So there you have it. Real world findings based on a road trip in a minivan that didn't involve hauling kids--how rare! The women really exposed another side of the plebian minivan, and in this case it was the 2008 Honda Odyssey that so efficiently and comfortable served their road-trip needs.

And now for the technical babble
The Odyssey is powered by Honda' s tried-and-true, 3.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC V6, which generates 241 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm and 242 pound-feet of torque @ 4,900 rpm.

Contributing to the desirable fuel economy cited by our weekend warriors was Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, which deactivates up to three cylinders when power demands permit. When equipped with this technology, the Odyssey is rated at 12.4 and 7.8 litres of regular fuel per 100K of city and highway driving respectively.

The hushed environment facilitating frank and earnest discussion was enhanced by Honda's Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology, which is standard on EX-L and Touring Editions.

The van is wonderfully quiet on the road, which is terribly important when six women are trying to have a single conversation!

All 2008 Odyssey models carry a full suite of airbags, including side-curtain inflatables for all three rows of seating. Assisting in the avoidance of a crash is Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist program (VSA) combined with traction control, again standard across the board of '08 Odysseys.

The "Odyssey" comes to an end
Regrettably all odysseys must eventually end, and so did this one but not before our Naramata-6 discovered the true virtues of Odyssey ownership. No longer do they view this conveyances as a life-limiting family wagon.

No, the Odyssey Touring Edition is also an escape capsule capable of transporting tremendous quantities of gear and purchases over many miles in magnificent comfort, with nary a child to be seen or heard. And how priceless is that?

"Pace myself?...I'm just getting started!!"
Just to clear-up any thought that our wine-tasting auto evaluators were irresponsible, the genus of the quote is a comment overheard by the group which arose from a less than loving couple bickering with each other over matters of consumption.


Photo Credit : Rob Rothwell, Honda