Honda tinkers with Odyssey people-mover
BY MIKE COSTELLO | 13th Apr 2011
The entry level Odyssey, which gains A-pillar mounted Bluetooth connectivity and reverse parking sensors, retains its previous list price of $41,990.
The flagship Luxury variant receives a satellite navigation system with reversing camera, DVD player, integrated Bluetooth and USB connectivity and SUNA live traffic updates. The list price is now $49,490 – a $1500 increase over the 2010 model.
The SUNA telematics system – a product of Australian firm Intelematics – broadcasts live traffic data to in-car satellite-navigation devices, which can then re-route the driver to avoid roadworks, public events and even bad weather to reduce journey times.
Honda has also replaced the previous model’s wood grain interior panels with more modern silver metallic highlights and added a new dark blue colour called Premium Mystic Night.
The Odyssey is the second model in Honda’s local line-up to get an upgrade so far in April, with its volume-selling Jazz light-car also getting a makeover for 2011.
As GoAuto previously reported, Honda improved safety, added equipment and made subtle styling changes to its light-car, which is the Japanese manufacturer’s second-highest seller so far this year after the Civic small-car.
Honda sold 72 Odysseys in March, giving it a market-share of eight per cent, while year-to-date sales of 220 units are down 31.9 per cent on the same time last year.
Sales in the people-mover segment – which is led by the Kia Carnival and Hyundai iMAX – are down 17.8 per cent so far this year.
