2018 Honda Odyssey: Who should buy?

Honda launched the Odyssey in Malaysia back in 2013. Since then Honda has sold this massive MUV in decent numbers. After all these years, Honda decided to bring in a facelifted model to refresh things a bit. The 2018 Honda Odyssey with its new features is expected to continue the legacy of its previous model. So, what is the all-new Odyssey all about and who should be buying it? Let’s find out.

Exterior

The 2018 Honda Odyssey isn’t that different from its predecessor when it comes to the looks. Honda has made subtle changes so that the 2018 model classifies as a facelift. At the front, we now get a darker chrome grille which has four horizontal slats instead of three. The headlights are LEDs and so are the fog lamps. In short, the face of the 2018 model looks much better and brand-new.

The side of the Odyssey gets a body kit to add a bit of sportiness to the vehicle. The new multi-spoke dual tone alloy wheels just make things better. Looking at the Honda Odyssey from the side makes you realize how long it really is. Moving to the rear of the vehicle, we get the same set of gorgeous and huge taillights whose size suits the dimensions of the MUV just fine. Honda has moved the ‘Odyssey’ badge from the centre of the boot lid to the bottom left.

Interior

So, here is where the magic occurs. Being an MUV or a minivan, the Honda Odyssey has got a plethora of space inside its luxurious cabin. Honda has brilliantly utilized the 2900 mm long wheelbase to spread out the seating layout. There are three rows of seats. The first two features captain seats, and the last one is a full seat. Both the front seats are electrically adjustable and offer a huge amount of comfort and support. The centre armrest here is now made a bit wider and thicker for added comfort. The seats in the middle are very cosy, too, and can be slid forward and backwards to adjust the legroom.

Getting into the last row of seats isn’t that difficult and space there should be comfortable enough for full-size adults for a short drive. What not easy is folding the last row of seats in case you want to store more cargo because with all the seats upright the luggage storing capacity of the Honda Odyssey isn’t that great.

Engine

The Honda Odyssey is a large vehicle which makes it quite heavy, too. Looking at the 2018 Odyssey specs, to pull this amount of weight, Honda uses a 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine that has been tuned to churn out 173 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 225 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. Since the engine is under Honda’s Earth Dream Technology, Honda says that it has been tuned to give an optimal combination of performance and fuel efficiency.

Safety features

Honda has been implementing its advanced sensing technology in its latest products and it’s good to see that the 2018 Odyssey gets it too. Honda Sensing safety technology works by analyzing the data feed that’s recorded by the radar and camera. It continuously keeps an eye out for an imminent danger and reduces the likelihood of a collision. Under Honda Sensing comes in many safety features like lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, lane keep assist system, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, etc.

Verdict

The 2018 Honda Odyssey price has been set at RM 258,896 and it turns out to be totally worth the money. The Odyssey has always been among the best in its segment, and with the facelifted model Honda has just taken things a notch above. We like the way the 2018 model looks and the rich materials used in its interior. We are also a fan of the sliding middle row seats. Of course, there’s no shortage of space inside the cabin as it’s one of the biggest USPs of this MUV.

We think that the Honda Odyssey would be the perfect buy for someone who’s looking for a luxurious and comfortable family vehicle, or even for those businessmen who like to roll in style and gets things done on-the-go. The Odyssey would easily manage to accommodate your business partners and it will keep them very comfortable and happy.