Minivans did play an integral part in transforming the mobility of the suburban American people. Much like SUVs, the world got the first taste of minivans exclusively for the US as well. Chrysler was the first brand to introduce minivans and both the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager were its first products for the mass market. Full-size vans were generally considered as the priority when it came to moving people but minivans changed the concept with enhanced comfort, features, and ride quality. Also, minivans, as the name suggests, were a scaled-down version of the regular vans which gave them adequate practicality and maneuverability within the urban areas too. Even though the previously-American brand pioneered minivans, other auto giants across the globe followed suit and pitched in with their products and at present, a majority of them are overseas brands such as Honda, Toyota, and Kia.
Honda introduced its Odyssey back in 1994 and it was made possible after extensive research and development. It started its life as a compact minivan since it was conceived the economic crisis in Japan but later, the brand set up its plant in Alabama which produced bigger models of the minivan, an ideal fit for the big-car-loving US market. Presently, the Honda Odyssey is in its fifth-generation model since 2018 and the van’s modern design sets its standard at par with its segment rivals. Apart from the first-gen model, all other generations of the Odyssey got a V6 as standard and the fifth-gen also gets a V6 powerplant too. It is tuned to push out a maximum of 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. With a proper seating capacity of up to eight passengers, the Odyssey comes at a base price of $33,040. It handles and performs surprisingly well for a minivan of its size courtesy of the punchy V6 and the excellent suspension setup. In the segment, the van competes against the likes of the Toyota Sienna, the Chrysler Pacifica, and the Kia Carnival.
