2008 Honda Odyssey Touring

What do you get when you cross the front of a Liana and the rear a Chrysler Grand Voyager? You get the 2008 Honda Odyssey Touring. Contrary to the 2007’s lower and more sportier Odyssey, the 2008 model had definitely much grown up with more practically as a family MPVs it provides for. Honda’s incrementalist approach to improving its models continues unabated – with a facelift to match it with the new similarly styled Accord.

It seems that the Stream and Airwave models in Singapore will still continue as the lower end MPVs. And while this new this look will come much of a disappointment who those who fell for the 2007 Odyssey looks “with the unmatchable sports handling from an MVP”, it’s time Honda set it cross hairs straight on their flagship people-carrier model to achieve what MVPs are built for – for the down to earth and practical family people.

Practically comes with practical looks – off with the flashy low profiles and glaring front headlamps in place of more conservative looking face which won’t give your children the chills when come to. But the main difference is the engine of the Odyssey EX-L, spotting a more fuel-efficient, 3.5-liter V6 Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) i-VTEC powerplant. This deactivate two or three of its six cylinders when they’re not needed, such as during cruising or deceleration.

The Odyssey comes filled with toys too, with new Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and onboard Navigation just to name afew. Throw the baby in reverse and see the rear-view mirror come to life with video feed from the rear camera display, with memory-linked side mirrors with tilt function.

The 2008 Honda Odyssey Press Release at the bump:

2008 Honda Odyssey Press Release

The significantly-updated-for-2008 Honda Odyssey minivan receives new exterior styling along with a more fuel-efficient version of the available Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM) i-VTEC V-6 engine. Exterior styling focuses on a bolder, six-sided grille design and a front bumper fascia with crisp lines that add to the vehicle’s dynamic and premium appearance.

“The Odyssey is the king of the Honda lineup when it comes to moving the maximum number of people in maximum comfort,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “For 2008, the Odyssey strengthens its styling and functional advantages while adding even more premium features.”

Four new and notable available premium features include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink (available Odyssey EX-L and Touring), 4-way power passenger seat (standard Odyssey EX-L and Touring), rearview camera display integrated into the rearview mirror (standard Odyssey EX-L) and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down (standard Odyssey Touring).

Interior styling receives updates in the form of new colors and textures for the instrument panel, along with premium fabric for Odyssey LX and EX seating surfaces. Further interior refinements include an additional storage bin in the 2nd Row PlusOne Seat (standard on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), standard MP3/Windows Media Audio (WMA) compatibility (CD-based) and a standard auxiliary input jack.

The Odyssey achieves the highest five-star crash safety rating by the federal government for both frontal and side impacts. In keeping with the Honda “Safety for Everyone” initiative, all Odyssey models are equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), also known as electronic stability control; standard anti-lock brakes with brake assist; advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold driver’s and front passenger’s SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Protection Detection System (OPDS); three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; and a pedestrian safety design in the front of the vehicle. An Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure provides enhanced occupant protection in a frontal collision. New for 2008, active front seat head restraints and daytime running lights have been added.

Known for its industry trend-setting One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat, the Odyssey’s innovative eight-passenger seating areas (seven-passenger on LX) quickly and easily adapt between passenger and cargo duties. The 3rd-Row Magic Seat can accommodate up to three passengers and still provide 38.4 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the seats, or fold completely flat into the floor for cargo duty to create 91.1 cubic feet of cargo volume while still maintaining room for five passengers (four passengers on LX). With the second row seats removed, total cargo volume expands to a voluminous 147.4 cubic feet. Total interior volume measures 209.8 cubic feet for passenger and cargo volume combined – representing a total volume greater than two Civic Sedan interior volumes combined, for comparison. The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat integrates a new storage bin inside the seat structure and is standard equipment on the Odyssey EX and EX-L (as before). The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat has been added as standard equipment to the Odyssey Touring, replacing the standard removable center console, while retaining similar functionality and adding a seating position to the previously seven-passenger Touring model.

Designed with families in mind, a total of three Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child seat attachment systems exist: two are located in the outboard second-row seating positions and one is located in the middle third-row seating position.

Standard comfort and convenience features include dual-zone air conditioning (tri-zone automatic climate control on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), tilt and telescope steering wheel, power windows and door locks, keyless entry and cruise control.

Available premium features include the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition, an 8-inch screen, and Zagat Survey restaurant guide information, and a Honda DVD Entertainment System with a 9-inch screen. A rearview camera aids rear visibility on the Odyssey EX-L equipped with the available navigation system. Odyssey EX-L models without the available navigation system provide a rearview camera display via a 2.5-inch monitor embedded in the rearview mirror.

Determined by specific model, two engine variations exist. The 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC VTEC engine on the Odyssey LX and EX produces 244 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 240 lb-ft. of torque at 5000 rpm. The Odyssey LX and EX models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 16/23 mpg.

The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models feature a 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine with VCM for enhanced fuel efficiency. This engine produces 241 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 242 lb-ft. of torque at 4900 rpm.

For 2008, a new generation of VCM provides the additional capability to selectively deactivate either two or three of the engine’s six cylinders during cruising and deceleration (instead of three, exclusively). Similar to the new VCM system available on the 2008 Accord, the Odyssey’s new VCM engine expands the cylinder deactivation operating range, which helps to increase fuel efficiency in a wider variety of driving conditions and speeds. An “ECO” indicator light illuminates on the instrument panel when the vehicle is operating at an optimal level of fuel efficiency. The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 17/25 mpg2.

Vehicles equipped with VCM use both an audio system-based Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system and a chassis-based Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) system to cancel noise and vibration that can occur during cylinder deactivation.

An independent front and rear suspension and a rigid unit body structure help provide comfortable and refined ride performance. Additional chassis components include power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes and variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models have 16-inch wheels (alloy on EX and EX-L) with all-season 235/65R16 tires. Odyssey Touring models are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season 235/60R17 tires (standard); Michelin PAX System run-flat technology wheels and tires are available (460 mm wheels and 235-710R 460A tires).