Honda Odyssey (international)
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan manufactured by Japanese automaker Honda since 1994, marketed in most of the world and now in its fifth generation in Japan.
The Odyssey had originally been conceived and engineered in Japan, in the wake of country's economic crisis of the 1990s – which in turn imposed severe constraints on the vehicle's size and overall concept, dictating the minivan's manufacture in an existing facility with minimal modification. The result was a smaller minivan, in the compact MPV class, that was well received in the Japanese domestic market and less well received in North America. The first generation Odyssey was marketed in Europe as the Honda Shuttle.
Subsequent generations diverged to reflect market variations, and Honda built a plant in Lincoln, Alabama, incorporating the ability to manufacture larger models. Since model year 1999, Honda has marketed a larger Odyssey in North America and a smaller Odyssey in Japan and other markets. Honda also offered the larger North American Odyssey in Japan as the Honda LaGreat between 1999 and 2004.
First generation (RA1-RA5; 1994)
The Honda Odyssey was a raised wagon from Honda and was launched in Japan and North America in 1994. It was offered with an optional 4WD, and from 1997 a 3.0L V6 J30A engine with the RA5 chassis. L and Aero models were equipped with a sunroof. All the JDM Odysseys had the double-air conditioning system, separate for the front and rear seaters. Since the first generation all the models have been six or seven seater versions.In 1995, it won the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference Car of the Year award in Japan.
In Japan, the Odyssey competed with Toyota Gaia, Toyota Ipsum and the Nissan Bassara.
Second generation (RA6-RA9; 1999)
In late 1999, a new, larger second generation Odyssey appeared in Japan and Australia and in a left-hand drive format for China. However, this new Odyssey was a major upgrade of the first generation Odyssey rather than a completely new model. As a result, its overall shape and appearance were similar to the first generation Odyssey. Still, it was longer and wider than the previous model. While base models had slightly smaller dimensions and a smaller 2.3L engine, models with more options as well those with the 3.0L V6 engine featured slightly larger bumpers and chrome inserts, larger grille as well as a unique chrome number plate surround.The base model continued to be sold with a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine F23A in RA6 & RA7 models. The 3.0-liter J30A VTEC V6 engine from the first generation, producing now 210 hp was available with RA8 and RA9 Prestige luxury and Absolute sport models. The 2000 Odyssey was the first Honda to receive a five-speed automatic transmission. All the second generation gearboxes also featured another first—a tiptronic-like manual mode, known as "Honda S-matic", in which a gearbox remains to be a classic Honda's hydro-automat, but the driver is able to manage the shifting moment with the selector's "+" and "-" positions. The interior was completely new. The old automatic column shifter was moved to the centre console. A new touchscreen-based digital climate control system replaced the old manual controls, which worked in conjunction with Honda's new navigation system. Woodgrain trim was standard on all models, while in VG/VZ V6 models leather and velour seat and door materials were standard over the basic cloth trims. The interior configuration was also changed, and the spare wheel was moved to a new position beneath the third row. With L and Absolute versions, an additional third-row heater was added. The sunroof was no longer available respectively.
In 2002, the Odyssey was given a mild restyle. It received new, larger Honda emblems for the front and rear, clear-lens tail lights, and a larger front grille with four chrome strips instead of three as well as new alloy wheel design options.
In the Australian market, the new Odyssey proved more popular than its predecessor, at least initially. However, in 2002, sales hit an all-time low, and in 2003, sales of only 649 units were almost one-third of the total in 2000.
Third generation (RB1/2; 2003)
The third generation Japanese-built Odyssey was the first full redesign of the Odyssey since its introduction in 1994. Going on sale in Japan in October 2003, and in Australia and many other countries from early 2004, it continued with a 5-door body style, with a much sleeker, lower, and more car-like appearance. For the first time cruise-control appeared on the JDM Odyssey. The 4WD version has received the new DPS system. The seat folding mechanism was changed again. The height of the new Odyssey was lower than ever – designed with multi-level parking in mind, particularly for Japan. The new Odyssey came with the Honda K24A i-VTEC engine, a 2.4 L unit producing ; this was the same engine used in the CR-V and Accord. A 4WD version came only with an automatic transmission, while the 2WD version came only with a continuously variable transmission, except Absolute, JDB S/B model as well as export models. The V6 engine was dropped completely. Instead, a variant of the K24A engine was adopted for the sporty Absolute version, which was only equipped with an automatic transmission – both the 2WD & 4WD variants. Moreover, this new engine had the same fuel consumption as the old 2.2 engine. All this resulted in the new Odyssey becoming a sales success. In Australia, the Odyssey achieved its best-ever sales year in 2005, and outsold the Toyota Tarago for the first time.Fourth generation (RB3/4; 2008)
Sales of the fourth generation Odyssey in the Japanese market began on 17 October 2008. The engine and transmission has fundamentally remained the same as the third generation, adding more power and better fuel economy. It is equipped with a 2.4-litre engine and CVT with a torque converter for the FWD, and 5-speed automatic transmission for 4WD and high-output 206 hp Absolute trim. Two engines are offered in Japan: one with 173 PS output and the other one with 206 PS output in Absolute trim.In many markets outside Japan like Australia and Indonesia, the Odyssey is also equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
In Australia, the Odyssey was the best-selling people mover among private buyers.
Fifth generation (RC; 2013)
The fifth generation Odyssey for the international market was launched on 26 September 2013, and went on sale in October 2013. The rear hinged side doors were changed to dual power sliding doors, much like most other minivans by Japanese automakers today. It's now bigger than its predecessors and for seven-seater variants, premium cradle seats with ottomans are offered on the second row. The new model is available in either seven-seater or eight-seater. It's powered by Honda's newly developed 2.4L i-VTEC Earth Dreams engine which produces and. Direct-injection is added in the range-topping Absolute variant which increases output to and. The 2.4L Earth Dreams engine provides class-leading fuel economy of as calculated from Japan's JC08 mode test cycle.In Japan and some Asian markets, the fifth generation Odyssey replaced the large MPV Honda Elysion which ceased production in 2013 for JDM and some Asian markets but continues to be sold in China. This current model also replaced the Elysion to compete against Toyota Alphard and Nissan Elgrand in the full-size luxury MPV category.
The Odyssey Hybrid was launched in Japan on 4 February 2016. Honda has given the Sport Hybrid i-MMD name to the new hybrid system. Improvements to the new hybrid system include reduction of the size and weight of key components such as the battery and power control unit from the existing two-motor hybrid system used in the Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-in Hybrid that were introduced in 2013. The power control unit is 23 percent smaller and 27 percent lighter than the one in the Accord Hybrid. The Odyssey Hybrid went on sale in Japan on 5 February 2016, but is unlikely to be exported to the US as the US-market Odyssey utilizes a larger platform than the Japanese market Odyssey.
In Saudi Arabia, the JDM Odyssey was introduced in 2015 as Honda Odyssey J, while Odyssey continues with its original name.
The fifth generation Odyssey is also a basis for the second generation Honda Elysion for the Chinese market, but with a different front mask, and adopts a design resembling the Honda Legend. The Odyssey-based Elysion was launched in China on 9 January 2016.
On 16 November 2017, the fifth generation Odyssey was given a facelift and refreshed with a range of driver’s assistances featuring adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking system, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation system, lane keeping assist system, rear cross traffic monitor and blind spot monitoring system in the top of the range model. It also has a new front mask, an improved NVH and a plusher captain's chair in the second row.
A facelift of the fifth generation Honda Odyssey was introduced in the Chinese market in July 2018, updating the front end with a redesigned front bumper.