Honda Odyssey remains a top minivan for 2007
 

Minivans don't have quite the same appeal that they did more than 20 years ago when they debuted. But one minivan -- the Honda Odyssey -- has been reliably racking up annual sales records until this year.

It appears the 12 percent drop in Odyssey sales in the first five months of 2007 comes as shoppers turn to Honda's smaller vehicles, like the Civic and Fit cars and CR-V sport utility vehicle.

But families that need more room -- and three rows of seats -- shouldn't forget Honda's most generously sized vehicle that's a recommended buy of Consumer Reports and the winner of numerous accolades, including top minivan this year by Car and Driver magazine.

Families will appreciate that the Odyssey comes with all safety equipment standard, including stability control with rollover sensors, and earned across-the-board, five-out-of-five-star ratings in federal government frontal and side crash tests.

Families also should know that the Odyssey has the second-highest government fuel economy ratings among 2007 minivans. A 2007 front-wheel drive Odyssey with V-6 and automatic transmission is rated at 19 miles a gallon in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway.

The only competitive minivan with a higher rating -- of 20/26 mpg -- is a shorter-length, 2007 Dodge Caravan with four-cylinder engine.

But there is a drawback. All these good things about the Odyssey come at a price.

This spring, the Odyssey became the minivan with the highest starting retail price on the market. Previously, the more than $27,000 Buick Terraza minivan held this position, but Buick stopped production of the slow-selling Terraza early this year.

Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, for a 2007 Odyssey is $26,240 for an LX with seven seats and 244-horsepower V-6.

This is higher than the starting prices for the competing 2007 Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest, Chrysler Town $28,695 for EX with cloth seats; $31,095 for EX with leather seats; $32,695 for EX with leather and DVD player.

AS TESTED: $33,290.

TYPE: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, seven-passenger minivan.

ENGINE: 3.5-liter, single overhead cam V-6 with VTEC.

MILEAGE: 19 mpg (city), 26 mpg (highway).

TOP SPEED: 119 mph.

LENGTH: 201 inches.

WHEELBASE: 118.1 inches.

CURB WEIGHT: 4,475 pounds.

BUILT AT: Lincoln, Ala.

OPTIONS: None.

DESTINATION CHARGE: $595.

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