The most fuel efficient minivan is the Honda Odyssey.

The Honda Odyssey is considered by some critics to be the best minivan on the market. Its closest competitor is the Toyota Sienna with the Chrysler Town & Country offering good competition too. Still, this minivan gets high marks for its quality, its generous list of amenities, its fuel efficient V-6 engine and its top safety ratings. Priced from $28,225, the 2012 Honda Odyssey offers one of the highest base price points on the market.

In Style

Take the atypical minivan frame and add some pizzazz to it and you get the 2012 Honda Odyssey. This vehicle offers several significant design characteristics including large halogen headlamps with projector beam lenses, a sloping creased hood, an aerodynamic profile and styled rocker panels. Large, wrapped tail lamps, a rear spoiler and optional color-keyed side mirrors are other notable features.

The Honda Odyssey is outfitted with 17-inch steel or alloy wheels. Optionally, 18-inch alloy wheels are sold with the top of the line Touring and Touring Elite editions.

Engine & Transmission

A 3.5-liter V-6 engine making 248 horsepower is the lone engine offered with the 2012 Honda Odyssey. This engine is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission in all models except in the Touring and Touring Elite where a 6-speed automatic transmission is standard. The 6-speed helps the Odyssey achieve best in class fuel economy, with its 28 mpg highway rating, a number that even beats the Toyota Sienna’s four cylinder engine. This model runs on regular grade gasoline.

Luxurious Interior

Standard seating for seven can be extended to accommodate eight people. The Odyssey’s cabin is expansive, bright and dominated by premium features including premium cloth or optional leather seats. An 8-way power driver’s seat with height adjuster is standard in the base LX, with lumbar support and a 4-way power passenger seat available in upper trim level editions.

Plenty of cup holders are found throughout the cabin with the second row 8-passenger configuration offering a middle seat that folds down and reveals three cupholders. An overhead storage compartment, a center stack storage compartment with utility tray, and an available removable front center console with storage and flip-up trash-bag ring are among the compartments found in the Honda Odyssey. Available in all models except for the LX is a cool box, a special storage compartment that is designed to keep drinks and snacks chilled while you drive. This unit can hold up to six 12-ounce cans or up to four 20-ounce bottles.

All Odyssey models come equipped with cruise control; a tilt and telescoping steering wheel; dual illuminating vanity visors; map lights; power controls for windows, door locks and side mirrors; front and rear air conditioning; front and rear 12-volt power outlets; front and rear reading lights; front and rear floor mats; and a clock.

The standard audio package is comprised of a 229-Watt AM/FM/CD audio system with 5 speakers including a subwoofer. Choose the Touring Elite edition and you get a 650-Watt AM/FM/CD premium audio system with 12 speakers including a Subwoofer and 5.1 surround sound theater mode. Top of the line models offer a Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System with an 8-inch screen.

Bluetooth technology; a rear view camera and a blind spot information system are among the many technological features that are included or available with an upgrade.

Safety Features

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the 2012 Honda Odyssey with its “Top Safety Pick” award. This award recognizes the Odyssey for its top ratings in four crash test areas: frontal offset, side impact, rollover and rear collision.

The Odyssey comes equipped with front and front-side airbags and a side curtain airbag system. This minivan comes equipped with child safety locks, front row active head restraints and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Odyssey offers 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control and stability control.

Photo: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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