Honda Odyssey Luxury

2.4-litre, five-speed auto
Five-door wagon
Price: $45,290

Best features

• Ergonomics
• Handling
• Braking 
• Smoothness and quietness

Odyssey didn’t have to venture from a successful formula to retain the crown this year, despite the arrival of expensive new opponents. It remains a terrific transport vehicle, and still plays the leading role in changing the public’s poor perception of people movers.

Its performance on cost means it is within reach of family finances, while its design also offers plenty of positive points.
For the second year in a row Odyssey’s car-like qualities build an on-road buffer which its rivals are unable to breach. Its handling, braking and noise suppression are top-shelf, with other admirable on-road attributes.

New vehicles, and the loss of Holden’s Zafira, rip a mark from its ride score, but even with seven adults onboard it dismisses road shock positively and copes well with bumps.

Performance from the 2.4-litre engine proves plentiful with a brood buckled in, while a smooth, sequential-shifting automatic offers a source of salvation if hills prove a hardship.

Space for seven within the sleek shape is a selling point, while a surplus of storage spots and an ability to alter the seating confi gurations is admirable. Also, its seats coddle, the ergonomics excel and build quality is bonzer.

Less impressive, and a constant criticism, are its child restraint anchor points. Although five points can be utilised, each affects the functionality of Odyssey in some way. The sooner they are sited near the back of each of the rear rows the better.

Honda is not alone in this shortfall. All three leading Japanese vehicles either don’t have anchor points for every seat or the use of mandatory top tethers fouls some key area of each wagon.

The Toyota Avensis is still a worthy alternative, and comes at a lower cost. It scores better on value and safety than its conqueror, but offers a touch less deftness in design. And although a polished performer, it finds itself short of finesse on the road.

Mitsubishi’s Grandis is the biggest beneficiary of changes to the class. It provides great value and peerless security measures, but falls behind its fellow contenders on driving layout, handling traits and nullifying noise.