Coinciding with all the added features and technology, Honda seems to be moving the Odyssey upscale. The LX is now the entry-level model, and atop the former high-end EX model is the Touring, priced at an eye-popping $35,010. This BMW-like price tag buys plenty of stuff the EX can't have, such as leather steering wheel, automatic day/night rearview mirror, driver's seat memory, two extra cupholders (for 17!), removable second-row center console, power adjustable pedals, a 15-volt third-row power outlet, power tailgate, fog lights, a 360-watt, 7-speaker stereo, run-flat tires, and a multi-information display with a tire pressure indicator, backup sensor, and compass.
Price-conscious shoppers might want to stick to the much more sensible $28,510 EX or $25,510 LX, which really have all the essentials. Prices climb fast; the EX's optional leather adds $2,300 (though it throws in all the fancy engine technology), DVD another $1,600, and navigation $2,200 on top of that. On the Touring, DVD and Navigation are only sold together, for $3,800.
The Odyssey's most challenging competitor is Toyota's Sienna, which is the only entry that has the Odyssey's every move matched. The Big Three lag behind with their truck-like engineering and Nissan's new Quest has prominent shortcomings in ergonomics and initial quality. Since every van mentioned so far is based on a very recent 2004 or 2005 redesign, this ranking order will stand for a while. The only remaining minivans are the Kia Sedona and Mazda MPV, whose small size puts them in another league.
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