2008 Honda Odyssey gets new features, pricing

Honda's Odyssey seven-passenger minivan is back for 2008 with new features and a new price - the base LX model will start at $25,860. The slightly upmarket Odyssey EX includes more standard features and will cost $28,960, while the topline Odyssey Touring carries a $40,610 MSRP. All Odyssey prices exclude a $635 destination charge.

Honda has significantly reworked its venerable people-mover for 2008 starting with the engine. While you'll still find a 3.5-liter i-VTEC six-cylinder powerplant (good for 244 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque) underneath the LX and EX models' hoods, Honda has revised the same unit for the EX-L and Touring models to include Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). The new technology has been updated for 2008 to deactivate either two or three of the engine's cylinders while the Odyssey is decelerating or cruising, resulting in better fuel efficiency. In this guise, the motor produces 241 horsepower and 242 lb-ft of torque and is able to achieve a city/highway fuel efficiency rating of 17/25 mpg (compared with 16/23 mpg for the non-VCM engine). The VCM-equipped motor also features Active Noise Cancellation and an Active Control Engine Mount to reduce noise and vibration associated with cylinder deactivation.

Honda has also freshened the Odyssey's styling for 2008. With a new, six-sided front grille design and crisper front fascia, Honda has tried to give its minivan a bolder, more upscale look. In a similar vein, the interior has received new colors and textures for the instrument panel, as well as premium fabric for the LX and EX models. An additional storage bin is located in the second-row PlusOne Seat, and the stereo now features MP3 and WMA CD-audio compatibility and an auxiliary input jack. Four new premium options have also been made available, including a Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, four-way power passenger seat, rearview camera display, and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down. DVD entertainment and voice-activated navigation units also areavailable. With the optional PlusOne seat installed, the Odyssey is capable of transporting a total of eight passengers.

Underpinning the Odyssey is an independent front and rear suspension with disc brakes at all four corners and 16-inch wheels (17-inchers on the Touring model). ABS is standard as is Vehicle Stability Assist to keep the Odyssey tracking straight in extreme conditions and evasive maneuvers.

Key to the Odyssey's popularity has been its reputation for safety, and the 2008 model adds active front seat head restraints and daytime running lights as standard equipment. The Odyssey was awarded the highest five-star crash rating for both front and side impacts, thanks in part to the dual-threshold front occupant, front-side, and three-row side-curtain airbags. The Odyssey's body structure has also been optimized for crash protection in frontal collisions using Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering.

While some may believe the end is nigh for the minivan segment, Honda is out to prove it's anything but with the 2008 Odyssey.