2017 Honda Odyssey VTi Review | The Family Hauler That Lost Its Way
Evolution is said to refine a species, but the 2017 Honda Odyssey VTi marks four years since the nameplate made a radical departure from the four generations of people mover that preceded it.
Since its mid-1990s launch the Odyssey has been a mini-wagon, and as generations passed it increasingly became lower and sexier, evolving to become more car-like. Now, though, the Honda has become a big van with lots of space and few apologies.
The entry VTi, as tested here, costs less than $40,000 and seats eight people with more than a Toyota Corolla hatchback’s worth of luggage space to spare.
It is an equation that numerous Australians find compelling – but is this latest model really an improvement on the people mover breed?
Vehicle Style: People mover
Price: $37,610 (plus on-road costs)
Engine/trans: 129kW/225Nm 2.4 4cyl petrol | automatic CVT
Fuel Economy Claimed: 7.6 L/100km | Tested: 10.5 L/100km
OVERVIEW
With unchanged pricing of $37,610 plus on-road costs, there is simply no cheaper brand new eight-seat people mover than the Odyssey VTi.
The 4.84-metre-long van gets sliding side doors, the passenger’s side of which is even electrically operated via remote. It packs standard 17-inch alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, so it doesn’t appear too much like a base model.