minivan
Minivan (sometimes called simply as van) is a North American car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. The equivalent classification in Europe i ...
manufactured by Japanese automaker
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
since 1994, marketed in most of the world and currently in its fifth generation in Japan.
The Odyssey had originally been conceived and engineered in Japan, in the wake of the country's economic crisis of the 1990s – which in turn imposed severe constraints on the vehicle's size and overall concept, dictating the minivan's manufacture in an existing facility with minimal modification. The result was a smaller minivan, in the
compact MPV
Compact MPV (an abbreviation for Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is a vehicle size class for the middle size of MPVs. The Compact MPV size class sits between the mini MPV and large MPV (minivan) size classes.
Compact MPVs remain predominantly a ...
class, that was well received in the
Japanese domestic market
Japanese domestic market (JDM) refers to Japan's home market for vehicles and vehicle parts.
There is a common misconception that any Japanese branded car is JDM; however, this is not true. Only a vehicle made in Japan specifically to be sold i ...
but less well received in North America. The first generation Odyssey was marketed in Europe as the Honda Shuttle.
Subsequent generations diverged to reflect market variations, and Honda built a
plant
Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...
in
Lincoln, Alabama
Lincoln is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. It was incorporated in 1911. At the 2020 census, the population was 6,845. It was named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who served in the American army during the Revolutionary ...
, incorporating the ability to manufacture larger models. Since model year 1999, Honda has marketed a larger (large MPV-class) Odyssey in North America and a smaller Odyssey in Japan and other markets. Honda also offered the larger North American Odyssey in Japan as the Honda LaGreat between 1999 and 2004.
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First generation (RA1-RA5; 1994)
The first-generation Odyssey was a raised wagon from
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
that was launched in Japan and North America in 1994. Based on the Accord sedan, it was offered with an optional 4WD (with RA2 and RA4 chassis), and from 1997 with a 3.0-litre V6 J30A engine with the RA5 chassis code (front-wheel drive only). L and Aero models were equipped with a sunroof. All the JDM Odysseys had a dual air conditioning system, separate for the front and rear seat rows. Since the first generation all the models have been six- or seven-seater versions.
In 1995, it won the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference Car of the Year award in Japan. In its home market, the Odyssey competed with the
Toyota Gaia
The Toyota Gaia is a Japanese market MPV that competed with the Nissan Prairie, Mitsubishi Chariot and the Honda Odyssey. It was replaced by the Toyota Isis. The Gaia shares a platform with the Toyota Ipsum (sister car) and Toyota Caldina (pla ...
,
Toyota Ipsum
The Toyota Ipsum, Picnic, SportsVan or Avensis Verso is a car produced by the Japanese carmaker Toyota from 1995 to 2010. It is a compact MPV with standard three-row seating. The Ipsum, like many Toyota products, was shared as a trio of the Toyot ...
left-hand drive
Left-hand traffic (LHT) and right-hand traffic (RHT) are the practices, in bidirectional traffic, of keeping to the left side or to the right side of the road, respectively. They are fundamental to traffic flow, and are sometimes referred to ...
format for China. However, this new Odyssey was a major upgrade of the first generation Odyssey rather than a completely new model. As a result, its overall shape and appearance were similar to the first generation Odyssey. Still, it was longer and wider than the previous model. While base models had slightly smaller dimensions and a smaller 2.3L engine, models with more options as well those with the 3.0L V6 engine featured slightly larger bumpers and chrome inserts, larger grille as well as a unique chrome number plate surround.
The base model continued to be sold with a 2.3-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine (F23A) in RA6 ( 2WD) and RA7 ( 4WD) models. The 3.0-liter J30A VTEC V6 engine from the first generation, now producing , was available in the RA8 (2WD) and RA9 (4WD) Absolute sport and Prestige luxury models. The 2000 Odyssey was the first Honda to receive a five-speed automatic transmission, albeit with the 3.0-liter engine only as the four-cylinder versions rotate in the other direction. All the second generation gearboxes also featured another first — a
tiptronic
The modern usage of the automotive term manumatic denotes an automatic transmission that allows the driver to select a specific gear, typically using paddle-shifters, steering wheel-mounted push-buttons, or "+" and "-" controls on the gear sele ...
-like manual mode, known as "Honda S-matic", in which a gearbox remains the classic Honda hydro-automat, but the driver is able to manage the shifting moment (if electronically allowed) with the selector's "+" and "-" positions. The interior was completely new. The old automatic column shifter was moved to the centre console. A new touchscreen-based digital climate control system replaced the old manual controls, which worked in conjunction with Honda's new navigation system. Woodgrain trim was standard on all models, while in VG/VZ V6 models leather and velour seat and door materials were standard over the basic cloth trims. The interior configuration was also changed (second and third row), and the spare wheel was moved to a new position beneath the third row. With L and Absolute versions, an additional third-row heater was added. The sunroof was no longer available respectively.
The Japanese market Odyssey continued to be available in S, M and L grade levels, as well as Prestige model in VG and VZ grade levels.
In November 2001, the Odyssey was given a mild restyle. The MQ grade was added to the regular four-cylinder Odyssey lineup which positioned between the lower M grade and the higher L grade, and also introduced the new, sportier Absolute model that is positioned between regular and Prestige models. It received new, larger Honda emblems for the front and rear, clear-lens tail lights (replacing amber, darker in Absolute model), and a larger front grille with four chrome strips instead of three (different grille and bumper design in Absolute model) as well as new alloy wheel design options. The Absolute model is available with either 2.3-liter four-cylinder or 3.0-liter V6 engine.
In February 2003, the Premium Sound Spirit variant which based on the MQ grade went on sale in Japan. It is equipped with a
Bose
Bose may refer to:
* Bose (crater), a lunar crater
* ''Bose'' (film), a 2004 Indian Tamil film starring Srikanth and Sneha
* Bose (surname), a surname (and list of people with the name)
* Bose, Italy, a ''frazioni'' in Magnano, Province of Biella ...
sound system, 16-inch aluminium wheels, and metal-beating like equipment.
In May 2003, the Fine Spirit variant was introduced, based on Absolute, Absolute Limited and M grades equipped with a special body color and special aluminum wheels, metal-beating panel, and genuine leather and metal-beating combination steering wheel. In addition to adopting a special body color, it is equipped with a metallic gray front grille, a chrome-plated outer door handle, and a special wood grain panel.
In the Australian market, the new Odyssey proved more popular than its predecessor, at least initially. However, in 2002, sales hit an all-time low, and in 2003, sales of only 649 units were almost one-third of the total in 2000.
File:2000-2002 Honda Odyssey van (2011-11-17) 01.jpg, Odyssey V6 (pre-facelift, Australia)
File:2000-2002 Honda Odyssey van (2011-11-17) 02.jpg, Odyssey V6 (pre-facelift, Australia)
File:Honda odyssey ra6 finespirit 2003model 1 f (cropped).jpg, Odyssey M Fine Spirit (facelift, Japan)
File:Honda odyssey absolute 2002model 1 f (cropped).jpg, Odyssey Absolute (facelift, Japan)
File:2nd generation Honda Odyssey rear.jpg, Odyssey Absolute (facelift, Japan)
Third generation (RB1/2; 2003)
The third-generation Japanese-built Odyssey was the first full redesign of the Odyssey since its introduction in 1994. Going on sale in Japan in October 2003, and in Australia and many other countries from early 2004, it continued with a 5-door body style, with a much sleeker, lower, and more car-like appearance. For the first time cruise-control appeared on the JDM Odyssey. The 4WD version has received the new DPS system. The seat folding mechanism was changed again. The height of the new Odyssey was lower than ever – designed with multi-level parking in mind, particularly for Japan. The new Odyssey came with the Honda K24A i-VTEC engine, a 2.4 L unit producing ; this was the same engine used in the
CR-V
The Honda CR-V (also sold as the Honda Breeze in China since 2019) is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda since 1995. The early model was built using the same platform as the Civic.
Honda began producing the CR ...
and Accord. A 4WD version (RB2) came only with an automatic transmission, while the 2WD version came only with a
continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is an automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of gear ratios. This contrasts with other transmissions that provide a limited number of gear ratios in fixed steps. T ...
, except Absolute, JDM S/B model as well as export models. The V6 engine was dropped completely. Instead, a variant of the K24A engine was adopted for the sporty Absolute version ( with 4WD), which was only equipped with an automatic transmission – both the 2WD and 4WD variants. Moreover, this new engine had the same fuel consumption as the old 2.2 L engine. All this resulted in the new Odyssey becoming a sales success. In Australia, the Odyssey achieved its best-ever sales year in 2005, and outsold the Toyota Tarago for the first time.
In Japan, the third-generation Odyssey was initially available in S, M, L and Absolute grade levels. In October 2005, the base S grade was discontinued and the Aero Edition based on the M grade with the same bumper as the Absolute grade has been released. For the facelifted model released in April 2006, the base B grade was revived (previously the lowest grade level of the pre-facelift first generation Odyssey) and the Aero Edition was replaced by the M Aero Package. In February 2007, the S grade was reinstated along with the S Aero Package, the M grade was equipped with 16-inch aluminium wheels, and the L grade was equipped with a voice recognition Honda HDD
navigation system A navigation system is a computing system that aids in navigation. Navigation systems may be entirely on board the vehicle or vessel that the system is controlling (for example, on the ship's bridge) or located elsewhere, making use of radio or othe ...
with a
rear camera
A backup camera (also called a reversing camera or rear-view camera) is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up and to alleviate the rear blind ...
and a progressive commander. In August 2007, the K Package based on the L grade with genuine leather-wrapped AT select lever was added. At the same time, the "HDD Navi Special Edition" based on the S, S Aero Package, M, M Aero Package and Absolute grades with the same navigation system equipment as the L grade was released.
File:2004-2006 Honda Odyssey Luxury van 02.jpg, Odyssey Luxury (pre-facelift, Australia)
File:2006-2008 Honda Odyssey.jpg, Odyssey (facelift, Japan)
File:2006-2009 Honda Odyssey van (2010-12-28).jpg, Odyssey (facelift, Australia)
File:Odyssey3interior.jpg, Interior
Fourth generation (RB3/4; 2008)
Sales of the fourth-generation Odyssey in the Japanese market began on 17 October 2008, and it was initially available in M, L, Li and Absolute grade levels. The engine and transmission has fundamentally remained the same as the third generation, adding more power and better fuel economy. It is equipped with a 2.4-litre engine and CVT with a torque converter for the FWD, and 5-speed automatic transmission for 4WD and high-output 206 hp Absolute grade.
Two engines are offered in Japan: one with 173 PS output (i-VTEC is only for intake camshaft) and the other one with 206 PS output in Absolute grade (i-VTEC is for both camshafts). On 3 September 2009, the M Fine Spirit grade has been added, positioned below the M grade. At the same time, the Aero Package is also available for M Fine Spirit and M grades with the same bumper as the Absolute grade. The Odyssey received a facelift with a redesigned grille on 6 October 2011. The M Fine Spirit grade was replaced by the M-S grade, and the L grade was discontinued. On 5 July 2012, the MX grade was added and is also available with the Aero Package. The MX grade is positioned above the M grade and below the Li grade.
One of the biggest changes to this generation of Odyssey was the inclusion of electronic stability control and standard curtain airbags on all grades.
In many markets outside Japan like Australia and Indonesia, the Odyssey is also equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
In Australia, the Odyssey was the best-selling people mover among private buyers.
File:2009-2011 Honda Odyssey Luxury van (2011-04-28) 02.jpg, Odyssey Luxury (pre-facelift, Australia)
File:HONDA ODYSSEY (RB3,4) China (16) (cropped).jpg, Odyssey (facelift, China)
File:Honda odyssey rb3 absolute 1 f.jpg, Odyssey Absolute (facelift, Japan)
File:Honda odyssey rb3 absolute 1 r.jpg, Odyssey Absolute (facelift, Japan)
File:2008 Honda Odyssey 05.JPG, Interior
Fifth generation (RC; 2013)
The fifth-generation Odyssey for the international market was teased on the website on 26 September 2013, and went on sale in Japan on 1 November 2013. However, long before that, Honda showcased a concept car called the Concept M which was presented at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show. The rear hinged side doors were changed to dual power sliding doors, much like most other minivans by Japanese automakers today. It's now bigger than its predecessors and for seven-seater variants, premium cradle seats with
ottomans
The Ottoman Turks ( tr, Osmanlı Türkleri), were the Turkic founding and sociopolitically the most dominant ethnic group of the Ottoman Empire ( 1299/1302–1922).
Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks remains scarce, ...
are offered on the second row. The new RC1 (2WD) & RC2 (4WD) models are available in either seven-seater or eight-seater. It is powered by Honda's newly developed 2.4L i-VTEC Earth Dreams engine which produces and . Direct-injection is added in the range-topping Absolute grade which increases output to and . The 2.4L Earth Dreams engine provides fuel economy of as calculated from Japan's JC08 mode test cycle.Honda to Release All-New Odyssey and Odyssey Absolute Premium Minivans in Japan
In Japan, this model also replaced the Elysion to compete against
Toyota Alphard
The is a minivan produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since 2002. It is available as a seven or eight-seater with petrol and hybrid engine options. Hybrid variants have been available since 2003, which incorporates Toyota's Hybrid Synergy ...
and
Nissan Elgrand
The is a minivan manufactured by Nissan Shatai for Nissan since 1997, available in three generations, with model codes E50 (1997–2002), E51 (2002–2010), and E52 (2010–present). The E50 Elgrand was also configured and produced as a light ...
in the full-size luxury MPV category.
The Odyssey Hybrid RC4 was launched in Japan on 4 February 2016 with a 2.0L petrol hybrid engine. Honda has given the Sport Hybrid i-MMD name to the new hybrid system. Improvements to the new hybrid system include reduction of the size and weight of key components such as the battery and power control unit from the existing two-motor hybrid system used in the Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-in Hybrid that were introduced in 2013. The power control unit is 23 percent smaller and 27 percent lighter than the one in the Accord Hybrid. The Odyssey Hybrid went on sale in Japan on 5 February 2016, but is unlikely to be exported to the US as the US-market Odyssey utilizes a larger platform than the Japanese market Odyssey.
In Australia, the Odyssey went on sale in February 2014 and is available in two trim levels: VTi, which is based on the JDM G grade, and VTi-L, which is based on the JDM Absolute grade.
In the Middle East, the JDM Odyssey was introduced in 2015 as Honda Odyssey J, while USDM Odyssey continues with its original name.
The fifth-generation Odyssey is also a basis for the second-generation Honda Elysion for the Chinese market, but with a different front fascia, and adopts a design resembling the
Honda Legend
:''Sections of this article are translated from Japanese Wikipedia''.
The Honda Legend is a series of V6-engined executive cars/mid-size luxury sedans produced by Honda since 1985 which currently serves as its flagship vehicle. It is larger tha ...
. The Odyssey-based Elysion was launched in China on 9 January 2016.
First facelift
On 16 November 2017, the fifth-generation Odyssey was given a facelift with new bumpers and LED fog lamps and was refreshed with a range of driver’s assistances featuring adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking system, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation system, lane-keeping assist system, rear-cross traffic monitor and blind-spot monitoring system in the top of the range model. It also has a new chrome front grille fascia, an improved NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) and a plusher captain's chair in the second row.
The first facelift of the fifth-generation Odyssey was introduced in the Chinese market in July 2018, updating the front end with a redesigned front bumper. The Odyssey Sport Hybrid based on the JDM Absolute grade was launched in China on 29 April 2019.
File:Guangqi Honda Odyssey international Fifth generation facelift (cropped).jpg, Odyssey (first facelift, China)
File:Honda Odyssey 2018 Chinese facelift (rear).jpg, Odyssey (first facelift, China)
File:HONDA ODYSSEY HYBRID RC China (12) (cropped).jpg, Odyssey Sport Hybrid (first facelift, China)
File:Honda ODYSSEY ABSOLUTE・EX Honda SENSING (DBA-RC1) rear.jpg, Odyssey Absolute EX (first facelift, Japan)
File:Osaka Motor Show 2017 (31) - Honda ODYSSEY HYBRID ABSOLUTE EX・Honda SENSING (6AA-RP4).jpg, Interior (first facelift)
Second facelift
The second facelift model for the 2021 model year went on sale in Japan in November 2020, featuring redesigned bumpers with a two-piece grille, headlamps and tail lamps with a thin chrome bar across them. In the interior, it receives a redesigned dashboard with a 7.0-inch info display replacing the previous 3.5-inch found on the instrument cluster, and motion detection sliding doors using hand gestures.
File:Honda Odyssey V second facelift (front).jpg, Odyssey Sport Hybrid (second facelift, China)
File:Honda Odyssey V second facelift (rear).jpg, Odyssey Sport Hybrid (second facelift, China)
Reception
At its debut, the Odyssey won the
Japan Car of the Year
The annual Car of the Year Japan Award (日本カー・オブ・ザ・イヤー, nihon kā obu za iyā), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is an annual Car of the Year award given for newly released or redesigned vehicles released in ...
Award (Special Category) and the RJC New Car of the Year Award. By September 1997, the Odyssey had sold more than 300,000 units, becoming Honda’s fastest-selling new car and breaking the Civic’s record. The Odyssey was ''
Wheels
A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be ...
'' magazine's
Car of the Year Car of the Year (COTY) is a common abbreviation for numerous automotive awards.
The "Car of the Year" phrase is considered to have been introduced by ''Motor Trend'' magazine in 1949 when the new publication named Cadillac as Motor Trend Car of th ...
for 1995. At the Odyssey's European launch, where it was marketed as the ''Shuttle'', British ex-
Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
driver
Jonathan Palmer
Jonathan Charles Palmer (born 7 November 1956) is a British businessman and former Formula One racing driver. Before opting for a career in motor racing, Palmer trained as a physician at London's Guys Hospital. He also worked as a junior phys ...
described its handling as equal of any "executive saloon".
Odyssey
The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major Ancient Greek literature, ancient Greek Epic poetry, epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by moder ...