Full of Awesome Features for the Growing Family: 2014 Honda Odyssey

Buying a minivan is usually very similar at times to having teeth cleaned, we all know it’s something we have to do, but dread the day when we have to make it happen. Even though buying a minivan is not the most fun or exciting experience, the 2014 Honda Odyssey is packed with features and benefits to actually excite the bored shopper who is wishing they could be shopping for a new sports car instead.

As a sign of a growing family and responsibility the purchase of a minivan is a very important decision for any family. The owners need to balance fuel economy with comfort with cargo space with function and flexibility to come up with a vehicle that can do well on the wallet for gas, offer plenty of comfort and even possibly entertainment for the smaller members of the family, have the ability to haul everything the family needs to take on trips or during errands, and allow for the occasional need to bring something home that wouldn’t normally fit in a car.

With excellent acceleration and a good fuel economy, the Odyssey is a great van to drive. With an improved suspension offering a very smooth ride and the steering was quick to respond to even the slightest change allowing for control and comfort during even the hardest ride in town or out on the highway.

Even though the Odyssey’s 3.5 liter V6 engine which offers 248 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque is not the top of the engines for minivans, the Odyssey has more than enough power to get up and go when needed. With this V6 engine partnered with a six speed automatic transmission the fuel economy is better than most in its class at 19 city, 28 hwy mpg. This fuel efficiency is one of the reasons the 2014 Honda Odyssey took the trophy for Consumer Reports Best Minivan.

Upon entering the Odyssey a fantastic use of space is evident with the 60/40 split third row seat that actually folds into the floor when not needed. The base model XL can seat up to seven comfortably while all other models are capable of up to eight person seating, allowing the family to take along a couple guests when needed. All controls are accessible and well positioned for the driver to allow the driver to keep their eyes on the road ahead and not searching and fumbling around for a knob or button.

On the outside the Odyssey is sleek and stylish for a minivan, with nice curves and some sharp angular lines allowing some interesting perspectives for all views of the vehicle. Riding on 17 or 18 inch wheels the Odyssey is built to be a great people and stuff mover for the growing family.

At the base model, the standard equipment is still featured with power front seats, a seven speaker audio system with an eight inch color interface screen with Bluetooth connectivity and a rearview camera. As the trim levels are increased so are the standard features adding a three zone automatic climate control, power sliding doors, push button start, Honda’s LaneWatch camera system, a moon roof, leather upholstery, and a navigation system all to make the midlevel Odyssey full of great features. On top of the heap with the Touring Elite mode the minivan gains a 16.2 inch wide rear seat monitor to entertain the smaller passengers, blind spot monitoring and the HondaVAC which is an onboard vacuum.

Even though it seems based on trim levels the standard equipment could cover all the needs of an Odyssey owner, the list of options includes such add ons as a leather interior and navigation for trim levels without these items. In addition optional features also show up with backup sensors, a remote engine start system, a trailer hitch, and several differing roof attachments to allow for rooftop storage and cargo hauling. The Touring model does offer the 18-inch black alloy wheels and there is actually an optional feature of a tent that allows for car camping to be enjoyed by the entire family.

Designed and priced with the family in mind, the Odyssey starts out on the LX model at $29,655 and can reach up over $45,000 for a well-equipped Touring Elite trim level. Overall this award winning minivan is a great deal for any family and won’t break the bank to own a versatile and feature filled 2014 Honda Odyssey.