class sedan has returned to the dealership only for a complimentary 7500-mile service. Spending much of its recent time on freeways, the overall mileage has improved steadily from 18 mpg in our first report to a current average of 24 mpg. Since fuel has been our only operating expense, the cost per mile dropped to a nominal 5.1 cents-lower than any other vehicle currently in our long-term fleet. The LS 400 feels as tight as the day it was delivered, providing a quiet, isolated ride. During a long trip, one driver wrote, "I had to open the sunroof just to stay awake. It's like sitting in your living-room easy chair listening to your stereo." On the down side, logbook notes report the conservative styling is too similar to the previous-generation LS 400's-it doesn't command the respect it deserves.