Showing posts with label Honda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honda. Show all posts
Friday, 30 November 2012
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
2011 Honda Odyssey - First Drive Review
When redesigning a vehicle that doesn’t need much improvement, engineers have extra time on their hands. Case in point: The Odyssey’s interior team spent some of theirs measuring 800 purses, ensuring that 80 percent of women’s (and some men’s) carryalls would fit in a new removable bin between the front seats.
 |
Before they could tackle the cabin, though, a little exterior shape shifting was required, just for the sake of freshness. The wheelbase is unchanged, but the van is almost an inch longer overall, more than two inches wider, and lower by about half an inch. Roof rails are no longer included from the factory, which helps reduce visual height even more. (Roof rails and crossbars are now available exclusively from the dealer; we were told that only a small percentage of previous-gen Odyssey buyers opted for the bars.) The sleek, updated design is dominated by a “lightning bolt” character line intended to make the Odyssey recognizable from afar while lowering the glass to improve the view for third-row passengers. That assumes they can be persuaded to avert their gaze from the newly available, 16.2-inch widescreen video display. Road-trip time-passing mainstays I Spy and Geography are all but officially obsolete.
 |
Bigger, Longer, Lighter
Although the van is larger overall, Honda managed to reduce weight through the use of more high-strength steel and by trimming poundage wherever possible. Mass is down by a claimed 50 to 100 pounds, depending on trim. Despite having less mass to stop, the brake discs are larger by almost an inch all around. The pedal is firmer, too, and offers more feedback compared with that of the already good 2010Odyssey.
Considerable chassis-stiffness improvements, as well as track increases, led to retuned front and rear independent suspensions that now use bypass-valve-equipped dampers to better soak up harsh impacts. The ride is as comfortable and poised as before, with body roll remaining minimal for a minivan. A new variable-displacement power-steering pump reduces effort slightly, but a bit of steering feel has been lost along with it; the average minivan buyer likely won’t mind, and the Odyssey remains the driver’s choice in the segment. (You may recall that the outgoing model won our most recent minivan comparo.)
Honda’s cylinder-deactivating, 3.5-liter V-6 is now standard across the lineup, with output up 4 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque, thanks to a two-stage intake and reduced internal and accessory losses. Apparently not content with offering a single powertrain for all Odysseys, Honda has introduced an additional forward gear ratio—for a total of six—for the Touring and new top-spec Touring Elite. The six-speed’s wider spread helps wring a bit more out of the engine and, along with some Touring-specific aerodynamic massagery, grants the models a 1-mpg advantage in EPA ratings over the five-speed-equipped LX and EX models. All 2011 Odysseys gain a pretty notable 2-to-4 mpg in EPA city and highway figures.
 |
Road Tripping to Ithaca
The interior, though, is where the magic happens in minivans. (Or is its necessity the result of magic already happening?) This interior, unlike those of previous Odysseys, has been designed by Americans for Americans. The dash layout is cleaner, simpler, and more symmetrical, and the gear selector has been moved down slightly. Thoughtful touches include the aforementioned removable center console—its deployable trash-bag ring provides a destination for empties from the 15 bottle and cup holders—and a cooling box at the base of the center stack.
The second row’s center seat is four inches wider and can be slid toward the front seats for more meaningful parent-child interaction. Folding the center section is less of a hassle, as this operation no longer requires the removal of the seat-bottom cushion, and there also are three cup holders in the seatback-as-armrest that result. Meanwhile, the outboard chairs can be repositioned doorward to initiate “wide mode,” allowing for three-across American adults or a trio of kid seats. (The Odyssey is the first minivan to offer as many as five LATCH positions for car seats.) Assuming no kiddie chairs are in the way, passage to the rearmost bench has been widened by an inch. An easier-to-operate Magic Seat mechanism makes stowing either side of the 60/40 split third row a one-yank operation.
 |
Seven Trims, No Waiting
Honda has adjusted the trim-level offerings for 2011 as well, killing the EX-L model with navigation and rear entertainment and adding the Touring Elite model at the top of the range. Base LX models ($28,580) do without the new front center console and instead pack a pair of floor-mounted cup holders; they also lack the second-row center seat and therefore seat only seven. Moving to the $31,730 EX brings the console and the eighth seat; it also features power sliding doors and power lumbar for the driver’s seat. The EX-L adds leather, the cooling box, a USB audio interface, and Bluetooth and costs $35,230. There’s still an EX-L with rear entertainment ($36,830) and one with navigation and a rearview camera ($37,230). But to know where you’re going while being able to entertain the kids in back, it’s necessary to move up to the $41,535 Touring model, which includes the six-speed transmission, parking sensors, a center armrest for the third row, and third-row sunshades. The top-spec Touring Elite—or what we like to think of as the Acura of minivans—adds a 12-speaker, 5.1-channel surround-sound system; the 16.2-inch widescreen rear monitor (it can display two inputs side by side); an HDMI input; HID headlights; and a blind-spot monitoring system—all for $44,030. As to availability, you’ll be able to buy the 2011 Odyssey of your dreams at the end of September.
Even with all the improvements, the stickers for carry-over trims stay close to 2010 levels, although the all-new Elite extends the price range upward. A full 100 percent of purse carriers should be happy with that.
2011 Honda Fit
The 2011 Honda Fit ranks 1 out of 33 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 35 published reviews and test drives of the Honda Fit, and our analysis of reliability and safety data. Please check back soon for our full review.
Offering one of the largest cargo holds in the class, innovative interior storage options, good fuel economy and spunky performance, the 2011 Honda Fit is a hard to turn down. And as the 2011 Best Hatchback for the Money, it's the also the best hatchback for your budget.
The 2011 Honda Fit is a press favorite and has received numerous accolades from the automotive industry. The Fit won our Best Hatchback for the Money Award in 2010 and 2011, Car and Driver recognized the Fit in its "10Best" list for the third year in a row and Consumer Guide named it a “2011 Best Buy.” With great fuel economy, zippy performance, comfortable front and back seats and one of the most utilitarian cargo holds in the class, this recognition is well deserved.
Of course, the Fit isn’t perfect. One of the most prominent reviewer complaints concerns the Fit’s buzzy engine. Other than that, the press is quite pleased. "The Fit is pretty near the top of my favorite-cars list,” says the Los Angeles Times. “It has the beauty of a certain well-wrought urn, exactly what it needs to be -- self-defined, lightly perfect."
Other Cars to Consider:
The Fit’s biggest drawback is its price. It starts at $15,100, which may be more than some shoppers want to pay. But don’t worry, there are other cars on the market that are appealing and more affordable. The Kia Soulis about $1,600 less and offers funky exterior styling and 53.4 cubic feet of trunk space. While the Soul’s price tag is attractive, its performance capabilities cannot compete with the Fit due to a weak engine and sub-par steering. However, if you’re looking for a car with ample trunk space that will get you to work and back again, the Soul may be the perfect fit.
The Fit’s price is average for hatchbacks. Other hatchbacks on the market include the Ford Fiesta hatchback, which starts at $15,120, just a 20 bucks more than the Honda Fit. The Fiesta’s shaking the automotive industry with high fuel economy ratings, stellar performance and uncommonly high build quality. You can’t go wrong if you buy this car. Kia is also introducing the Forte Five-door Hatchback. It’s due in 2011, but Kia hasn’t released pricing information or specs on its new addition to the Forte line. Reviewers love the Forte sedan, so it should be worth it to wait for the Forte Hatchback’s debut.
You can also save money by looking at used 2009 Fits and 2010 Fits still on dealer lots. It hasn’t changed much since its 2009 redesign, so if you shop around, you might save a few dollars. Take a peek at our Honda deals page to get started.
Details: 2011 Honda Fit
The Fit is available in three flavors: Base, Sport and Sport with Navigation. The base model starts at $15,100.
- "Fit's strongest selling points are its impressive passenger accommodations and large, versatile cargo space. Sport models add a touch of fun-to-drive appeal. While prices seem steep for a subcompact, this is one in name and exterior size only; it's really a small wagon that challenges some compact SUVs for room while getting significantly better fuel economy." -- Consumer Guide
- "For the small hatchback shopper, or even car enthusiast daydreamers who need something to get to work, Honda's Fit is the best pick out there." -- Edmunds
- "Although this entry-level hatchback is priced slightly higher than most of its competition, the Fit nevertheless offers an ample supply of features, versatility and, above all, that unbeatable Honda resale value." -- Kelley Blue Book
- “The new king of the hill is a subcompact car that has the utility of a minivan, the attitude of a sports coupe and the fuel economy of an automobile deemed socially acceptable in an era of high-priced gasoline.” -- Washington Post
Fit Performance - 8.4 (Very Good)
Despite engine noise, reviewers say the 2011 Honda Fit has a ton of spunk. "The Fit is more than just a practical box,” says Kansas City Star. “It is fun to drive." Read More
Fit Exterior - 7.3 (Good)
The 2011 Honda Fit is all about functionality, but many reviewers say Honda’s utilitarian priorities result in a geeky exterior. "Another car that is so ugly that it's cute,” says the Washington Post. “But it's design with a purpose, and form, in this case, greatly enhances function." Read More
Fit Interior - 8.8 (Very Good)
The 2011 Honda Fit has an impressive interior, and reviewers couldn’t be more ecstatic. The Washington Postagrees, saying the 2011 Fit is "[g]ifted with the interior space and versatility of a well-designed minivan." Read More
Fit Safety - 10.0 (Excellent)
Fit Reliability - 9.0 (Excellent)
The 2011 Honda Fit reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Honda gives the 2011 Honda Fit a basic bumper-to-bumper warranty for the first three years or 36,000 miles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)