Should I buy a Honda Odyssey?

The issue of a lack of performance from the Honda’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine is one that has been noted in the past, David. It stems not from the fact that it’s a four-cylinder, rather the way it has been tuned and specified at the factory. Like a lot of Honda engines, the engine was designed to deliver good horsepower and high revs and, while that makes for a sporty feel in the right car, it does nothing for the Odyssey’s role as a people-mover. The root problem here is that the engine is tuned to make its maximum torque (the force that actually accelerates the car) at 4000rpm. Combine that with the odd nature of the standard CVT transmission and you had a recipe for a car that could feel quite lethargic around town. Throw in a full complement of six bodies and their luggage, and things only got worse. Unfortunately, there’s no real way around this. You could have the engine retuned with an aftermarket chip in the computer, but it may not do very much except increase fuel consumption. At that same time, you could wave goodbye to any remaining factory warranty as it applied to the driveline. Manufacturers don’t like customers tinkering with that stuff and will usually claim that the modifications contributed to the mechanical failure. All that being said, I have heard of people `chipping’ the Odyssey’s engine. But of all the examples I’ve seen, the net gain was just 11 or 12 or so kiloWatts; not enough to warrant the cost or transform the vehicle in any major way. Even then, I’d imagine the extra power to be high in the rev range, not down low where you want it.

Honda Odyssey: Key replacement cost

The cost to replace your key fob will depend on how old the vehicle is and where you get it done. An automotive locksmith might be cheaper than a dealer but you'll need the spare. You can read more about how to replace your car keys here.

Honda Odyssey: Which one should I buy?

Honda hasn’t sold a 3.0-litre Odyssey here since 2004, it has used a 2.4-litre engine since then. If you really want a 3.0-litre one your $15,000 will buy the best one on the market and leave you with a pocket full of change.

Seven or eight-seater for my family

The latest Carnival is excellent, gets The Tick and rates for me ahead of the Odyssey.

Avensis good pick for a family car?

The Avenso Versis is a good all-rounder in the people-mover class. Other people-movers you could consider are the Honda Odyssey, Kia Grand Carnival, or VW Caddy Life, you could consider SUVs like the Ford Territory or Nissan Dualis.

Best people mover for $15,000?

The Kia Carnival gets The Tick, every time, in that price range. And with four kids you will find that a proper people-mover gives far more flexibility than an SUV or even a converted van.

Ask Smithy Xtra Shuddering Honda Odyssey

It is low mileage for the torque converter to fail, but it’s not unknown for it to happen. While we haven’t had other reports of this failure on Hondas we have seen failures on other makes and models. It’s probably the damper clutch that’s gone in the torque converter.

Honda Odyssey 2001 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Honda Odyssey 2001 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Honda Odyssey LPG conversion

Answered by CarsGuide 27 May 2010

It's most unlikely that you would find a kit specifically for the Odyssey, but a competent installer could install a universal kit, which would be fine for your purposes. They would need to check the car to work out the best installation for the tank. Give the Auto Gas Injection people a call on 03 9783 2777, they're near you in Frankston and would be able to do the job for you.

Engine

Search from Over 8,000 questions Over 8,000 questions answered by CarsGuide

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Complete Guide to Honda
Odyssey

Reviews, price, specs and more

Reviews

Family
Family focused reviews and advice for everything family car related.
Adventure
Off-road for beginners and the experienced, plus camper trailers, caravans and motorhomes
Tradies
Utes, commercial vehicles and tow tests

Compare cars
We make it easy to compare design, practicality, value and more
Used cars
Buying used? Here's what to look out for and buy smart
Owner reviews
Your thoughts could drive you to more than just your next destination 🚗💬

Buying guides

Our experts pick the top models
- SUV
- Ute
- Hybrid
- Hatchback
- Electric
- Sedan
- Wagon
- Coupe
- People mover
- Convertible
- Commerical

Honda Odyssey 2001 Problems

Honda Odyssey LPG conversion

Search from Over 8,000 questions Over 8,000 questions answered by CarsGuide

Related cars for sale

cars

guide

Complete Guide to HondaOdyssey

Complete Guide to Honda
Odyssey