Who said Mini-Vans can’t be fun? Honda is here with the 2023 Odyssey Touring to change everything you think about them. We had quite a Test Drive with plenty of excitement including the 2023 Canadian Screen Awards, celebrating excellence in Canadian Television, Film and Digital realms, plus a luxurious and sustainable staycation at 1 Hotel in Toronto. This and some pretty big stars in the City and we were there, thanks to the Honda Odyssey Touring. Plus, the long-awaited racing season is back at Woodbine Racetrack! This is the first year the King’s Plate will run since 1951!
Empowered with a 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC® V6 engine and 280 @ 6000 horsepower, this isn’t just any Mini-Van. This eight-seater is equipped to handle any circumstance life throws at you – whether it be a daily commute for you and your loved ones, family travels or heavy hauls.
Despite utility being first, the 2023 Honda Odyssey Touring is incredibly sleek and sophisticated. It defies preconceived notions about the Mini-Van as you know it. For one, it gives you and your passengers a unwavering sense of security and comfort. Right away, we love a ride with Proximity Entry, making those heavy hauls a little easier to navigate before you even step into the driver’s seat. Know your little ones are protected with childproof locks at the back.
The Driver’s seat with 12-way power adjustment including 4-way power lumbar support and that level of care goes to the front passenger also who gets a seat with 8-way power adjustment including 4-way power lumbar support. Seats are ventilated with heating and cooling options. This is one of those features you could only appreciate in these extreme temperatures we get. Case in point, how about that July in April we had last week?
That being said, the Odyssey Touring being more spacious, does exert a bit of effort in cooling the space and our recommendation is to let it do its thing on “AUTO”. You do have the flexibility being in control of front and rear temperatures.
We admit it, we’re actually a little obsessed with those sliding passenger doors (with tinted windows and sunshades) and immense amount of cargo space in the back. It is everything and our passengers thought it was the coolest thing too!
The Odyssey Touring‘s entertainment system is stadium-quality. Navigated through a display audio system, you get 550-watt AM/FM audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 11 speakers including subwoofer, with an Advanced Rear Entertainment System with 10.2-inch, high-resolution WSVGA (1024×600) screen, Blu-ray™ player and embedded streaming media apps. Wireless charging and an array of USB charging options in front, second and get this, third row as well! It is also Bluetooth-ready for all your mobile device needs, and SiriusXM-ready too! We can’t remember life and drives without Hits 1!
Did you know Row Two passengers have their own screen to watch Blu-rays? You can basically live in the Odyssey Touring. There, I said it! All this, plus a scenic panoramic moonroof make for these picture perfect drives.
The Odyssey Touring runs on Regular fuel which we can all appreciate. While larger rides like this can consume more gas, its Fuel Economy of 12.2/8.5/10.6 (city/highway/combined) is very reasonable, enhanced further byhaving an ECON mode.
Let’s talk about Safety. The Odyssey Touring‘s rear-view Camera and sensors of oncoming traffic and obstacles – hyper-aware and you need it when you are driving something larger. In fact, if you are parked too closely to another care behind you – which happens, this is Toronto after all – the trunk won’t open altogether as a protective measure. Immobilizer theft-deterrent system is important at a time when car theft is on driver’s mind of late.
The Odyssey Touring is guided by intuitiveness, helping elimiate those things that can be out of sight, like its Blind Spot Information (BSI) system, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS).
Active Safety Measures include Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system (HS*), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system (HS*), Hill Start Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with tire fill assist, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control. Having experience a flat earlier this year, I can tell you the value of having all this at your ready.
Can we talk about Rear-Seat Reminder with Cabin-Watch? How cool was it see on our display overhead footage to ensure nothing gets left behind in row two? Iconic. I distinctly recall turning the engine off and on over and again just to see this work. Guilty.
Passive Safety features include Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, HondaLink™ Assist Automatic Emergency Response System, i-SRS airbag system (front), SmartVent™ side airbags, Front knee airbags, Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH).
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Though we don’t have kids of the human variety, we still can vouch for and appreciate its thoughtful design, immense value and the great comfort it brings our loved ones. And yes, it IS fun!
The 2023 Honda Odyssey Touring starts at $58,921 CAN. More here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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