2014 Honda Odyssey Preview: New York International Auto Show

The 2014 Honda Odyssey is one of the most popular – and comfortable – minivans around, and even though the updated model that was shown off in New York didn’t feature any ground-breaking changes, it does merit attention.  The Honda Odyssey’s visage has been tweaked, it gains some new equipment, and it provides simplified interior control surfaces.  Oh, and there’s an integrated vacuum, too.  No mechanical changes were announced for the Odyssey at show time.

What’s New for the 2014 Honda Odyssey:

• HondaVAC
• Refreshed exterior styling
• Under-the-skin structural upgrades
• Cleaner dash controls

New 2014 Honda Odyssey: Styling and Design

The 2014 Honda Odyssey was shown off in Touring Elite trim, which now comes with a new ‘twin-bar’ grille as well as LED taillights, a sportier front fascia with integrated fog lights, and a redesigned aluminum hood.  The passenger compartment showcases a new center console designed around a pair of LCD screens that eliminate many of the buttons and switches that were found on the 2013 model in favor of a simplified layout.  One screen offers touch-sensitive capability, while the upper unit is reserved for display duty.  Honda hasn’t stated whether all of the styling changes that we saw would be made available across the entire Odyssey lineup (the Touring Elite model is the top-shelf edition of the minivan), but it makes sense that at least a few will trickle down all the way to the base model.

New 2014 Honda Odyssey: Features and Technology

The 2014 Honda Odyssey – in addition to its new LCD screens – also comes with extra active safety gear, including forward collision warning and lane departure warning.  The equipment that grabbed the most eyeballs at the New York International Auto Show, however, as the HondaVAC, an integrated vacuum cleaner tucked into the driver’s side bulkhead at the very rear of the minivan.  The vacuum is designed to make it simple and quick to clean up the messes and spills the inevitably accompany the transportation of passengers below a certain age, and it comes with a removable canister that can be emptied in just a few simple steps.  As innovative as this system might be, it will cost even Touring Elite buyers extra cash on the options sheet, and it’s not available with any other Odyssey trim level.

New 2014 Honda Odyssey: What Autobytel Thinks

The 2014 Honda Odyssey stays the course for one of the best minivans around, and we really can’t fault Honda for not rocking the boat and potentially upsetting legions of loyal buyers.  We would like – and expect – the automaker’s six-speed automatic transmission availability to be expanded past the Odyssey’s highest trim level, a move which would improve fuel mileage across the board.  Further information about the 2014 Honda Odyssey should be made available the closer it gets to its eventual on-sale date.