The 2012 Honda Odyssey comes in five variants namely the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and the Touring Elite. All the variants come with ABS, traction control, keyless entry, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and i-MID infotainment display system, heated mirrors, and a slew of connectivity systems like USB and Bluetooth. The sad part is that the latter part of the options does not come with the base LX variant which only comes with cruise control, ABS/traction control, keyless entry and that’s all.

Moving up we have the EX-L variant which tops the EX variant with a tilting/sliding glass sunroof, front row heated seats and cushions, XM satellite radio, parking assist system, rearview camera, and leather seats which puts a sliver of luxury on the EX model. The Touring and the Touring Elite variants are the top-of-the-line variants for the minivan. The Touring comes with a lot of features like bigger wheels, satellite navigation, theater surround sound, etc just to name a few while the Touring Elite variant comes with a blind spot monitoring system, 650-watt surround sound system, an ultra-widescreen which can even be split in half to play two videos at the same time for the rear passengers.

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The Odyssey’s base LX variant lacks basic connectivity features while the top Touring Elite variant comes at around forty-five grand. This leaves the choice to the EX or the EX-L. Our recommendation would be the EX-L variant as it offers all the features necessary for a minivan but tops it off with a lot of creature comforts like heated seats, sunroof, rearview camera, which is necessary for a car of its size. This makes it the perfect choice in the lineup.

The 2012 Honda Odyssey comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 248 horsepower at 5700 RPM and 250 lb.-ft of torque at 4800 RPM. As standard, you get a 5-speed automatic transmission which can be upgraded to a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine packs a punch considering it is fitted in a minivan. It easily excels at handling as the Honda Odyssey is known for its nimbleness and the sedan-like feel that it brings. 

Due to its suspension setup and the fact that its new design resulted in a loss of a hundred pounds of weight compared to the last year, it certainly performs better in the handling department. The 2012 Honda Odyssey is the slowest when it comes to the 0-60 mph run with a time of 8.3 seconds. The specs make it not the most desirable in the performance department.

The Honda Odyssey has a slow quarter-mile time of 16.2 seconds which is comparable to the timing of the Nissan Quest at 16.2 seconds. But even the Quest beats the Odyssey with a quick 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.8 which is the fastest in the comparison. As mentioned above the Odyssey is a strong competitor to its rivals in terms of handling but lacks in the acceleration department with sub-par acceleration figures.

The 2012 Honda Odyssey’s gas mileage goes in its favor. It performs less than ideal when it comes to city mileage with 18 mpg, but the highway performance of the Odyssey is the best out of the four with a mileage of 27 mpg. The fuel tank capacity of the 2012 Odyssey is also a plus point; thanks to its large 21-gallon fuel tank. This comes to the minivan’s aid for its poor economy in the city. Overall, the fuel consumption and range are just what you would expect from a minivan.

When put head-to-head with its competitors, the Honda Odyssey performs very well in terms of overall fuel economy figures. The Odyssey outperforms all others when it comes to highway economy returning 27 mpg. The Honda also excels when it comes to the range with highway and combined range which are way ahead of the rest at 567 and 441 miles respectively.

The 2012 Odyssey really shines when it comes to interior quality and the overall cabin experience. It is loaded with enough features that make it stand out from the rest. All three rows have enough space and it can seat 7 people comfortably. The star performer is the rear seat legroom on offer which is far more than any of the competition. The third row can actually fit full-size adults and that too with comfort. The Odyssey also comes with five mounts for child seats which is a lot.

The 2012 Odyssey received a new configuration for the second row which calibrates it to accommodate two or three people accordingly by sliding outbound seats outward. All rear seats also have a folding mechanism which is done by just pulling a small tab on the top. This makes the experience easier than using a complex electric mechanism. You get leather upholstery, a power front passenger seat, heated front seats, and a chilled storage box in the EX-L variant while the top Touring trim adds memory settings for the driver and a fold-down armrest for third-row passengers.

Overall, the cabin of the 2012 Odyssey is a nice place to be in with lots of room and a decent trunk capacity of 38.4 cubic feet. The Odyssey outperforms many of its competitors in terms of the cabin experience and sits at a decent position in the minivan lineup. It offers the most spacious third row with 42.4-inches legroom. Standout interior features in the 2012 Honda Odyssey are:

• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Power front passenger seat
• Heated front seats
• Driver memory settings

How intuitive is the 2012 Honda Odyssey Minivan’s Infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the 2012 Odyssey packs the i-MID 8-inch touch screen display with features like Bluetooth connectivity, 2 Gb audio storage, and a USB port which makes it a connected system. All of the variants have the above except the base LX variant. 

The upper models come with a 650-watt sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio, theater surround sound, and satellite navigation control. The top variants also rock the extra-wide display for the rear passengers which can play two videos at the same time for separate content viewing. Standout infotainment features in the 2012 Honda Odyssey are:

• i-MID 8-inch touch screen display
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Premium 12-speaker surround-sound audio system
• 2 GB audio storage
• Satnav in upper variants

The 2012 Honda Odyssey Minivan has a body that is stereotypical of the minivan segment like the bulky body style with the main objective of moving people and kids. The exterior design is sculpted beautifully making it look less bulky than it is. It also aids the overall aerodynamics of the minivan making it sleeker. 

The fluid fenders, smaller windows all aid to make the minivan more car-like. The redesign which was made in 2011 brought along a big change in the overall looks of the Honda Odyssey and made it more appealing to new customers.

The Odyssey has a low ground clearance of 4.5 inches which is way lesser than its competition. The lower ground clearance also helps with handling giving the minivan better agility through different conditions. Chrysler has the largest wheelbase of the lot but still, Honda has the most spacious interior in the segment. Standout exterior features in the 2012 Honda Odyssey include:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Power-sliding side doors
• Heated outside mirrors
• Power liftgate
• Sunroof

The Honda Odyssey received a five-star rating from NHTSA and a “Good” rating from IIHS. The minivan also comes with traction control, stability control, an anti-lock braking system, front, and side airbags for all the rows. The upper variants come equipped with blind-spot monitoring systems and a rear-view camera. It also has six child seat latches which makes it a good choice for families. Overall, the Odyssey is a very safe vehicle. Standout safety features in the 2012 Honda Odyssey include:

• Traction Control
• Side curtain airbags
• Electronic Stability Control
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

The Honda Odyssey is pricey with the top variant going for around forty-five grand, but it justifies the same with a slew of features and comfort features that come with it. The car also has amazing handling for its size and style. The Odyssey stacks up well with the competition but only falls behind on the engine performance avenue. Overall it is a solid choice for anyone looking for a spacious and safe minivan, well-spaced, and has all that you want from a family van.