The significantly-updated-for-2008 Honda Odyssey minivan goes on sale today with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price1 (MSRP) starting at $25,860, plus destination and handling charges, for the well-equipped Odyssey LX, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced.
Additional pricing ranges from $28,960 for the nicely-equipped Odyssey EX to $40,610 for the ultra-luxurious Odyssey Touring that includes the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation SystemTM with voice recognition and rearview camera, Bluetooth2 HandsFreeLink, DVD Rear Entertainment System, and Michelin PAX run-flat technology.
The Odyssey receives new exterior styling along with a more fuel-efficient version of the available Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) i-VTEC V-6 engine. Exterior styling focuses on a bolder, six-sided grille design and a front bumper fascia with crisp lines that add to the vehicle's dynamic and premium appearance.
"The Odyssey is the king of the Honda lineup when it comes to moving the maximum number of people in maximum comfort," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "For 2008, the Odyssey strengthens its styling and functional advantages while adding even more premium features."
Four new and notable available premium features include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink (available Touring), 4-way power passenger seat (standard Odyssey EX-L and Touring), rearview camera display integrated into the rearview mirror (standard Odyssey EX-L) and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down (standard Odyssey Touring).
Interior styling receives updates in the form of revised colors and textures for the instrument panel, along with premium fabric for Odyssey LX and EX seating surfaces. Further interior refinements include an additional storage bin in the 2nd Row PlusOne SeatTM (standard on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), standard MP3/Windows3 Media Audio (WMA) compatibility (CD-based) and a standard auxiliary input jack.
The Odyssey achieves the highest five-star crash safety rating by the federal government for both frontal and side impacts4. In keeping with the Honda "Safety for Everyone" initiative, all Odyssey models are equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), also known as electronic stability control; standard anti-lock brakes with brake assist; advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Protection Detection System (OPDS); three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle. An Advanced Compatibility EngineeringTM (ACETM) body structure provides enhanced occupant protection in a frontal collision. New for 2008, active front seat head restraints and daytime running lights have been added.
Known for its industry trend-setting One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat, the Odyssey's innovative eight-passenger seating areas (seven-passenger on LX) quickly and easily adapt between passenger and cargo duties. The 3rd-Row Magic Seat can accommodate up to three passengers and still provide 38.4 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the seats, or fold completely flat into the floor for cargo duty to create 91.1 cubic feet of cargo volume while still maintaining room for five passengers (four passengers on LX). With the second row seats removed, total cargo volume expands to a voluminous 147.4 cubic feet. For comparison, total interior volume measures 209.8 cubic feet for passenger and cargo volume combined - representing a total volume greater than two Civic Sedan interior volumes combined.
The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat integrates a new storage bin inside the seat structure and is standard equipment on the Odyssey EX and EX-L. The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat has been added as standard equipment to the Odyssey Touring, replacing the standard removable center console, while retaining similar functionality and adding a seating position to the previously seven-passenger Touring model.
Designed with families in mind, a total of three Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child seat attachment systems exist: two are located in the outboard second-row seating positions and one is located in the middle third-row seating position.