The Honda Odyssey might be the best minivan on the market. Its sleek shape proves you don't have to build a tall boxy vehicle in order to gain seven seats and it is a breath of fresh air in the people mover market.
Odyssey is about the same height as a Commodore or Falcon station wagon, a little narrower and considerably shorter, yet its two-three-two seating arrangement provides comfort for four adults and three children.
There's not a huge amount of luggage room when all the seats are occupied, but Odyssey is hardly alone in this regard, and it beats several larger competitors, particularly those masquerading as 4WDs, in this important area.
The upmarket Odyssey Luxury has an interesting feature in the use of a power-folding rearmost seat. A push of a button sees it fold down completely out of sight, leaving a flat floor.
On the downside, the swooping bonnet shape means parking is all guesswork from the base of the windscreen forward.
Performance from the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine does struggle if asked to carry a big load in hilly conditions but it is better than you might expect. The tiptronic-type automatic helps the driver keep the engine in its best rev range, although as is common in Hondas, the torque is concentrated at the mid-to-high end of the rev range.
On the road, the Odyssey impresses thanks to its powerful engine and stable handling. Cornering is flat, the steering is direct and acceleration and braking are linear and sure.
