🚗 Honda Odyssey: A History of Evolution Named After a Greek Epic Honda Magazine | Japanese Car Enthusiast Magazine | October 1, 2024
🚗 【Series Feature】Honda Odyssey: A History of Evolution Named After a Greek Epic
Honda Magazine | Japanese Car Enthusiast Magazine | October 1, 2024
🌟 Hello, my friend...
Welcome to
a hidden gem—OLD FISHER DISCOUNT, your one-stop online shop with 7,000+ unique finds waiting for you. 🎉
🛒 Explore a World of Discoveries
Dive into our collection and uncover special treasures that will delight and inspire.
🔗 Start Your Journey Here: www.fisherdiscount.com
Come and see why we’re more than just a shop; we’re a place of endless possibilities! ✨
🔰 Introduction: The Honda Odyssey, originally the third in Honda’s minivan lineup after the U.S.-spec Odyssey and the Elysion, rose to second place when the Elysion was repositioned to the same class as the Odyssey. This change placed the Odyssey ahead of the StepWGN and Freed, making it a key seven-seater in Honda’s lineup.
The Odyssey name comes from one of the two most significant epics of ancient Greece, written in Greek as Ὀδύσσεια (Odýsseia), translated as The Odyssey in Chinese. This epic, a continuation of The Iliad, was also authored by Homer, and together they are considered foundational works of Western literature. Why Honda chose such an epic name for a vehicle is open to interpretation.
🚘 Development Background
The Odyssey is a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) built on the Accord platform. However, its concept of multipurpose differs from conventional vans, focusing more on passenger transport with a lower floor to facilitate entry and exit from the middle and rear rows. The five-door hatchback, wagon-like design maximizes interior space. Due to the existence of a rival model called “MPV,” Honda chose the globally recognized term “minivan” instead of using the abbreviation MPV.
In many countries, minivans are classified by internal volume rather than seat count, encompassing five-, six-, seven-, and eight-seater models.
🏁 First Generation Odyssey (1994)
The first generation of the Odyssey was launched in 1994, coinciding with a period of economic challenges in Japan following the Plaza Accord, which caused the yen to appreciate significantly, reducing export competitiveness. The bursting of the real estate and stock market bubble further impacted consumer purchasing power, leading to difficulties for car manufacturers who relied heavily on exports. In the auto market, SUVs had not yet gained popularity in the 1990s, and sales of traditional sedans and sports cars were declining. Under this environment, Honda adopted a "product line expansion" strategy, utilizing the existing Accord platform to create the Odyssey under the concept of “lifestyle creation vehicle.” This new vehicle quickly became a “core model” for the brand, a concept shared by many automakers (e.g., Mercedes-Benz's C/E/S-Class). For Honda, the core models included the Fit, Civic, Accord, and Odyssey.
🔧 Engine and Features:
The first Odyssey was powered by an F22B engine, featuring a non-VTEC SOHC system that produced 135 horsepower, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Despite these modest specifications, the first-generation Odyssey was a hit in Japan, winning the 1994 Japanese Car of the Year award, a testament to its acceptance by both the public and the media.
🔹 International Market Performance:
In the U.S., the Odyssey did not fare as well due to its small size and low power (130 HP with the F22B engine). The European market, where it was rebranded as the Shuttle, also saw average results. However, the model found popularity in East and Southeast Asia, including China, where the first-generation Odyssey became a common sight, both as an imported model and under different branding. This set the stage for the second-generation Odyssey to be produced locally by Guangzhou Honda.
✨ Special Features:
The early RA1 model was unique for lacking a tachometer and featured a flat "Typhoon" dashboard, creating a level floor.
🔹 Seating Variants:
Available in six-, seven-, and eight-seat configurations in Japan.
🛠 Engine Updates:
In August 1997, a facelift introduced the F23A engine with SOHC VTEC, increasing output to 150 horsepower and improving fuel efficiency. A mid-cycle update in 1997 for the U.S. market brought the J30A V6 engine, producing 200 horsepower under the model name Odyssey Prestige, with the chassis code RA5.
✨ Market Adaptation:
The RA5 featured leather interiors and more power, appealing to higher-end consumers.
🚙 Second Generation Odyssey (1999)
The second generation debuted at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, maintaining the five-door configuration but with a slightly reduced height for improved aerodynamics. This generation did not target the North American market as it developed its own independent model (RL1), later re-imported to Japan as the Lagreat. The second generation retained the F23A (RA6/7) and J30A (RA8/9) engines with upgraded transmissions (4AT for F23A, 5AT for J30A). The J30A’s output increased to 210 horsepower.
🔧 Production in China:
The RA6, using the F23A engine and front-wheel drive, was produced locally by Guangzhou Honda and shared a platform with the Accord CG. These models are still visible on the streets, demonstrating their reliability.
✨ Performance Model:
The Absolute version, introduced during the second generation, featured 17-inch wheels and sportier suspension, enhancing handling and aesthetics.
🏎 Third Generation Odyssey (2003)
Launched in October 2003, this generation represented a significant redesign. Unlike its predecessors, which were mainly updates, the third generation followed a European MPV approach, lowering the body height (from 1630mm to 1550mm) to improve handling. Despite the lower roofline, the model maintained seven-passenger capacity, with the third-row seats benefiting from a dual-wishbone suspension for comfort. The K24A engine replaced the F23A, paired with a CVT for FWD (RB1) or a 5AT for AWD (RB2).
🔹 High-Performance Absolute Version:
The K24A engine in the Absolute version featured i-VTEC for both intake and exhaust, producing 200 HP (FF) and 190 HP (4WD). This generation solidified the Odyssey’s reputation in Asia, particularly in China, as a leading family minivan.
🚐 Fourth Generation Odyssey (2008)
Released in October 2008, the fourth generation (RB3 for FWD, RB4 for AWD) was essentially a facelift of the third generation with minor changes. The K24A engine remained but was rated at 180 HP for standard models and 210 HP for the Absolute variant.
🚗 Fifth Generation Odyssey (2013)
The fifth generation, introduced in September 2013 (chassis code RC1), marked a significant departure with a design influenced by the first-generation Elysion. The new K24W engine produced slightly more power (186 HP) but retained an i-VTEC system only on the intake side. A hybrid model featuring the LFB11 engine was added in 2016 in Japan and 2018 in China, using a 2.0L engine and an electric motor for a combined output of 184 HP and 315 Nm of torque.
✨ Summary: Since its launch in 1994, the Odyssey has developed through five generations, with a mid-cycle update for the fifth. The potential merging of the Japanese and U.S. models, especially with the introduction of the K20C turbo engine, is a topic of debate. Regardless, the Odyssey’s success as a family vehicle, characterized by a high “residential presence” and strong resale value, remains clear. While it may not outsell its “American rival” in China, its reputation as a reliable family car and a global model sets it apart.
Honda Magazine | Japanese Car Enthusiast Magazine | October 1, 2024
🌟 Hello, my friend...
Welcome to
a hidden gem—OLD FISHER DISCOUNT, your one-stop online shop with 7,000+ unique finds waiting for you. 🎉🛒 Explore a World of Discoveries
Dive into our collection and uncover special treasures that will delight and inspire.
🔗 Start Your Journey Here: www.fisherdiscount.com
Come and see why we’re more than just a shop; we’re a place of endless possibilities! ✨
🔰 Introduction: The Honda Odyssey, originally the third in Honda’s minivan lineup after the U.S.-spec Odyssey and the Elysion, rose to second place when the Elysion was repositioned to the same class as the Odyssey. This change placed the Odyssey ahead of the StepWGN and Freed, making it a key seven-seater in Honda’s lineup.
The Odyssey name comes from one of the two most significant epics of ancient Greece, written in Greek as Ὀδύσσεια (Odýsseia), translated as The Odyssey in Chinese. This epic, a continuation of The Iliad, was also authored by Homer, and together they are considered foundational works of Western literature. Why Honda chose such an epic name for a vehicle is open to interpretation.
🚘 Development Background
The Odyssey is a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) built on the Accord platform. However, its concept of multipurpose differs from conventional vans, focusing more on passenger transport with a lower floor to facilitate entry and exit from the middle and rear rows. The five-door hatchback, wagon-like design maximizes interior space. Due to the existence of a rival model called “MPV,” Honda chose the globally recognized term “minivan” instead of using the abbreviation MPV.
In many countries, minivans are classified by internal volume rather than seat count, encompassing five-, six-, seven-, and eight-seater models.
🏁 First Generation Odyssey (1994)
The first generation of the Odyssey was launched in 1994, coinciding with a period of economic challenges in Japan following the Plaza Accord, which caused the yen to appreciate significantly, reducing export competitiveness. The bursting of the real estate and stock market bubble further impacted consumer purchasing power, leading to difficulties for car manufacturers who relied heavily on exports. In the auto market, SUVs had not yet gained popularity in the 1990s, and sales of traditional sedans and sports cars were declining. Under this environment, Honda adopted a "product line expansion" strategy, utilizing the existing Accord platform to create the Odyssey under the concept of “lifestyle creation vehicle.” This new vehicle quickly became a “core model” for the brand, a concept shared by many automakers (e.g., Mercedes-Benz's C/E/S-Class). For Honda, the core models included the Fit, Civic, Accord, and Odyssey.
🔧 Engine and Features:
The first Odyssey was powered by an F22B engine, featuring a non-VTEC SOHC system that produced 135 horsepower, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Despite these modest specifications, the first-generation Odyssey was a hit in Japan, winning the 1994 Japanese Car of the Year award, a testament to its acceptance by both the public and the media.
🔹 International Market Performance:
In the U.S., the Odyssey did not fare as well due to its small size and low power (130 HP with the F22B engine). The European market, where it was rebranded as the Shuttle, also saw average results. However, the model found popularity in East and Southeast Asia, including China, where the first-generation Odyssey became a common sight, both as an imported model and under different branding. This set the stage for the second-generation Odyssey to be produced locally by Guangzhou Honda.
✨ Special Features:
The early RA1 model was unique for lacking a tachometer and featured a flat "Typhoon" dashboard, creating a level floor.
🔹 Seating Variants:
Available in six-, seven-, and eight-seat configurations in Japan.
🛠 Engine Updates:
In August 1997, a facelift introduced the F23A engine with SOHC VTEC, increasing output to 150 horsepower and improving fuel efficiency. A mid-cycle update in 1997 for the U.S. market brought the J30A V6 engine, producing 200 horsepower under the model name Odyssey Prestige, with the chassis code RA5.
✨ Market Adaptation:
The RA5 featured leather interiors and more power, appealing to higher-end consumers.
🚙 Second Generation Odyssey (1999)
The second generation debuted at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, maintaining the five-door configuration but with a slightly reduced height for improved aerodynamics. This generation did not target the North American market as it developed its own independent model (RL1), later re-imported to Japan as the Lagreat. The second generation retained the F23A (RA6/7) and J30A (RA8/9) engines with upgraded transmissions (4AT for F23A, 5AT for J30A). The J30A’s output increased to 210 horsepower.
🔧 Production in China:
The RA6, using the F23A engine and front-wheel drive, was produced locally by Guangzhou Honda and shared a platform with the Accord CG. These models are still visible on the streets, demonstrating their reliability.
✨ Performance Model:
The Absolute version, introduced during the second generation, featured 17-inch wheels and sportier suspension, enhancing handling and aesthetics.
🏎 Third Generation Odyssey (2003)
Launched in October 2003, this generation represented a significant redesign. Unlike its predecessors, which were mainly updates, the third generation followed a European MPV approach, lowering the body height (from 1630mm to 1550mm) to improve handling. Despite the lower roofline, the model maintained seven-passenger capacity, with the third-row seats benefiting from a dual-wishbone suspension for comfort. The K24A engine replaced the F23A, paired with a CVT for FWD (RB1) or a 5AT for AWD (RB2).
🔹 High-Performance Absolute Version:
The K24A engine in the Absolute version featured i-VTEC for both intake and exhaust, producing 200 HP (FF) and 190 HP (4WD). This generation solidified the Odyssey’s reputation in Asia, particularly in China, as a leading family minivan.
🚐 Fourth Generation Odyssey (2008)
Released in October 2008, the fourth generation (RB3 for FWD, RB4 for AWD) was essentially a facelift of the third generation with minor changes. The K24A engine remained but was rated at 180 HP for standard models and 210 HP for the Absolute variant.
🚗 Fifth Generation Odyssey (2013)
The fifth generation, introduced in September 2013 (chassis code RC1), marked a significant departure with a design influenced by the first-generation Elysion. The new K24W engine produced slightly more power (186 HP) but retained an i-VTEC system only on the intake side. A hybrid model featuring the LFB11 engine was added in 2016 in Japan and 2018 in China, using a 2.0L engine and an electric motor for a combined output of 184 HP and 315 Nm of torque.
✨ Summary: Since its launch in 1994, the Odyssey has developed through five generations, with a mid-cycle update for the fifth. The potential merging of the Japanese and U.S. models, especially with the introduction of the K20C turbo engine, is a topic of debate. Regardless, the Odyssey’s success as a family vehicle, characterized by a high “residential presence” and strong resale value, remains clear. While it may not outsell its “American rival” in China, its reputation as a reliable family car and a global model sets it apart.
Leave a comment