The 2018 Honda Minivan, the Odyssey, arrived as a game-changer, setting new benchmarks for family vehicles. Building upon its legacy as America’s favorite minivan among individual car buyers for seven consecutive years, the redesigned Odyssey introduced a suite of innovative features and technologies aimed at enhancing every family journey. From its uniquely versatile Magic Slide™ second-row seats to advanced connectivity features like CabinWatch® and CabinTalk®, and the integration of Honda Sensing™ safety technologies, the 2018 Honda Odyssey was engineered to keep every passenger content, regardless of their seat or destination.
A Fresh Look: Sophisticated and Family-Focused Design
The 2018 Honda minivan embraced a sophisticated and contemporary design language, moving away from traditional minivan aesthetics. The exterior showcases Honda’s signature “flying wing” grille, flanked by available LED headlights, creating a bold and recognizable front fascia. The design also incorporates practical elements, such as the Active Shutter Grille that enhances fuel efficiency during cruising. The Odyssey’s distinctive lightning bolt beltline was refined, elegantly concealing the sliding door tracks within the rear quarter windows for a cleaner side profile. LED taillights and an optional hands-free power tailgate with foot activation added further modern touches to the rear.
Inside the 2018 Honda minivan, premium materials and thoughtful design prioritize both comfort and durability. A soft-touch instrument panel and a new 7-inch full-color TFT display in the driver’s meter cluster elevate the cabin’s ambiance. An available 8-inch high-resolution Display Audio touchscreen (standard on EX trims and above) serves as the central hub for vehicle controls and entertainment. Recognizing the realities of family life, higher trims feature stain-resistant leather on the first and second-row seats, door trim, and black carpeting and seatbelts designed to minimize visible stains. Even the center console received a family-friendly upgrade with a new grooveless tambour lid to prevent crumbs and debris accumulation.
Cutting-Edge Technology for Family Connectivity
The 2018 Honda minivan redefined in-vehicle connectivity, focusing on enhancing “family connectivity” in a digital age. While the quietest cabin in its class fostered traditional conversations, a suite of new connected-vehicle features took family interaction to the next level.
Display Audio and Enhanced User Experience
At the heart of the Odyssey’s tech advancements was the new Display Audio system. Featuring a Honda-developed operating system, this 8-inch high-resolution (720P) touchscreen offered more intuitive menus and customizable app tiles. It served as the command center for audio, telematics, and smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™. Honda listened to user feedback and reintroduced a physical volume knob for improved usability. The system also supported over-the-air updates via 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, or USB, ensuring the system remained current with the latest features.
CabinWatch® and CabinTalk®: Keeping Families Connected
Addressing the needs of parents managing a busy cabin, Honda introduced CabinWatch® and CabinTalk®. CabinWatch® utilizes a camera to display a live feed of second and third-row passengers on the 8-inch Display Audio screen, day or night. This allowed the driver and front passenger to discreetly monitor children or rear passengers without turning around. CabinTalk® further enhanced communication by enabling the driver to speak to second and third-row passengers through the rear speakers and rear entertainment system headphones, ensuring clear communication even in a full vehicle.
Rear Entertainment and CabinControl®: Entertainment on the Go
Long journeys became more enjoyable with the 2018 Honda minivan’s Connected Rear Entertainment System. Second and third-row passengers could stream video on the ceiling-mounted 10.2-inch WSVGA screen. Pre-installed apps like PBS Kids, iHeart Radio, and Spotify, along with the ability to stream via available in-vehicle 4G LTE Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi, or a user’s phone data, provided diverse entertainment options. A new “How Much Farther?” app even kept passengers informed about the trip’s progress. The CabinControl® app took passenger control a step further, allowing smartphone users to manage the rear entertainment, adjust rear cabin climate settings, and even send navigation destinations to the vehicle’s embedded Honda navigation system. Social Playlist, a feature within CabinControl®, acted as a virtual jukebox, allowing up to seven family members to contribute their music choices to a shared playlist via their smartphones.
Revolutionary Seating with Magic Slide™
The 2018 Honda minivan debuted the innovative Magic Slide™ second-row seats, a system designed to maximize passenger comfort, cargo versatility, and access to the third row. This system offered multiple configurations to adapt to various family needs.
Versatility and Comfort for Every Family
The Magic Slide™ seats were engineered to address common minivan challenges. They allowed for easy third-row access even with rear-facing child seats installed in the second row. The seats could be reconfigured for easier reach to children in the second row from the front seats, and they offered flexible spacing options to prevent sibling squabbles.
Easy Access and Multiple Configurations
The Magic Slide™ system provided several modes:
- Easy Access Mode: With the center seat removed, the outboard seats could slide laterally through five positions, creating a wide path to the third row, even with rear-facing car seats. Sliding a second-row seat closer to the front allowed for easy interaction with children.
- Super Mode: Similar to Easy Access Mode, but with the driver’s side second-row seat in a walk-in position (fully forward and tilted), maximizing third-row access.
- Wide Mode: With the center seat removed and outboard seats positioned outwards, creating a wide center aisle for third-row access and preventing passenger contact.
- Buddy Mode: Center seat removed and outboard seats pushed together in the center, placing two passengers close together and within easy reach of front occupants.
Uncompromising Safety with Honda Sensing™
Safety remained a top priority for the 2018 Honda minivan. Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies became standard on EX trims and above, expected to represent 95% of sales.
Advanced Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Honda Sensing™ included:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™): Helps to mitigate or avoid frontal collisions by providing automatic braking force if a potential collision is detected and the driver doesn’t react.
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS): Provides gentle steering assistance to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane.
- Road Departure Mitigation (RDM): Alerts and assists the driver if the vehicle is detected leaving the roadway, and can apply steering and braking to help prevent road departures.
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Allows the driver to set a desired speed and following interval, and automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle ahead.
These technologies, combined with the Odyssey’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and advanced airbags, including new driver and front passenger knee airbags, aimed for top safety ratings.
Targeting Top Safety Ratings
The 2018 Honda minivan targeted the highest safety accolades, aiming for an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score and an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating, reflecting Honda’s commitment to passenger safety.
Performance and Efficiency: Powertrain and Driving Dynamics
The 2018 Honda minivan delivered a refined driving experience with a focus on both performance and fuel efficiency.
Powerful and Efficient Engine
Powering the Odyssey was a 3.5-liter, direct-injected i-VTEC™ V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™). This engine produced 280 SAE net horsepower, a significant increase of 32 HP over the previous generation. VCM technology allowed the engine to operate on fewer cylinders under light loads, enhancing fuel economy.
Advanced Transmissions for Smooth Performance
The 2018 Honda minivan offered two advanced new transmissions. Lower trims featured a 9-speed automatic transmission, while upper trims received an all-new, Honda-developed 10-speed automatic transmission – a first for a minivan. These transmissions provided smoother, more responsive performance and contributed to improved fuel efficiency.
Improved Chassis and Handling
A new, more rigid and lightweight body, combined with chassis technology advancements, contributed to class-leading performance, fuel economy, and a remarkably quiet cabin. Vehicle weight was reduced by up to 96 pounds depending on trim, and torsional body rigidity increased by 44%. The chassis featured a new Dual-Pinion Electric Power Steering (EPS) for improved responsiveness and maneuverability, and a compact new trailing arm rear suspension that enhanced handling, ride comfort, and cargo space. Honda’s Intelligent Traction Management system added Normal and Snow modes, working with Agile Handling Assist and a more powerful braking system to improve all-weather traction and control.
Conclusion
The 2018 Honda minivan represented a significant leap forward for the segment, offering a compelling blend of innovative technology, family-friendly versatility, and refined performance. From its Magic Slide™ seats and advanced connectivity features to its comprehensive Honda Sensing™ safety suite and efficient powertrain, the 2018 Odyssey was meticulously designed to meet the evolving needs of modern families, solidifying its position as a leader in the minivan market and a top choice for discerning car buyers.
