Honda already makes one of the best-selling minivans – No. 2 last year – and none of its Odyssey's competitors has undergone any updates to speak of since it was fully redesigned for the 2011 model year. But Honda has nonetheless updated the van for the 2014 model year, unveiling the changes this week at the 2013 New York International Auto Show.
Drawing the most attention is a class-exclusive built-in vacuum cleaner that will be offered on the top-of-the-line model. The HondaVAC is located in a former storage cubby on the left side of the Odyssey's cargo hold, and with its extensions it can reach anywhere in the cabin.
The vacuum will be a boon for cleaning up messes quickly before they permanently damage the van's cabin – not only will owners not need to lug a vacuum to the garage or rely on a service station, but they can clean from anywhere. Honda representatives say the vacuum can even pick up small liquid spills, but caution that it's not designed for heavy-duty wet use. It's a feature that's so unexpected in an automobile, yet such an ideal fit for a minivan.
Visually, the 2014 Odyssey has changed little – there are tweaks to its front and rear ends, and new alloy wheels. Inside, it boasts a new touch-screen radio shared with the 2013 Accord midsize sedan and a proximity key with push button start.
On the safety front, the Odyssey also adds electronic monitors that warn drivers who don't seem to notice an impending accident or who drift from their lane, and a strengthened body structure promises enhanced protection from accidents that still occur. Honda promises a top score of Good in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's demanding new small-overlap offset frontal crash test, which is no easy feat.
Honda isn't saying how many of the new features will be widely available on the 2014 Odyssey, though, when it goes on sale this summer. Anything that remains exclusive to the line-topping Touring Elite model will be out of reach of most minivan buyers; the 2013 Touring Elite costs more than $44,000, compared to $28,675 for the base LX. Expect 2014 prices to be similar. But ideally, the new features -- both the vacuum and the safety technology -- will become widely available soon, both in the Odyssey and its competitors.
See also:
Photos of the 2014 Honda Odyssey
Full coverage of the 2013 New York Auto Show
Coverage of the 2012 New York Auto Show
Review: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
Comparison review: Minivans
Review: 2012 Honda CR-V EX-L
Review: 2010 Honda Crosstour EX-L
All Cars Examiner reviews
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