ODYSSEY WILL SERVE YOU WELL ON A JOURNEY!
After a major redesign in 2012 and some tweaks last year, the 2015 Odyssey returns with its status quo intact. The minivan retains a sole 3.5- liter i-VTEC V-6 engine, which puts out 248 horsepower @ 5700 rpm and 250 pounds-feet of torque @ 4800 rpm. The Variable Cylinder Management system deactivates three or four of the cylinders at lower speeds to enhance the up to eight-passenger vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Ensconced on the unit-body structure (with black-trimmed headlights and grille, muscular hood, body-color side mirrors and fog lamps) is a MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension to take the edge off most bumps and rough surfaces on the road. The accurate variable power rack-and-pinion steering provides a firm on-center response.
The front-wheel-drive Odyssey starts at $28,975. Mid-level Odyssey goes for around $35,775. And if you can afford to and pick the top-level Touring Elite ($44,600), you will travel like royalty with power-sliding rear doors, leather seats, 16.2-inch ultra-wide DVD split screen for rear-seat passengers, 650-watt audio system, wide-angle rearview camera, tri-zone automatic climate control and 10-way power front seats. And the cool box under the dashboard, which can keep your beverages cold while the a/c is on.
With the Odyssey, you get a solid and complete package of generous power, worthy fuel economy and hands-on interior. Lest we forget, the minivan is backed by Honda’s immaculate reputation for durability and dependability. What else can one ask for in a people-hauler?
ODYSSEY TOURING ELITE
- Tires: 235/60R18
- Wheelbase: 118.1 inches
- Length: 202.9 inches
- Weight: 4,613 pounds
- Fuel capacity: 21 gallons
- City: 19 mpg
- Highway: 28 mpg
- Web site: www.honda.com
OUTLANDER MANAGES An okay PERFORMANCE
In the 2016 Outlander, Mitsubishi is touting a refined crossover utility vehicle that will have more than 100 engineering and design improvements. Till then, we believe this year’s model should suffice for those who seek adequate acceleration in a solid, safe ride.
Our SE trim was equipped with a 2.4-liter, inline-4 cylinder engine developing 166 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 162 pounds-feet of torque @ 4200 rpm. Getting power to the ground is a somewhat noisy Continuous Variable Transmission.
Step inside and you will notice that the leatherette/fabric front and rear 60/40 fold-down seats offer sufficient head and leg room. Several amenities are offered such as dual auto climate control, tilt/telescopic leather steering column and shifter knob, HD radio, driver information center, Fuse hands-free system for cell phones, 140-watt audio system and a rear seat armrest with two cup holders.
No doubt, the four-cylinder Outlander is lacking in power and, as a result, manages just a passable performance. However, it makes up for the deficit with generous cargo and passenger space (though the third-row 50/50 seat is quite tight), good fuel mileage (our mixed driving average was 28) and a price that’s competitive in the CUV market.
OUTLANDER SE
- Tires: 225/55R18
- Wheelbase: 105.1 inches
- Length: 183.3 inches
- Weight: 3,307 pounds
- Suspension: MacPherson strut front; multilink rear
- Steering: electric power
- Fuel capacity: 16.6 gallons
- City: 25 mpg
- Highway: 31 mpg
- Base price: $24,195
- Web site: www.mitsubishicars.com