1999 Honda Odyssey Ex

'99 Honda Odyssey ExCould the largest passenger vehicle Honda's ever produced live up to its Caravan-besting first impression after a year of arduous MT testing? Only one way to find out. We ordered the top-level Odyssey EX without adding a single dealer bolt-on trinket. The list of standard features packs the window sticker with so much microtype as to require sept-focal reading glasses to decipher. Suffice it to say, power everything, including sliding doors, is just the appetizer. Dual-zone air conditioning, four-wheel ABS, HomeLink, keyless entry, six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, aluminum wheels, and traction control give substance, while the 3.5-liter/210-horsepower SOHC V-6, independent suspension, and four-wheel ABS add meat to the impressive package. Mac DeMere has chased fowl up and down the western seaboard like a speed-addled Elmer Fudd, rapidly accumulating 5585 miles pursuing wascally cwitters. Interstate trips have proven the comfort of the well-sculpted buckets, convenience of the magic hideaway third seat, and overall versatility.

'99 Jeep Grand Cherokee LimitedNudging forward the impressive sport coat/work boots balance that has become a Grand Cherokee hallmark, the new-generation luxury dirt-devil ensnared our urban cowboy hearts. The latest addition to our long-term fleet began with a $33,995 base and quickly climbed to $36,390 with the addition of the must-have Power Tech V-8 ($960), Quadra-Drive four-wheel system upgrade ($550), Sienna Tinted Pearl Coat paint ($200), and full-size spare tire with aluminum wheel ($160). Standard features on our Limited model include dual-zone air conditioning, eight-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, power windows/door locks/mirrors, keyless entry, leather upholstery, and 10-way power driver's seat. Faux wood trim aside, the clean interior design lends a decidedly upscale, almost European flavor to the interior that fits well in the DaimlerChrysler empire. The Grander '99 Jeep feels more sophisticated and responsive than its predecessor, especially with the smooth 4.7-liter/235-horse SOHC V-8. It exhibits better onroad manners than the prototype model tested in Nov. '98, though still with more body roll than we like in harsh maneuvers.