Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: Honda Odyssey

Some of my fondest childhood memories took place in a minivan. My family would spend hours in our minivan traveling to different places. Of course back then gas cost less, so it was easy to load up the minivan for weekend road trips. Times have since changed, but when I realized that today's Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency was the Honda Odyssey, a bit of nostalgia set in.

The Odyssey has come a long way from the minivans I grew up with. It's a stylish and comfortable 8-passenger hauler that provides modern day conveniences. Car and Driver chose the Odyssey as its pick for Best Van in their "5Best" Trucks list.

Vernon Belford, a sales and leasing consultant at Checkered Flag Honda, ventured outside in this 90 degree weather wearing a very nice (and I'm sure also very hot) suit to show me the Odyssey.   Four trim levels are available: base LX (starting at $25,860), EX, EX-L, and the top of the line Touring. All models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 5-speed automatic transmission. Vernon says the Odyssey isn't the typical van because it rides more like a car.

The EX-L and Touring engines include Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). This is the same fuel saving system that's found on another Honda Unsung Hero we've featured before, the Pilot. Just to refresh your memory, the VCM manages fuel consumption by allowing the V6 engine to automatically deactivate and reactivate cylinders depending on what it needs. It lets the vehicle run on 3, 4 or 6 cylinders, which means better fuel economy. The Odyssey gets 23 highway miles, and 16 city. On its 21 gallon tank, you can get over 480 highway miles.

Seating for 8 is the obvious highlight on the Odyssey. Vernon demonstrated the different ways you can utilize the 2nd row "magic seat." It allows for either 3 passenger bench seating, or can be removed for extra cargo/storage space. The Odyssey has a whopping 15 beverage holders! Standard features include: dual-zone air conditioning (tri-zone automatic climate control on EX, EX-L and Touring); tilt and telescope steering wheel; power windows and door locks; and keyless entry.

A number of available options would come in handy for a family that's always on the go. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition and 8-inch screen, and the Honda DVD Entertainment System are a few that standout. Check out the full list here.

As one would expect in a family-geared vehicle, the Odyssey comes with loads of safety features. Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA); anti-lock brakes with brake assist; Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure; active front seat head restraints; and daytime running lights all come standard. Also, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Protection Detection System (OPDS); and three-row side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor are included to protect every Odyssey occupant.

See the very family-friendly Odyssey at Checkered Flag Honda, 6541 East Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.