New Car Review: 2006 Honda Odyssey

< SEE ALSO: New Car Buyer's Guide for Honda

The best is still the best.

The Honda Odyssey has been showing the way for the last five years, and after spending a week with the 2006 Touring version of this magnificent beast, it was clear to everyone who entered its automated portals that it still is setting the standard for practicality, driving ease, and comfort in a minivan.

Practical is what a minivan must be and this certainly be that. How about eight-passenger seating, and a hideaway middle seat in the second row that can also be used as a center tray table? How about a in-floor storage area, complete with a rotating "lazy Susan" feature hidden inside? And, of course, the third row easily flops down flat into a sunken well.

Now THIS, my friends, is what an instrument panel SHOULD look like. Easily used, always easily read, and a navagation system that is simple, direct, and useful. No idiotic blurrrrrr of all-red illumination here, no sir, and no teensy micro-buttons or joystick-driven quantum multidimensional menu mazes!

The 2006 Odyssey is noticably quieter for the rare trips when you're not transporting offspring and others due in great part to Active Noise Control (ANC) technology. And with oil prices being what they are, you'll fully appreciate the 3.5 liter V6 i-VTECengine featuring Variable Cylinder Management - a massively logical improvement that seamlessly shuts down 3 cylinders during highway cruising. All hail the Newtonial Law about bodies in motion!

Overall, driving experience is quite simply so effortless that you can truly enjoy the trip you're taking. But don't just take it from me, here's some direct quotes from the better halves of the Fulmer family:

Susan (grandparent): " The navigation system is the best I've ever used. I love the split screen when the freeways change number, and the fact that it tells you how many minutes until destination. The back-up camera is excellent. The seating is roomy, easily accessed, and comfortable. And three areas of airconditioning is great."

Katie (mid twenties): "The seating configurations are awesome and really usefull when you're moving both people and stuff. The XM radio is very nice and the DVD player is the greatest when the kids in the back need a distraction instead of being one."

Yes indeed, the best it still the best.

- Mark Fulmer