Anyone who has taken a tour of the previous-generation Odyssey will find their walkaround of the new version will take a bit longer. The new Odyssey is much bigger than the old one. While the old Odyssey was small, the new one competes with the biggest minivans on the market. It's about the same size as the Chrysler minivans (Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler Town & Country). It's slightly larger than the Toyota Sienna, but slightly smaller than the Ford Windstar and the GM minivans (Chevrolet Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette, Pontiac Montana).All minivan designers face the same fact when it comes to styling: The ideal shape is a box. Corners can be rounded off, creases can be applied, glass area can be enlarged, nips and tucks can be made, but the essential form can't be altered. From a styling standpoint, the Odyssey lands in the middle of its opposition. It's neither as distinctive as the attractive Chrysler vans nor as anonymous as the Sienna. Honda has made an attempt to give it some corporate identity around the grille area, but the profile and rear view are decidedly ordinary. Not unattractive, mind you, just ordinary. But what counts is in place: Odyssey offers four large doors. The rear doors slide open, making it easier to get in at crowded shopping center parking lots. And there's a wide tailgate with a low lift-over height that makes it easy to load cargo. Rather than ask customers to wade through long lists of options, Honda has chosen to launch the Odyssey in two trim levels. The LX offers almost every feature most buyers want, including air conditioning, antilock brakes, cruise control, adjustable steering column, and power assists for windows, mirrors and door locks. The EX adds power sliding side doors, automatic climate control, electronic traction control, upgraded sound system with a CD player, and handsome alloy wheels. All Odysseys are powered by a 3.5-liter 24-valve V6 engine that develops a robust 210 horsepower when fed premium-grade fuel. Using regular is permitted, but results in a 5-horsepower loss. All come equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. Among the Odyssey's safety features are dual front airbags and a three-point seatbelt/shoulder harness for each of the seven seating positions. The Odyssey is not available with side airbags - the safety benefits of which are debated among automakers.
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