KansasCity.com's view

People movers don’t have to be stodgy. Honda’s Odyssey is proof.

The all-new 2005 Odyssey, particularly the premium Touring model, has style, comfort and handling on par with a luxury sedan. And it’s surprisingly fuel-efficient when equipped with the Variable Cylinder Management system that deactivates three cylinders at cruising speeds. The Environmental Protection Agency’s highway fuel mileage rating of 28 miles per gallon is excellent for a minivan with a large body to push through the air.

Prices start at $25,195 for an LX and top out at $38,495 for the Touring. Destination is $515. Each model has antilock brakes, advanced front and front side airbags, three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor (a minivan first), stability control and traction control.

The previous Odyssey knocked the minivan world on its ear with its folding third seat. Nearly every van maker soon had a folding third seat of one sort or another. The 2005 advances that idea with a 60/40 split-folding third seat that folds into the floor without requiring that the headrests be removed. It can accommodate long items and still have plenty of passenger space.

The new van bears a familial resemblance to the 2004, yet it is completely new. The use of high-tensile steel in the chassis has added rigidity, and the stiffer structure improves handling and reduces noise.

To give the van sharper steering and more responsive handling, the four-wheel independent suspension has been reworked, and the rear suspension is mounted on a subframe that isolates the body from noise and vibration.

A great deal of attention was focused on making the interior even more versatile. The cabin is 1 inch wider and 2 inches longer. The second-row captain’s chairs have 10 inches of fore and aft adjustment, plus they can be positioned together to make a bench seat. Eight-passenger seating is available on the top EX with what Honda calls a “stowable second-row seat that is positioned between the two captain’s chairs.” The van also has an in-floor storage compartment between the first- and second-row seats.

The sliding side doors have power windows.

Up front, the gearshift lever has been moved to the instrument panel. The optional navigation system now accepts voice commands, making it much easier to use. Models equipped with the navigation system also have a camera that shows what is behind the van when reverse is selected.

The rear-seat entertainment system has surround sound and the biggest-in-class 9-inch LCD screen. The console between the seats of the Touring model can be adjusted to hold items of various sizes.

Families on the move need all the storage they can get. The under-floor storage area in front of the second seats is clever and handy. On top models, the storage bin has a rotating tray.

The front-wheel-drive van has a five-speed automatic transmission and an electronic drive-by-wire throttle. Output of the 3.5-liter V-6 has been bumped from 240 to 255. The cylinder deactivation system is available on the EX and Touring models. I drove a Touring model, and I was surprised at the seamless way the cylinders turned on and off. I would have never known it was happening had it not been for a light in the instrument panel.

The Touring model is loaded. It has a seven-speaker audio system, power adjustable pedals, power tailgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, a removable second-row center console and Michelin run-flat tires.

The 2005 Odyssey and its V-6 engine are produced in Honda’s newest and most advanced manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Ala.

Price

The base price of the Touring test vehicle was $38,495. Destination brought the sticker price to $39,010.

Warranty

Three years or 36,000 miles.

To get in touch with Tom Strongman, send e-mail to .com.

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Engine: 3.5-liter, 255-hp V-6

Transmission: automatic

Front-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 118.1 inches

Curb weight: 4,634 lbs.

Base price: $38,495

As driven: $39,010

Mpg rating: 20 city, 28 hwy.

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At A Glance

Point: The redesigned Odyssey is an improvement in nearly every area. It has more power, gets better mileage and has an interior that is even more versatile. The cylinder deactivation feature gives excellent highway mileage.

Counterpoint: The premium Touring model gets fairly pricey.