2024 Honda Odyssey Elite - Review by David Colman

The top dog of the maxi-van class

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

Now why would you spend $50,370 for the top-line Elite version of Honda's 8-passenger family van when you could snag the basic EX Odyssey for just $39,635? After spending a considerable amount of non-driving time ensconced in this living room of a maxi-van, I can give you two very good reasons to pop for the Elite. The first is its superb 11-speaker Premium Audio System. The EX makes do with just 7, though both layouts include a subwoofer. I spent a dreamy hour listening to my favorite SiriusXM program while parked in the rain, overlooking a bird sanctuary. The cozy Elite's seat heaters were set to level three, while its front and rear wipers kept time to the beat of Fifties Gold rock and roll. The second reason to opt for the Elite is its standard 10.2 inch Blue Ray/DVD Rear Entertainment system, which graces only Touring ($46,895) and Elite level Odysseys.

From a driving standpoint, the Elite upgrades handling with a set of 19-inch model-specific alloy rims shod with Bridgestone Turanza EL440 all-weather radials (235/55R19). While vehicle dynamics might not figure high on your list of reasons to buy a full-size van, the Honda Odyssey Elite needs no excuses to cover winding roads with unexpected finesse. In fact, in a market chock full of 4-cylinder turbocharged underachievers, this Honda sticks with a proven driveline package consisting of a robust 3.5 liter, 280hp V6 engine driving the front wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. To give you an idea how potent this drivetrain is, the first two times I floored the accelerator, I caught rubber as the front wheels chirped. This came as something of a pleasant surprise, since the Elite weighs in at 4,574 pounds and posts a middling power-to-weight ratio of 16.33lb./hp. Despite the P/W numbers, the Odyssey scats from 0-60mph in a fairly torrid 6.5 seconds and clocks the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds at 96mph.

For 2024, Honda's Odyssey remains unchanged. The current iteration debuted in 2018 and received a major revamp in 2021 that added a plethora of safety features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist and Road Departure Mitigation. The Odyssey earns 5 stars in all government safety tests save rollover (4 Stars). All three seating rows are protected by side curtain airbags. The comparatively large displacement V6 scores 19MPG in city driving but the 10-speed gearbox helps it attain 28MPG in highway running. Honda equips this sweet shifting transmission with a pair of steering wheel-mounted paddles which allow you to dial up just the right amount of power needed for freeway merges or quick lane changes.

The interior seating chart is highly re-configurable thanks to Honda's innovative "Magic Slide" second row seats which are designed to travel fore and aft as well as side to side. They can also be removed entirely, but be advised each one weighs 68 pounds, so the job can be bothersome. In testing the operation of the rear entertainment system, we encountered some baffling stumbling blocks to usage. I parked the Odyssey and wanted to watch a DVD. Since the drop-down screen is mounted in the ceiling behind the front seats, viewing is only possible from the chairs in row 2. But the DVD player is located in the center of the dash in row 1. After I inserted my disc into the player up front, I exited the Honda and tried to climb into the second row but found the doors locked and unresponsive to keyfob remote commands. However, when I walked back to the tailgate, I could open it manually or through the remote keyfob.

So I ended up climbing into the second row through the open tailgate, where I spent a comfy hour watching my DVD. With the ignition switched off, I discovered I could finally open the rear doors. But doing so caused the DVD player to quit: Catch 22. I wondered whether some sort of child-proof interlock was engaged with the engine running, but never found one to deactivate either on the driver's door or the instrument panel.

Despite its long gestation period, the current Honda Odyssey Elite remains an engaging cruiser equally capable of carting a soccer team or a piano inside its spacious cargo bay. Passenger room for 8 can be converted expeditiously to 71.5 cubic feet of cargo volume. Rumors persist that Honda will introduce a revamped Odyssey for 2025, but there's really no compelling need to do so because the current Elite remains top dog in the maxi-van class.

2024 HONDA ODYSSEY ELITE

• ENGINE: 3.5 liter V6, SOHC, 24-valve, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
• HORSEPOWER: 280hp@6000rpm
• TORQUE: 262lb.-ft.@4700rpm
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 19MPG City/28MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $51,765

HYPES: Spacious, Sleek, Quick

GRIPES: Driver's Seat Hard and Uncomfortable

STAR RATING: 8.5 Stars out of 10

©2024 David E Colman