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Driving the Odyssey confirms that it is indeed worthy of being a member of our All-Stars team. This Honda has most anything you could want in a minivan -- a cleverly designed dash and a center console with lots of storage cubbies, a versatile layout with a third row that folds into a storage well in the floor (if only the second row folded the same way), an entertainment system with a 16.2" split screen, navigation, etc. Plus, the materials in the interior are all first-rate, and it's also very nice to drive. Despite its minivan proportions, it drives like a smaller vehicle, with no shakes or rattles and a well-tuned suspension that effectively minimizes the effects of the winter's increasingly pothole-marred roads. The Odyssey also gets 28 mpg on the highway (27 mpg if you opt for a lower trim level with the five-speed transmission), which could be a big selling point with gas prices edging their way up to $3.50 per gallon. The only thing I don't like about this vehicle is its styling. The odd kickdown on the side glass is jarring - the mismatched lines almost make it look as if a separate vehicle were welded onto the rear third of the minivan.
- Amy Skogstrom, Managing Editor