Following a significant refresh for the entire lineup of Odyssey minivans in the 2008 model year, the 2009 Odyssey receives additional upgrades on the EX-L trim level with features previously exclusive to the Odyssey Touring. The Odyssey EX-L adds a power tailgate to its existing features, while its available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System gains Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard equipment.

"The Odyssey has earned a reputation for its spaciousness, versatility and a fun-to-drive feel," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "For 2009, we've expanded the application of Bluetooth and added a convenient power tailgate to the Odyssey EX-L."

Contributing to fuel efficiency, the 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine exclusive to the Odyssey EX-L and Touring models benefits from Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that provides the capability to seamlessly deactivate either two or three of the engine's six cylinders during cruising and deceleration. An "ECO" light near the speedometer provides driver feedback when the vehicle is operating at an optimal level of fuel efficiency.

Known for its industry trend-setting One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat®, the Odyssey's innovative eight-passenger seating areas (seven-passenger on LX) quickly and easily adapt between passenger and cargo duties.

The 3rd-Row Magic Seat can accommodate up to three passengers and still provide 38.4 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the seats, or fold completely flat into the floor for cargo duty to create 91.1 cubic feet of cargo volume while still maintaining room for five passengers (four passengers on LX). With the second row seats removed, total cargo volume expands to 147.4 cubic feet. Total interior volume measures 209.8 cubic feet for passenger and cargo volume combined. The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat™ integrates a storage bin inside the seat structure and is standard equipment on the Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring.

The Odyssey achieves the highest five-star crash safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for both frontal and side impacts¹ . The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Odyssey as a Top Safety Pick with "good" ratings for frontal offset, side impact and rear crash protection crash tests, while including electronic stability control as standard equipment. All Odyssey models are equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), also known as electronic stability control; standard anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist; advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS front airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Protection Detection System (OPDS); three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; active front seat head restraints; daytime running lights and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle. An Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure provides enhanced occupant protection in a frontal collision.

Designed with families in mind, a total of three Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat attachment systems exist: two are located in the outboard second-row seating positions and one is located in the middle third-row seating position.

Standard comfort and convenience features include dual-zone air conditioning (tri-zone automatic climate control on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), tilt and telescope steering wheel, power windows and door locks, keyless entry and cruise control.

Available premium features include leather-trimmed seating surfaces; the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™² with voice recognition, an 8-inch screen, and Zagat Survey®³ restaurant guide information; and a Honda DVD Entertainment System with a 9-inch screen.

A rearview camera aids rear visibility on the Odyssey EX-L equipped with the available navigation system. Odyssey EX-L models without the available navigation system provide a rearview camera display via a 2.5-inch monitor embedded in the rearview mirror.
The 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC VTEC® engine on the Odyssey LX and EX produces 244 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 240 lb-ft. of torque at 5000 rpm. The Odyssey LX and EX models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 16/23 mpg⁴ . A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment.

The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models feature a 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine with VCM for enhanced fuel efficiency. This engine produces 244 horsepower⁵ at 5700 rpm and 245 lb-ft. of torque at 4900 rpm. The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 17/25 mpg4.

The 2009 Odyssey features Honda's latest version of VCM that provides the capability to selectively deactivate either two or three of the engine's six cylinders during cruising and deceleration.

Vehicles equipped with VCM use both an audio system-based Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system and a chassis-based Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) system to cancel noise and vibration that can occur during cylinder deactivation.

An independent front and rear suspension and a rigid unit body structure help provide comfortable and refined handling performance. Additional chassis components include power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes and variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models have 16-inch wheels (alloy on EX and EX-L) with all-season 235/65R16 tires. Odyssey Touring models are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season 235/60R17 tires (standard); Michelin® PAX® System run-flat technology wheels and tires are available (460 mm wheels and 235-710R 460A tires).

¹Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact airbags (SABs).

² The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on EX-L and Touring models in the United States except Alaska. See your Honda dealer for details.

³Zagat Survey® is a registered trademark of Zagat Survey, LLC.

⁴ Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

⁵ Testing of production engines for horsepower and torque output of the i-VTEC V-6 on the Odyssey EX-L and Touring models has revealed that the average horsepower and torque produced by these engines is higher than originally estimated prior to the start of mass production. Though there have been no design changes to the engines to create more power, the horsepower and torque ratings for the specified 2009 models have been increased to reflect the actual output of the engines. Note: 2008 to 2009 hp @ RPM = 241@5700 to 244@5700. 2008 to 2009 lb-ft. @ RPM = 242@4900 to 245@4900