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The Honda 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 and yields an Environmental Protection Agency highway fuel mileage rating of 25 miles per gallon.

Prices start at $26,355 for the LX and top out at $41,105 for the Touring with Michelin PAX run-flat tires. Destination is $670. Each model has antilock brakes, advanced front and front side airbags, three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, stability control and traction control.

The front-wheel-drive van has a five-speed automatic transmission and an electronic drive-by-wire throttle. The 3.5-liter V-6 has 244 horsepower. I drove a Touring model with cylinder deactivation, and I was impressed with the seamless way the cylinders turned on and off. An ECO light on the instrument panel is the only indication that cylinders have been shut off.

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

The Odyssey’s folding third seat was a revelation that most minivan makers soon copied in one way or another. The 60/40 split-folding third seat folds into the floor without requiring that the headrests be removed. The cargo space can accommodate long items and still leave plenty of passenger space.

High-tensile steel gives the chassis added rigidity, and the stiffer structure improves handling and reduces noise.

The Odyssey rides and handles like a sedan, thanks to four-wheel independent suspension. 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 second-row captain’s chairs have 10 inches of fore and aft adjustment, and 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 voice-activated navigation system also has a rearview camera.

The rear-seat entertainment system has surround sound and the biggest-in-class 9-inch LCD screen. The console between the Touring model’s front seats can be adjusted to hold items of various sizes. A power tailgate is now available on the top models.

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.

Price

The base price of the Touring test vehicle was $40,505. Destination brought the sticker price to $41,175.

Warranty

Three years or 36,000 miles.

2009 Honda Odyssey Touring

Engine: 3.5-liter, 244-hp V-6

Transmission: automatic

Front-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 118.1 inches

Curb weight: 4,634 lbs.

Base price: $40,505

As driven: $41,175

Mpg rating: 17 city, 25 hwy.

Tom Strongman’s e-mail address is tom@tomstrongman.com.