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The Honda Odyssey might be the best minivan on the market. It’s certainly one of the most enjoyable to drive, and it lives up to Honda’s reputation for refinement, convenient features and great fit and finish. Its flexible seating system can accommodate up to eight passengers.

All Odyssey models are powered by a 244-horsepower V6 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission. Four trim levels make it affordable to a wider group of buyers, yet all deliver car-like ride and handling and a comprehensive set of safety features, including electronic stability control and side curtain airbags for head protection.

In its third year of production, the current generation Odyssey still seems fresh. The base LX starts at about $26,000 and includes most of the features that make family travel easier. The line-topping Touring has as many bells and whistles as a good luxury sedan.

Odyssey’s range of models has some drawbacks, to be sure. Certain desirable features such as the navigation system or fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management are included only on the higher-priced models and not available as stand-alone options. With the Odyssey Touring approaching $40,000 out the door, it’s out of reach for many buyers.

New for 2007: Honda’s Tire Pressure Monitoring System is now standard on all Odyssey models. The system reports a significant drop in tire pressure with a warning indicator in the instruments and identifies the specific tire. Improvements for 2007 include a telescoping steering wheel and a more convenient coin holder. Otherwise, the Odyssey lineup carries over to 2007 unchanged.

Line Up

The 2007 Honda Odyssey lineup includes four models, each with its own character. All are powered by a 244-hp 3.5-liter V6 with variable valve timing and equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission.

The LX ($25,645) comes with manual sliding doors, manual seat controls and manual air conditioning with an air-filtration system. Power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, and 60/40 split fold-down rear seats come standard.

The EX ($28,695) adds power sliding doors, tri-zone climate control, a storable second-row PlusOne seat, in-dash CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, power driver seat controls, alloy wheels and other features.

The EX-L ($31,095) adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and the iVTEC engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), which improves fuel economy by de-activating three engine cylinders under certain conditions. The EX-L is available with the DVD rear-seat entertainment system ($32,695), and the navigation system with rearview camera can be added to that ($34,895).

The Touring ($36,895) is what Honda’s Acura luxury division would sell if it sold a minivan. It has a slightly stiffer suspension for improved handling and Michelin PAX run-flat tires. It also gets a 350-watt AM/FM/CD6 audio system with seven speakers and a subwoofer, rear Park Assist, power tailgate, eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar and memory, power-adjustable pedals, second-row bucket seats, removable second-row console, 17 cupholders, compass and outside temperature display, fog lights, auto-dimming mirror, and the DVD rear-seat entertainment system. The Touring comes with the iVTEC engine with VCM. The navigation system is extra ($39,095).

Safety equipment that comes standard on all models includes dual-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, curtain-style head protection airbags for all three rows of seats, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes.

Walkaround

The Honda Odyssey cuts a curvy profile, and its front end looks similar to the Accord sedan. Large headlights flank its big grille. The hood is sculpted with curves that lead naturally back to the windshield and emphasize the big fender flares. Honda has not hidden the sliding door channels at the base of the window but left them partially obscured by a crease that runs the length of the vehicle.

All models come with two sliding doors, manually operated on the LX and electrically operated on all other models. The power windows in each of the side doors can be opened in the same fashion as in a car. The tailgate is electrically operated in the top-of-the-line Touring. The power doors seemed a bit reluctant to operate at times, and less responsive to key fob commands than the sliding doors on the Toyota Sienna.

The Odyssey boasts Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. The vehicle’s crush zones have been engineered to provide good protection for occupants while minimizing damage in a collision with smaller vehicles and pedestrians. Its body structure is rigid, which contributes to crisp handling and a smooth ride. A low drag coefficient helps improve fuel economy and high-speed stability.

Interior

Inside, the Odyssey is both comfortable and convenient. It feels downright luxurious when ordered with leather trim. The soft materials look good and the metallic-colored trim that runs across the center of the dash is attractive.

New for 2007: The Honda Odyssey is now equipped with a steering wheel that telescopes in addition to tilting. The telescoping wheel adds a welcome element of flexibility in creating a comfortable driving position. There’s also a new center pocket coin holder.

The driver’s seat is designed to hold the driver firmly and is positioned in a car-like setting. Power-adjustable pedals are available in the Touring model. The shift lever is mounted on the dashboard, and while it looks odd at first, it’s easier to use than a column-mounted shifter. A handy drink tray is provided between the front seats, but there’s no center console. Two glove boxes are provided, which are more awkward for storage than one big one.

The second-row bucket seats are roomy and comfortable.

The third-row seat splits 60/40 and folds easily into the well provided for it, and the headrests do not need to be removed before folding.

A useful storage area is hidden under the middle of the floor, accessible from both the front and middle-row seats. Originally designed to house the spare tire, Honda engineers moved the spare tire to a location in the rear. Instead of removing the round space under the floor where the spare used to reside, they’ve turned it into a hidden storage compartment with a rotating compartmentalized bin, like a Lazy Susan. A small panel in the floor between the two front seats lets front passengers access the bin while and another panel is provided in front of the second-row seats. Front and middle-row passengers can turn the Lazy Susan and access whatever is stored inside.

There’s room for eight people with the optional PlusOne seat that fits between the two captain’s chairs in the second row. If it’s not needed as a seat it can be turned into a table or stowed in the floor in place of the Lazy Susan bin. If the PlusOne seat is not being used, the right-hand seat can be slid across to allow easier access to the third-row seats. This flexibility makes the Odyssey a versatile people hauler, and with the seats folded (a fairly easy task) there’s more cargo space than in most SUVs.

The optional navigation system is one of the easiest to operate using its on-screen menus and includes Zagat restaurant data. The large eight-inch monitor is positioned high on the dashboard for easy viewing. The system also responds to voice commands, and we found it responds effectively. It’s capable of responding to 637 different voice commands and is smart enough to understand different accents and find locations without any need for input other than by voice. Apart from navigation, the system can be used to operate the radio and climate controls. The rearview camera makes parallel parking easier and also functions as a safety feature: By displaying what’s behind the car on the navigation screen, it can show the driver unseen hazards such as a small child possibly preventing a tragic accident. We find rearview cameras very useful in crowded shopping center parking lots where people are walking behind the car after we’ve shifted into Reverse.

The available DVD entertainment system features a large nine-inch widescreen display that folds out of the ceiling for viewing by second-row passengers. The wireless headsets turn on and off automatically as the ear pads are rotated.

The Honda Element was created to be the ultimate in utilitarian chic, and this year it got a little chic-er. The mainstream models that dog lovers and surfers love remain, but the introduction of the chic new Element SC turns this versatile box on wheels into a lowered, carpeted, monochromatic urban cruiser.

As with the other models, the 2007 Honda Element SC can in minutes change roles from a four-seat people mover to a surprisingly big cargo hauler. Likewise, it delivers sedan-style driving dynamics and good fuel economy, at least by SUV standards. However, the SC is not a muddy boot, hose-it-out kind of vehicle, and it’s dropped any pretense of all-terrain capability. Clearly, the Element has evolved.

Launched as a 2003 model, the Honda Element was originally aimed at young adventurers who need to haul wet or messy gear within the security of an enclosed cargo area. Its durable, quick-clean interior was a big part of its charm, rather than a strippo-model drawback. Low step-in height made loading mountain bikes or surfboards or big dogs easy, and vinyl flooring made it extra dog-friendly. Dark vinyl fenders and heavy cladding made stone chips or brush scrapes a non-issue. But young surfer boys weren’t the only ones attracted to the utility and cuteness of the Honda Element. Other folks saw the benefits of roomy box that got good gas mileage and was easy to park.

The utility benefits mentioned above still apply to the 2007 Element LX, an unadorned base model. And to a considerable extent those benefits still apply to the high-trim EX. Starting with the 2006 models, however, the EX models began rolling out of the factory with painted fenders and cladding, though the bumpers and roof trim remained basic dark vinyl.

Now comes the Element SC, the first model with a fully painted exterior and cloth upholstery. Its suspension is lower and stiffer for improved handling, and it has big 18-inch wheels.

All 2007 models benefit from a major infusion of safety features, including curtain-style head protection airbags for front and rear passengers and Vehicle Stability Assist for improved driver control, making them the benchmark for small utility vehicles. With these upgrades, Honda completes its Safety First marketing initiative, which it claims gives all its vehicles luxury-grade safety features.

A new five-speed automatic transmission for 2007 and a slight increase in horsepower improves throttle response. Despite its utilitarian roots, the Element has always driven more like a car than a truck. Think of a base Honda Civic sedan with softer springs and a higher driving position and you won’t be far off. The Element is a fine little automotive appliance. Dressed up as the SC model, it has a little more style.

Line Up

The Honda Element is available in three models. All come with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission ($800). All come standard with front-wheel drive, but the LX and EX models are available with all-wheel drive.

The LX ($18,900) and LX 4WD ($20,300) come with air conditioning with micron filtration, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, cruise control, an adjustable steering column and a four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo. This is the only Element that still sports the unique gray vinyl fenders and lower body cladding. For 2007, the LX comes standard with remote keyless entry.

The EX ($20,910) and EX 4WD ($22,310) add aluminum wheels, a passenger-side armrest and a 270-watt, seven speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with subwoofer, XM Satellite Radio hardware and redundant controls on the steering wheel. EX models have fenders and cladding painted to match the rest of the body.

The SC ($22,695) is equipped comparably with the Element EX model, including the upgrade 270-watt stereo.

Safety features include curtain-style head protection airbags for front and rear passengers with rollover sensors, as well as Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist anti-skid electronics and a tire pressure monitoring system. That’s in addition to side-impact airbags for front-seat passengers for torso protection and the mandated dual front airbags with dual-stage deployment. Also standard are LATCH child-seat anchors, three-point seat belts for all seats with automatic tensioners on the front seats. Be sure and wear your seat belts because they’re your first line of defense in an accident. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist come standard

Honda’s strong-selling midsize Accord sedan underwent a massive redesign for 2003 that included more-powerful engines. A five-speed automatic transmission replaced the former four-speed unit, and a V-6-powered coupe with a six-speed manual gearbox joined the lineup.

For 2007, Honda introduces a V-6 Special Edition trim level that includes 17-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, steering wheel audio controls, a six-disc CD changer and an alarm system.

Sedans come in LX and upscale EX trim levels, along with LX V-6 and EX V-6 versions and an LX Special Edition. LX and EX coupes are offered with four-cylinder or V-6 power.

An Accord Hybrid with a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain went on sale late in 2004 as a 2005 model.

When the original Honda CR-V debuted in the late ’90s, its mission was simple: to offer a distinct alternative to more mainstream mid- and full-size large SUVs. With its car-based design, four-cylinder engine and sedan-like ride and handling, the CR-V was an instant hit. Priced competitively and offering plenty of passenger room and cargo capacity for most people’s needs, the Honda CR-V enjoyed incredibly strong sales numbers and much loyalty from consumers.

Today, the compact- or small-SUV segment has grown to include more than a dozen different models, with varying philosophies of what constitutes the perfect blend of size, power and capability. While some compacts offer larger V6 engines and others can deliver true off-road capability, the current Honda CR-V remains focused on its carlike aspirations. True enough, it is one of the best choices available in the all-important areas of on-road drivability and practicality. » Read more after the jump →