2018 Honda Odyssey (MODERN FAMILY)  10-Speed Automatic| LMT Cars
Channel: Infinite
Date: 2017-07-31

LMT Cars: 2018 Honda Odyssey 10-Speed Automatic
Not that you’d ever be able to convince today’s crossover-crazy buyers, but three-row SUVs continue to move substantially in the minivan direction, with decreased ground clearance and towing capacity; front-wheel-drive architectures; and spacious, family-friendly cabins. As these segments converge, it begs the question: What makes a minivan a minivan? Sliding doors? Removable seats? The lines have been blurred, particularly in the case of the all-new Honda Odyssey, which shares a platform with the company’s three-row crossover, the Pilot. 
Pop the Odyssey’s hood and you’ll find the same 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that hustled our long-term Pilot from zero to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds. The Pilot’s optional nine-speed automatic is standard on the Odyssey, but opt for the Touring or Elite trim levels—the latter is tested here—and you get Honda’s 10-speed automatic, the first slushbox from the maker to use planetary gearsets. The new transmission shifts imperceptibly under moderate throttle, is well matched to the V-6 engine, and is always in the right gear. It’s fuel efficient, too, particularly on long highway slogs. The combo of V-6 and 10-speed returned 30 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, beating the EPA highway rating by 2 mpg. 
This Odyssey Elite also sprinted to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds—really quick for a minivan and quicker than many three-row crossovers. The Chrysler Pacifica, clearly the Odyssey’s biggest rival, claims a 7-hp advantage over the Honda but managed only a 7.3-second time in the same test. Whether putzing around town or merging into heavy freeway traffic, the Odyssey never feels as if it wants for power. Get on the throttle and the V-6 emits a sonorous tone that wouldn’t sound out of place in—you guessed it—an SUV. 
Larger bumps transmit into the cabin more harshly than in the Pacifica, likely due to our test vehicle’s 19-inch wheels and low-profile tires. Otherwise, the Odyssey’s ride quality is agreeable; it balances composed cruising with competent cornering, which isn’t reflected in the unimpressive, 0.75-g skidpad result. But it changes direction nimbly and drives like a much smaller vehicle. Steering effort is light, but the electrically assisted system is accurate and direct. We’d call the Odyssey a slam dunk dynamically, except for a brake pedal that feels like stepping on a slice of angel food cake. And it’s more than just feel: Stopping from 70 mph required 184 feet—a longer distance than any rival and, in fact, rather SUV-like. 
Blurred Lines.
The Elite trim carries a hefty $47,610 price but brings leather seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient cabin lighting, a built-in vacuum cleaner, heated and ventilated front seats, and acoustically insulated glass to keep things hush-hush. When perched on the soft, supportive front seats behind a blocky dashboard with large swaths of silver-colored trim, it’s easy to forget that you’re driving a minivan. The seating position is carlike and there’s a clear view of the road ahead, but both the second and third rows can comfortably host adult-sized frames, unlike those in many three-row crossovers. 
Modern Family.
The 2018 Odyssey marks the introduction of Honda’s newest infotainment system, and in every trim except for the base LX it’s crisply rendered on an 8.0-inch touchscreen display. Boasting a customizable layout of menu tiles that can be dragged and dropped to different locations, the new system is light-years better than the outgoing model’s and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Odyssey Elite comes with an in-car PA system that broadcasts through the vehicle’s speakers as well as any headphones connected to the Elite’s standard rear-seat entertainment system. With onboard Wi-Fi enabled through a 4G LTE data connection, passengers can stream video, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and the like through the ceiling-mounted 10.2-inch flip-down display. Rear-seat occupants can even keep an eye on trip progress and their ETA at the intended destination. 
A rear-seat monitoring feature—called CabinWatch—projects an image of rear-seat passengers onto the main infotainment display. It’s intended to be a handy way to keep tabs on “he started it” scenarios, but we found that young children were thrilled to see their own smiling faces on the screen. The eye rolls and glares don’t arrive until they’re older. Connected smartphones can be used to control the rear-seat climate controls, send destinations to the in-dash navigation system, and upload songs to a rolling playlist. Combating device discharging are three USB ports—which is pretty stingy—and four power outlets (three 12-volt and one 110-volt). Those relegated to the third row get their own headphone jacks for the entertainment system, too. 


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