HONDA Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) unveiled the all-new Odyssey on March 3, delivering on its mission of offering a perfect balance of function, style and luxury.
“The all-new Odyssey is primarily designed to cater to families who are looking for the ultimate family vehicle that combines elegant styling, dynamic performance and advance safety,” said Toshio Kuwahara, HCPI president and general manager.
The vehicle employs the “Solid Streamline” concept adapted by Honda for this particular platform. As it slowly moved toward center stage, its lower stance was noticeable. This design makes passenger entry and exit effortless. Up front, the chrome front grille extends to the center portion of the bumper, while at the rear, the center garnish with clear plastic frame that houses the Odyssey badge is aesthetically aligned with the clear lenses of the reverse lights all the way to the signal lights. The dual projector type headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED tail lamps create a commanding presence.
The interior of this seven-seater luxury van projects an aura of elegance and class with the leather-wrapped seats. The cockpit showcases wood design panels with control buttons and switches that are embedded in the steering wheel, which is also fitted with paddle shifters. The illuminated display shows an appealing combination of analog and meter-type gauges. A 7-inch touch screen display, audio and navigation system, and a Push Start System with Smart Key are part of the standard features.
What’s new are the captain cradle seats with ottoman leather and the third row showcases a three-way split, allowing each of the three passengers to independently adjust their seats. Demonstrating the versatility to accommodate loading sizable amount of cargo, the fold flat mechanism allows the third row seats to be stored under the floor. The captain cradle seats slide backward to create a limousine-like enclosure for maximum comfort and relaxation, which are enhanced by the roof-mounted, 9-inch rear entertainment system.
Under the hood is a 2.4-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine that produces 172 hp of power and 226 Nm of torque at midrange engine speed, and is mated to a seven-speed automatic continuous variable transmission (CVT). “This makes the all-new Odyssey the first Honda model available with Earth Dreams Technology on both engine and transmission,” Kuwahara said. The Odyssey is equipped with fuel-saving technology features like the Eco Assist and Idle-Stop System, which automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
The vehicle’s safety features include a multi-view camera system, which consists of four wide-angle cameras that provide a 360-degree view of the surroundings via the 7-inch LCD monitor. The Smart Parking Assist System enables the van to park by itself. All the driver needs to do is operate the gear stick, accelerator and brake pedal assisted by the system prompts. The Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Monitor alerts the driver of incoming vehicles from the blind spot by the radars in the rear bumper.
Other safety features are Active Cornering Lights, Emergency Stop Signal, driver and passenger SRS air bags, side air bags, and side curtain air bags, Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist and Hill Start Assist.
The all-new Odyssey can be had at an introductory price of P2.298 million. It is available in three colors: Premium Twinkle Black Pear, White Orchid Pear and Modern Steel Metallic. Buyers can order other colors, such as Glamorous Mauve Pearl, Super Platinum Metallic, Carnelian Red Pearl and Crystal Black Pearl. Optional accessory packages are the Mugen sport package and Modulo executive package.
Randy S. Peregrino
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino