On balance, we think the arguments for conventional doors such as this
are good ones.
Unlike Toyota's zoomy-looking Previa, Honda elected to be conservative
in its design. Like Chrysler, Honda decreed user-friendliness to the dimensions,
inside and out. Unlike Chrysler, Honda had a hot-selling sedan--the Accord--whose
sales it didn't wish to disrupt, which led Honda of America to keep its
Odyssey sales projections low compared to mainstream U.S. minivans.
A more significant factor in the Odyssey's U.S. sales picture is its
huge popularity in the Japanese domestic market, where it's a best-seller.
Honda can barely keep pace with demand at home, let alone fight for a bigger
share of the U.S. minivan market.
So modest sales volumes are deceptive here, and unless you need max
capacity we think the Odyssey warrants a closer examination. It's full
of clever design touches that lend versatility out of proportion to its
size, and in last year's J.D. Power customer satisfaction study it posted
the highest score the company has ever recorded for a minivan. Next Page