The Sunday News
Lovert Mafukure
THE next car to look out for is the Honda Odyssey. While the old one is indeed old and no longer that appealing, the new model has come with a bang.
The old model kept the Honda tradition of long trouble free service. There are many of the older models that are still running up to now with no issues. That’s one thing I’ve always liked about Hondas. They will never leave you stranded, they are like those hard working horses that never tire.
So, the model to look out for is the model from 2005 to 2010. From the front it looks somewhat like the Honda Vivic hybrid. You can easily tell that they are born of the same parents — the resemblance is plethoric. You will not buy this car for looks because it’s not that picturesque, you will buy it however, for other reasons I will mention later.
A huge bumper upfront makes it look like it’s got a huge forehead and a retarded hairline. The headlights are so small, they are almost hidden in between the bonnet and the bumper. If I didn’t know better I’d say it was designed by the same person who designed the Toyota Will but like I said you will not buy this car for its looks, the nice stuff is still to come.
It’s noticeably a very long car and the doors are huge. I’d like to believe it would have been better off with some sliding doors at the back because embarking and disembarking in tight parking spaces can be a serious jive with these cars.
Like many minivans, it sits quite low and isn’t really the type of car that you can take bashing in the bush. It’s a touring car and 7 people can sit in it comfortably. It’s got the usual Japanese minivan set up with two people in front, two at the back and three in-between.
All rear seats can fold into the rear boot well to accommodate more luggage when needed. When they designed these cars, they made sure they’d serve their purpose as multi-purpose vehicles. As much as they can carry people, they can also carry things which is a plus. Most of the minivans were made with small seats at the back presumably for kids but this one has ample space at the back with niceties like cup holders. Most of these cars do have cup holders but the Odyssey has all that wood inspired panelling which kind of gives off a sense of luxury.
It has an engine big enough for an off road car and you do find it in many other off road Hondas. It is therefore not very practical in an African setup where the whole family goes to the deepest potholed roads Africa can offer. In Africa we need cars that are higher off the ground and this one doesn’t quite cut it in that area.
Upfront in the cabin it’s quite sharp and well designed from the instrument cluster to all the wood inspired plastic panels. It’s got the spaceship styling with gear lever right on the console close to the driver gives it a modern look. It seems to be a thing for all the minivans in this era as most manufacturers moved away from the column shift.
For a car its size it’s got to have a big heart and it does. It’s got the famous K24A 2400cc motor and yes, it’s the nicest part about this car — it is the very reason you are going to buy this car.
The K24A engine found in this car is also found in quite a number of Hondas like the CRV and has built a reputation for reliability and durability. It is a Honda tradition to build engines that never break or fold under pressure. The Honda Odyssey therefore is quite likely to find its way into decades to come.
The K24A is a 4 cylinder naturally aspirated engine with 4 valves per cylinder. It has the I-vtec system which increases power output and makes for a very fuel efficient yet powerful engine. When it’s going through the city streets its quiet, well behaved but when you call it to come to play, it roars like a lion.
Like most Hondas, It features an all aluminium block with aluminium cylinder head. They prefer aluminium because it’s lightweight and has better heat transfer properties to the coolant but ultimately its an issue of weight reduction.
The engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission which drives the front wheels with some models driving all four wheels. You do find however, the same 5-speed automatic transmission on all models.
So be on the look out for this one, it’s quite an all round reliable car and not as soft as it’s other counter parts in the minivan segment.
@lovert116 – Automart Used Spares Centre – Quality Used Japanese Spares -+263 772 33 99 38 – [email protected]/ Facebook: @automartusc
