2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Verdict

Considering its size and incredible usefulness, the Honda Odyssey handles very well, compared with other minivans. The precise steering, firm suspension tuning, and lower-than-expected center of gravity help the minivan feel planted through corners, even while hauling a half-ton of stuff or people. The engine always felt up to the task, and was still able to deliver up to 31 mpg. The blind spot sensors, lane-departure warning, rearview backup camera, parking sensors, and auto-tilt side mirrors give drivers the confidence of knowing exactly where each corner of this vehicle's 202.9-inch-long by 79.2-inch-wide body is at any given time. Parallel parking angst is eased with these handy features, though it's still no match for Infiniti's around-view camera system.

Though we loved most things about the Odyssey, there were a few features that needed some adjustment. One item I had taken care of at my first maintenance visit was the default programming that unlocked all the doors as soon as I put the transmission into park. I prefer to have manual control of the locking and unlocking of my vehicle's doors, and fortunately the dealer was able to make this simple change. More recently, the power sliding doors were malfunctioning. After taking it in for a later maintenance visit, the dealer re-lubricated the door track, and the power doors were back to normal.

One complaint that couldn't be fixed by the dealer was how heavy and awkward the second row seats can be to remove or replace. In order to take full advantage of the Odyssey's carrying capacity, we frequently had to remove them. The seats are heavy and the rugged latches that secure them to the floor require a firm force to release or engage. It takes a bit of practice to get it right, not to mention needing somewhere to store the seats while they're out. Certainly a less convenient solution than the disappearing second row in some other minivans.