2011 Honda Odyssey

2011 Honda Odyssey is offered in five exciting trim levels, namely, LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Touring Elite. The top two trim levels are packed with a plethora of advanced features like a 15GB hard drive, separate rear audio and wireless headphones, heated front seats with 10-way power adjustments, and many more, and you’ll find the prices of these trims climb drastically. 

However, even base trims feel adequately equipped with features like ambient lighting, refrigerated storage, and leather upholstery. Each trim of the 2011 Odyssey makes use of the standard 3.5L V6 engine and is channeled as an FWD variant only.

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In our point of view, the EX-L will be a better option to consider among all. If you are looking for a minivan, you want better utility along with good comfort and luxurious amenities, which will be fulfilled with the EX-L variant. Apart from the basic specifications, the mid-level trim also adds optional rear-seat entertainment and navigation systems for the buyers.

The 2011 Odyssey comes equipped with only one engine option on offer which is a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 unit. This engine churns out 248 horsepower and 250 lb-ft. of torque and is mated with a standard 5-speed automatic gearbox. Touring and Touring Elite trims get a new six-speed automatic transmission and the van comes in only FWD configuration. The V6 motor on offer is not the best in terms of performance, but it has enough power to pull this minivan quite fast and cruise at a decent speed on the highways.

2011 Honda Odyssey Minivan takes 8.3 seconds to sprint from 0-60 mph, which is appreciable for a family wagon and can breach the quarter-mile mark in 16.2 seconds. The top speed figure is recorded as 120 mph, which is lower than the competitors.

Although all the minivans in the competition have almost equally powerful engine options, the Chrysler Town and Country tops out in terms of power and torque producing 283hp and 260lb.-ft. It is the quickest in the segment taking 7.4 seconds to the 60mph mark, while the Nissan Quest and Kia Sedona are half to a second slower than it taking 8.3 and 8 seconds, respectively. 

The 3.5L V6 motor on the 2011 Odyssey aims at frugality. In short, Honda retains the charm of its refined engines. It returns 18 mpg in the city driving conditions, while on the highways the mpg figures jump to 27. It has a decent fuel tank capacity of 21 gallons, which will easily manage a range of over 370 miles in the city and over 560 miles on the highways.

The 2011 Quest offers a better economy in the city of 19 MPG, while on the highway Odyssey returns an impressive 27mpg. The combined efficiency of all the vans are quite similar, except for the Chrysler that averages 20 MPG, which shows their well refined and efficient motors. In the city runs, Quest and the Sedona have a superior driving range of 380 miles, while on the highways, Odyssey wins.

2011 Odyssey offers one of the most premium-looking cabins in the segment. The cabin is crafted with a selection of high-quality materials and features all beige color interiors that give you a roomy feeling inside. The dashboard looks very modern with all the sophisticated design elements. The top is wrapped in soft-touch material, while the aluminum trim running over it catches one's attention. The shift knob is mounted on the dash, which helps in increasing the room at the front by keeping the center area unoccupied.

The 2011 Odyssey Minivan offers comfortable seating for 7 adults. It features leather upholstery in the seats which come with power adjustments and heating function as well. All three rows offer almost equally spacious rooms so that you won’t feel much difference in seating comfort. Along with the roomier cabin, you’ll also get plenty of boot space of 38.4 cu.-ft that can hold almost any size of luggage comfortably.

All the vans in the competition provide comfortable seating for 7, however, the Quest offers plenty of room in all the rows as compared to others, however, at the cost of boot space. The Odyssey has an ample amount of legroom in the third row, while the Chrysler has a cramped third row. The boot space on offer in the 2011 Odyssey is significantly larger than the rivals, closely followed by the Chrysler Town and Country, having a trunk volume of 33 cu.-ft.

Standout interior features:

• Ambient lighting
• Power front passenger seat
• Chilled storage box
• Tri-zone automatic AC
• Leather upholstery
• Memory settings for the driver

How intuitive is the 2011 Honda Odyssey’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment unit of the 2011 Odyssey minivan will impress you with the features it has on offer. You can get a voice-operated navigation system with 15GB of digital storage or a rear-seat entertainment system with a 9-inch screen and a 115-volt AC power outlet. As a part of the upgraded rear-seat entertainment system in the Touring Elite model, it comes with a big 16.2-inch screen with split-screen capabilities and an HDMI port. The panel is not a touchscreen unit, but has good graphics and is quite user-friendly as well. The dash is riddled with too many knobs and switches. 

Standout infotainment features:

• 12-speaker 650-watt sound system
• SiriusXM radio
• HandsFree Link communication
• 5.1 surround sound theatre mode
• Wireless headphones
• Bluetooth Connectivity

The exterior of the 2011 Honda Odyssey Minivan looks stately and elegant. It was constructed with subtle design elements with a limited number of cuts and creases. The sharp headlamps perfectly merge with the grille, which is highlighted with a lot of chrome work. The rear end of the van seems quite odd though. 

The windows at the rear are designed to retain the practicality of the van. Even though it doesn’t align with the design, it gives you an airy feel inside. It has 18-inch alloy wheels that look decent and contribute to enhancing its looks. The taillamps are a single unit that runs throughout the rear end and gives a modern appeal. The glass area at the rear is also kept quite wide, and all the windows are tinted very dark to keep the cabin cool.

The Town and Country and the Sedona have a bulkier body as compared to the Odyssey and the Quest. All the minivans in the competition have almost the same length which translates to plenty of room inside. The 2011 Odyssey got a significantly lesser ground clearance of 4.5 inches, while the Sedona offers 6.6-inch ground clearance; allowing you to go a bit off-road as well. While the Honda is the widest at 79.2 inches, the Nissan and Kia are the tallest measuring 71.5 inches. However, it is the Chrysler that sports the longest wheelbase of 121.2 inches.

Standout exterior features:

• 18-inch alloys
• HID automatic headlamps
• Power adjustable heated ORVMs
• Deep tinted glass
• Power liftgate

The 2011 Honda Odyssey Minivan not only provides luxurious amenities and comfort but also ensures safety. The NHTSA awarded it 5 on 5 stars for its overall safety aspect, while the IIHS awarded it as ‘Top Safety Pick’ for its outstanding performance in crash tests. Odyssey not only offers a robust body but is also packed with some advanced safety features.

Standout safety features include:

• Blind-spot monitor
• Tire pressure monitor
• Brake assist
• Electronic brake force distribution
• Vehicle stability assist

The 2011 Honda Odyssey offers a complete package of luxury and utility. It gets its power from a potent engine that upholds efficiency. While its maneuverability is an obstacle in its likability, the minivan is lively in its drive and handles well. It gets equipped with all the luxurious amenities and with a slew of safety features, it is a perfect family hauler.