No, I’m not talking about the North American market Odyssey when I apply the “World’s Sexiest Minivan” label. As you can see, the featured Odyssey looks entirely different to the one sold in the US and Canada. After the first generation model, the Odyssey nameplate was applied to two different lines: one sold in North America, and one sold in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Americans and Canadians got a bigger body and a V6 engine, we got style. Who was the winner?
Minivans have never enjoyed the same level of popularity here in Australia as they have in North America but the Odyssey has been a consistent podium finisher in this small segment for many years now.
Today, the latest global Odyssey is a homely, chrome-laden, tall-and-narrow box that looks like any number of Japanese vans you’d see in your nearest gray import lot. Still a good car, mind you, but one with absolutely no style.
The previous two generations, however, have style in spades. Just look at how slinky these are. A minivan, slinky? Yes! At just 61 inches tall, the international Odyssey was a full eight inches shorter than a Dodge Grand Caravan. Crossovers tower over these, as you can see.
While it seems counter-intuitive to make a family-focussed vehicle so short, ingress and egress with the Odyssey is actually a cinch. You step down ever so slightly into a well-appointed cabin with seating for seven. It not only feels spacious, it is spacious.
While the second-generation “international” Odyssey had an optional 3.0 V6, both the third- and fourth-generation models offered only a 2.4 four-cylinder, sourced from the Accord and CR-V, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission; a CVT was available in some markets. The 2.4 produced 158 hp and 160 ft-lbs.
The four-cylinder didn’t make the Odyssey a rocket ship but it was peppy enough (if lacking somewhat in low-end torque) and achieved good fuel economy. The lower center of gravity also made the Odyssey handle better than its taller rivals, with less body roll and lean in corners; steering was a tad light, but this was a minivan after all.
The fourth generation kept all of the third’s hallmarks and added a touch more interior room and power. The mandatory 2.4, still mated to a five-speed auto or CVT depending on the market, now produced 177 hp but no more torque.
Stylistically, the proportions were much the same but the detailing a little more up-to-date. It’s not quite as memorable but it still looks sharp. The fourth generation still measured just 61 inches in height, 1 inch taller than the subcompact Fit/Jazz.
The Odyssey’s claim to fame was that it could appeal to people put off by minivans, with their mediocre handling and utilitarian styling. In a way, the Odyssey was a crossover of a different sort: part van, part car. At least in Australia, the Odyssey sold well even as the market began to really embrace crossovers and finally beat the dominant Toyota Tarago (Previa) in the sales race.
We’ve seen minivans festooned with badges like Sport and R/T but the Odyssey is the only van that could have convincingly pulled that off. Can you imagine a Type R Odyssey? I can. I’m frankly surprised there was never one offered in the Japanese market, considering how full to the brim they are with niche turbo and AWD derivatives of everything. The closest they came was with the JDM Absolute, with a slightly more powerful version of the 2.4 four (up around 30 horses) as well as four-wheel-drive, ground effects and sporty alloy wheels. Tuning house Mugen has also modified Odysseys.
Sport variant or no sport variant, the Odyssey was cool enough to be made in remote control children’s car form. How many other minivans can you say that about?
Related Reading:
Curbside Classic: 1997 Honda Odyssey – Not All Americans Can Get Used To Sushi
COAL: 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L – Ridden Hard And Put Away Wet
Those vans look fabulous.
Except for the fact that they’re not really vans 🙂
These are tall-roof wagons, with no sliding doors. In concept, more like the Mitsubishi Space Wagon of yore. As was the first gen Odyssey sold here, which is also why it didn’t sell well. Americans wanted a full-size minivan, which is of course an oxymoron in name.
Yeah it looks like a tall wagon, and the way they resolved the roof extension on the one in the second pic, makes me think of coach built conversion of a sedan, ie a hearse.
The Honda Accord Tourer (that’s the wagon) we had over a decade ago also looked rather hearsy.
I think that looks way better, it looks like a factory design, while the red one screams someone stuck a wagon roof on a sedan and used the sedan quarter panels and taillights. Then cut a notch out of the bumper to have the new hatch actually be useable.
I had a first generation (’98 with VTEC) Odyssey and loved it – smaller than domestic vans but larger than the Mazda5/Rondo, it suited my family very well. Unfortunately, the rest of the North American market didn’t agree, so these haven’t been available since the ’99 Isuzu Oasis twin. I’d love to have a more recent one with the 3.0 V6.
Quick question that occurred to me when I first saw these in international auto media – at just 1 inch taller than a Jazz/Fit, and with regular swing out rear doors, and setting aside marketing-speak, shouldn’t we really be calling them station wagons and not vans?
I owned my 96 Oddy at the same time I as an 07 Fit. As they were parked next to each other in my garage I noticed how similar they were in shape and concept. The Fit/Jazz is almost a shrunken Odyssey.
Yes, Fits are amazingly packaged as well and you can see similar design language from the time.
How frustrating that in North America we got the odd-looking 4th generation Odyssey, with it’s patched-together-looking zig-zag side profile… while the International Odyssey looks so much better. Why couldn’t Honda have taken the styling clues from the International model and applied it to the larger North American van?
Great styling there — and on it’s own it looks much bigger than it is. Your 4th picture down is really an eye-opener. I know that some of the size apparent difference in the photo is due to perspective, with the Hyundai being closer to the camera, but still the height difference in plainly visible. In the first few pictures, it was hard to tell that this is smaller than its North American namesake.
We have a late-3rd Generation (2010) North American Odyssey, and will need to replace it in a few years. This will be tough because we don’t like any current minivan as much as our 2010. Looking at these pictures of the International Odyssey makes me want to move to Australia!
The 2018 Odyssey is basically this. The previous world market Odyssey styling blown up for the big North American body, though with the most up to date front end styling. I’m not sure its much more successful stylistically, but the buyers for the smaller world market Odyssey package number in the hundreds. Just ask Mazda, who couldn’t sell a similar sized and powered vehicle even with sliding doors.
I have had a full-on Jones for these for years, ever since I fell in love with my 96 first gen Oddy. Although America has embraced the bigger Odyssey that we got, I never have. A few rides in 2nd gen vans did not impress me, mainly because of the vehicle’s terribly flexy structure.
I was really hoping that after fuel prices spiked here a decade ago that Honda might send these over to us to supplement, if not replace, its heftier big brother. But no. And now you have gone and re-lit that torch I continue to carry for these. Damn you, Will!
The unanswered question which rattles even today is that this van hot favorite of the Indians in the United States considering this fact and the influence on the counterpart in the sub-continent The company should have launched this fabulous MPV long back but the Honda’s are least bothered.
The non-North American Honda minivans were definitely better looking, though I guess they weren’t jumbo enough to ever work here. Sadly, these sorts of Honda designs–simple and handsome–are becoming ever more rare. The newest North American Odyssey is, in my opinion, one of the worst looking products currently on the market. The lines are absolutely jarring and incongruous, and every time I see one on the road, with a frazzled Mom or Dad behind the wheel, the entire look just screams: “I give up.” Make it as ugly as possible, just give it vacuums and as many screens as possible inside.
Absolutely. Even after 7 or so years on the market, I still haven’t warmed up to that styling. I get stressed out just looking at it.
That’s why I really like our 2010 van (pictured here at a campground). It’ll win no styling awards for sure, but it’s a clean, decent-looking design and a wonderfully practical vehicle. I dread having to replace it — there’s no minivan even remotely as decent-looking as this any longer. Grrr.
Agree with both of you – we outgrew our ’98 and the ’11 “Lightening Rod” design was just coming out at the time. I bought a ’10 EX-L demo instead. The 2011s and now the new ones look like they are just trying too hard to attract attention.
This is the last decent looking North American Odyssey because it has the straight beltline instead of the jarring zigzag one.
Previous generations are one thing, but the current global Odyssey as shown doesn’t seem to be much to look at either; it might even be uglier…
Absolutely agree. The grille on the one pictured above looks like a giant vegetable slicer.
To my eye, the current “flame sculpted” styling (one hesitates to use the word) trend comes off as effective as the graphics applied to large RVs to try to hide the fact it’s a big box.
To me, the best looking of the currently available North American minivans is the Chrysler Pacifica, which in some ways almost resembles the older, clean-looking Honda minivans from outside North America.
I agree 100% on both the looks of the newest Odyssey and the looks of the new Pacifica.
I like the Pacifica as well – though I don’t mind the Odyssey.
That interior is luscious!!! The van itself looks like a cross between a first generation Odyssey and a second generation Insight. Interesting regarding your comment about the new ones’ (lack of) style… I’d say it’s more attractive than the just-released current US Odyssey.
The last Honda minivan I liked was the 99-04 with the grenading transmission… my favorite minivan of the aughts was the last Mazda MPV with the sport appearance package.
Eh, I can’t say I’m any more a fan of this Odyssey than the North American spec. I think if it were shorter overall, the proportions would be a lot more flattering. It looks somewhat like a first generation Odyssey that’s been pancaked.
As far as front wheel drive minivans go, I am much more partial to the Seat Alhambra for a that title.
Yes, the SEAT Alhambra/VW Sharan is clean looking, and doesn’t seem to be a big box.
Meh. The sexiest minivan is the $9k used Caravan which frees up another $26k for a getaway to Hawaii with Mrs DougD. 🙂
+1!
The Doug family sure knows how to have a good time!
I didn’t know about these, and find the look appealing. At 61″ high, it’s right between my (FoMoCo) Taurus wagon and Escape, which would be great.
Every time I see a current US Odyssey from the rear, I can’t help but think about that he/she from high school days who “sure has put on some weight”! That said, friends who own these Hondas swear by ’em.
Thanks for sharing this today, William S—-new to me, for sure.
I totally agree. I am familiar with them and they look great. Long, low and wide. And sleek. Their look reminds me of a high speed train. I imagine myself traveling long distances in great comfort aboard one of these, just like in a train.
And when lowered on good wheels… It’s a whole new level.
“Sexiest minivan” makes me think of “tallest dwarf”.
I’d agree with Paul in placing this particular one in the wagon category more than among minivans…
Meh…I don’t know if I’d call it sexy. Pleasant to look at, but the TSX wagon is a cleaner take on this shape.
I’ve got a 2008 Honda Odyssey and I really like its styling, a little bland perhaps but to me it personifies the idea of Form Follows Concept-its functional and still attractive. Compare that to the new Odyssey which is one of the ugliest things ever conceived-I don’t know what Honda designers were thinking when they styled this thing.
Oddly, not one of the photos capture what these look like in reality (that’s not a criticism btw, William) where they really do look good. Not one minivan comes close. And as for that wagon/minivan question, I’m not sure Paul Niedemeyer is right; there’s just no flat-floored wagon on the market that seats seven adults. I’m six foot, and fit comfortably in the rearmost seats. For a low-rider design with a surprising amount of luggage room, it’s super flexible. We’ve stuffed fridges, couches, beds into it – no, not at the same time – which no wagon will ever manage. It’s a hell of a design.
I can also tell you they’re one hell of a vehicle, that all-wishbone suspension giving better handling than plenty of cars, excellent Germanic seats complimenting a decent ride, slightly over-boosted steering that still has feel, enough power – well, not quite – 22 US mpg at worst, and ofcourse, superb rattleless build quality even at 200,000 miles. Biggest fault is a somewhat fragile gearbox, though we were told it needed rebuilding at 110,000 miles and it is only now inches from being junk.
In Aus, where fuel economy at $5.50AUD+ per US gallon matters to larger families, the US-sized Kia Carnival (Sedona) has done well, but the Oddity is hugely liked. If you can find a second-hander that hasn’t been destroyed, they’re still pricey too. The US clearly has differing needs and expectations of vehicle types (this Oddity for eg would need a 3.0 V6 for US conditions) but even at half the cost of fuel, I’ve driven a big floppy-bodied Sedona, and man, it’s just a powerful, thirsty and tipsy squishy-bummed bus!
Must say, the US market is so huge, I’m always intrigued when a company with a truly outstanding product doesn’t sell it as a niche. Surely even at, say, 10 thousand a year, sold as an Acura perhaps, there’d have been a profit to be made?
I think this van was called the Honda Stream at first, so as not to confuse it with the ‘rest of the world Odyssey. We don’t really have a big minivan market here, but a few of these have been imported over the years mostly by people with large families and a couple of diplomatic missions had them as well. Always loved the way they looked. If they were more plentiful, we’d have had some make it into the taxi fleet, I am sure.
Great article – I was just thinking of this model the other day and was contemplating a QOTD – Is This a Van or a Station Wagon?
I can remember when I saw one of these here in Japan when they first came out – it took me several double-takes before I realized it was an Odyssey.
WOW! An Odyssey only an inch taller than my Fit! I would love to try one of those out!!:-)