2003 Honda Odyssey EX-L Review

These pictures aren't of the actual vehicle, but the colors and trim level are correct.

Those of you who have been following this blog since its inception know that my parents have two cars: a 2006 Nissan Sentra and a 2005 Mazda MPV. Well, we recently swapped our dear little MPV for a 2003 Odyssey. 

The reason for that is, well, there isn't much reason. It's mostly to spice things up in our lives and have a different car for a change without spending any extra money. Our Odyssey came with every bell and whistle you could get in a minivan in 2003, including a factory-installed DVD entertainment system, leather seats, heated seats in the front, and dual power sliding doors. 

First impressions were a mixed bag. The engine was very smooth, quiet, and powerful, apparently typical of Hondas, but there was a rough patch between 1000 and 1500 RPM or so. You can't feel the road textures at all while driving the car, but it crashed loudly over larger bumps. Loud can also describe the road noise, as tire whine on the highway is deafening compared to modern cars. 

After living with it for a month, I've come to notice even more things. When cold, the otherwise seamless transmission bogs from second to third gear. The third-row seat is unbelievably heavy to lift up and put down compared to modern minivans, and the power-sliding doors' beeps are especially obnoxious if you don't leave the transmission in Park while the motors are working, which is a necessary safety feature, I assume. The textured rubber steering wheel, when worn, feels disgusting.

There are good things, though. The seats are very well-shaped, even in the third-row, and the van is pretty quick, even by modern minivan standards. The sound system is better than our previous Mazda, but not as clear as the Sentra's. Plus, the van is huge; there is just so much room in every direction. Finally, the car is super stable at high speeds. There's no floating around, no vibrations of any sorts, and it tracks straight. That's not something I can say for our Mazda.

In the end, I still wish we had gotten a Sienna. The ride is much softer, and it's quieter. As an added bonus, used Siennas are cheaper than Odysseys. However, with all its faults and pros, the Odyssey is still a likeable van.