THE 1999 Honda Odyssey miini-van is new from the ground up — only the name is carried over from the previous Odyssey. Now about the size of a Dodge Grand Caravan or Ford Windstar, the 1999 Odyssey has a new V6 engine, two slid doors, severs- passenger seat- ing, and a fully-independent P While the previous yssey, a Compact mini-van introduced in 1995, was sra- tistically-refiable, it was just too small and roo underpow- cred for mainstream buyers -— namely, parents with young children. In contrast, rhe 1999 Odyssey has the most power- ful standard V6 engine of any mini-van on the market: a new 210 horsepower 3.5-litre SOHC 24 valve VTEC V6 engine. The Odysscy’s interi- or is now as roomy as its extended wheelbase competi- tors at Ford and Chrysler. Seven-passenger seating is standard, including Honda’s patented three-passenger rear bench seat that folds com- pletely into the floor. Two sliding rear doors are now standard equipment (chere’s no three-door model), and uplevel Odyssey EX models have standard power-operated rear doors. The new Odyssey also has such “must-have” mini-van features as “garageability,” front-wheel-drive, four-speed automatic transmission with column shifter, walk-through access between the front seats, numerous cupholders and storage compartments, rear hatchback, and front and rear heating /air-conditioning. It also offers some unique Honda-only features, such as standard second row bucket seats that push together to form a bench seat (also removable), head restraints and three-point seatbelts for all seven passengers, reclining seatbacks in all three sows of north shore news AU NEW for 1999, the Honda Odyssey is a much bigger features include a 210 horsepower V6 engine, bench seat that disappears into the floor. scats, a folding tray benween the front seats, a fully inde- pendent suspension, and a very tight turning circle of 11.5 meters. Dual, de-pow ered front airbags are stan- dard, but side airbags are not available. My initial one-day pre’ test-drive of the Odyssey revealed that this is a surpris- ingly nimble and manceuver- able vehicle for its size. Its the only minivan in its class with fully-independent sus- pension (front strut/springs, rear double wishbone), and combined with its tight turn- ing circle, fairly quick sree ing, and standard 16-inch tires, is an easy and comfort- able vehicle to drive on a curvy road, on the highway. or around town. The new V6 engine is a jewel. It’s so smooth at idle, the only way you can be sure it’s running is to check the tachometer. Acceleration is brisk by mini-van standards, and the adaptive four-specd automatic transmission changes smoothly and appro- cw priately. At speed, the ride is comfortable, however there is some wind noise. In addition, the front sus- pension transmits vibrations into the cabin when subject- ed to uneven pavement, man- hole covers, and road irregu- larities. Since mini-vans are all about families, passenger comfort is equally as impor- tant as driver comfort. I sat in the third row seat while someone else drove, and was frankly impressed at the ride stability and comfort. Some vans have a rolling or wallow- ing motion at the rear which can cause car-sickness — but not the Odyssey. -— Base price: $30,600 Price as tested: $33,600 Type: four-dcor, seven-passenger mini-van rransverse front engine/tront-wheel- Layout: drive Engine: 3.5-litre V6, SOHC, 24 valves, VTEC We wanted you to fe The payments shown here are based on the MSRPs for our brand-spankin’ - new 1999 Saturn SWI. They include transportation, retailer prep and even a full cank of gas so vou won't have to walk to the station with one of those red containers. But some things are lease payments are based on a low ~ which is pretty far ~ aver 3 years, with a charge of 12¢ per kin offer applies to customers witht approved credit. If you decide you extra, like taxes (sorry). km lease uf 60,000 km over that amount. ‘This twe sliding TO a a ini-van than the previous model, now about the size of a Ford Windstar. Standard Two slidin: r doors are standard on LX models (replacing the conventional swing-out doors of the previ- ous Odyssey) and EX models have two standard power- operated rear doors. They can be opened trom the driver’s seat via a button on the dash, by tugging on the inside or outside door handles, or via a remote key fob (rhe latter is handy when you have a bag of groceries in you hands). The doers will re-open auto- y if something or someone is stuck between the door and the door jamb. To prevent children epen- ing the rear doors when they’re not supposed to, the Horsepower: rear doors with available power-operation, Test drive the new Odyssey at Pacific Honda in North Vancouve doors won't open unless the trassmission is in Park. In addition, there are child locks on both rear doors, and they can be deactivated. However, without power, they are diffi- cult to open Decause of the power door mechanism Odyssey’s base price is higher than most other mini- vans in its class because it comes with many optional fea- tures as standard equipment. Odyssey LX models, which start at $30,600, include two rear sliding doors, AM/FM /c . front _and rear air condition- ing, folding third row seat, power windows, power door and tailgate locks, cruise con- Technical Data 1999 Honda Odyssey EX 210 @ 5200 r.p.m. Transmission: four-speed automatic Wheelbase: 3,000 mm (118.1 in.) Fuel consumption: City — 13.2 1/100 km (21 m.p.g.); Hwy — 8.5 1/100 km (33 m.p.g.} Warranty: Complete — three years/60,000 km; Powertrain — five years/100,000 km So we started with the price. license and insurance. T} want to purchase your Saturn at tle end of the lease (and who could blame you?), and you've made 3 § ment, the max set individual seliiny and fease price shown. i SATURN 2,000 downpayment, you're welcome to. And with that same downpa ium tease abligation of an SW is $11.360. As always, retailers are free to Oh, and by the way, the vehicle is much larger than + www saturnanida.com $260, mo *15,998 seven-passenger seating, and a rear trol, tilt wheel, power rear ts, immobilizer, 16-inch s and anti-lock brakes. Odyssey EX models, at $33,600, add power rear doors, traction control, alloy wheels, power seats, automat- ic cliraate control, steering wheel audio controls and Homelink garage door open- cr. Odysseys are not available with such luxury features as dual zone climate control, rear stereo controls, wood trim, or leather upholstery. Odysseys come with a complete three year/60,000 km warranty and five- year/100,000 km major componenis warranty — the latter is not standard on domestic mini-vans. Odysseys are built exclu- sively for the world market in a new plant in Alliston, Onrario, right next to the Civic plant. Civic quality is high, so it’s expected the new Odyssey will also be well- built. By the way, the Odyssey is the biggest vehicle Honda has ever built, el safe ina Saturn. ZERO DOWN 36 mo. lease price includes freight & pdi. § 1999 Saturn SW1 MORREY SATURN SAAB ISUZU 294-1831 4451 Lougheed Hwy at Willingdon, Burnaby