2007 Honda Odyssey EX-L
For less than $34,000, you can get one of the best minivans on the North American road. Honda makes some of the best vehicles for the most reasonable prices. Because of that history, Honda's share of the auto market has continued to grow at the expense of domestic manufacturers. The Odyssey is just one of the reasons for that growth.
The manufacturer calls the Odyssey their "Rolling Showcase." Long distance and carefree driving make for interesting companions. A recent trip of about 483 km helped me to understand what the benefits of those companions meant.
Something I enjoy in all Honda products is the simplicity and easy readability of the instrument panel. The clock, radio, and ac can be changed or adjusted quickly and are easy to read. All this, added with more storage space than a corral of pony express horses, helps me to feel a sense of mental order when driving the Odyssey. There is even a special place for sunglasses or the garage door remote control. Dual glove compartments add to the attitude of organization. Leather trimmed seating, tilt and telescopic steering column, plus conversation mirrors, and nine choices of exterior colors add more pleasing ingredients to your comfort zone.
Inside the Odyssey, passengers are in for a rare treat. Seating is not only luxurious, but highly configurable, with room for up to eight in the 2007 EX-L. You can create extra space between the two deep padded, full-size second-row seats. Grandson Luke was the first to explore the different seating arrangements, before deciding on the small middle seats that can also become a center tray in the second row of seats.
The Variable Cylinder Management System is the brain that directs the 3.5-Liter I-VTECT technology that quickly and seamlessly activates or deactivates the three rear cylinders, depending on the driver's demands. The V-6 engine with 244 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque give the Odyssey a brisk mode of highway passing or strong towing (1590 kg) capabilities.
The Odyssey has 80 liters of fuel capacity and gets up to 8.74 L/100 km on the highway. You also get great fuel economy with an Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle (ULEV-2) rating, and 160,000 km or more before the first tune-up.
Rear storage well, cargo area light, in-floor storage, power adjustable pedals and map light are just some of the more than three dozen extra amenities featured on the Odyssey EX-L. I got the DVD Entertainment Center and the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, which added a little more to the regular cost of the vehicle, for a total price tag around $33,300.
2007 Honda Ridgeline RTL
The Ridgeline is Honda's first pickup truck. In 2006, the Ridgeline earned the 2006 North American Truck of the Year award. The 2007 edition is even better. The Ridgeline carries a ½-ton payload. The bed is 126 cm x 152 cm with the tailgate up and 126 cm x 201 cm with the tailgate down. Swing the dual-action tailgate to the side for quick access to the huge lockable In-Bed Truck.
The tailgate can also fold down, and is designed to support 136 kg. while driving. The 1.5 meter-long, super-durable Steel-Reinforced cargo bed resists dents and corrosion, and is reinforced by high-strength steel crossmembers to handle a ½ ton payload. Cargo lights and tie-downs help make loading a breeze. The Ridgeline can haul up to 2268 kg since the integrated closed-box frame with unit-body construction helps to give extraordinary tensional rigidity for the truly heavy loads.
Under the Ridgeline's hood is the 247 horsepower engine with 245 lbs. ft. of torque. The strong V6 is mated to an equally advanced and thoroughly robust 5-speed automatic transmission.
The Ridgeline's 4WD allows all the off-road adventure you can handle. Sensors continually monitor traction at each wheel and send a stream of data to the VTM-4 ECU. The ECU then instantly distributes torque to all four wheels to help maintain traction. In certain driving conditions, the electromagnetic clutches in the rear differential provide extra help to get moving. And it can stay locked up to 29 km/hour.
The Ridgeline has five-star safety rating system by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in both front and side-impact tests. Ridgeline has a reinforced, rigid unit body innovative airbags, sophisticated stability systems. Other safety features are: roll sensors, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, vehicle stability assistance, side curtain airbags and anti-lock braking.
The interior of the RTL cab is beyond luxury, starting with the leather seats. The powerful audio system and Navigation System with voice recognition are most welcome. Dual zone climate control, heated front seats and moonroof add additional comfort.
The RTL gets 14.7 L/100 km in the city and 11.2 L/100 km on the highway. This is the only thing that I can see needs to be improved. Most Honda cars get excellent gas mileage, but the Ridgeline needs to get better. This luxury truck sells for about $35,000.
Durhl Caussey is an award-winning syndicated columnist based in Dallas, Texas and a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association. He can be reached at dcaussey@sbcglobal.net
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