Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Honda Odyssey received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings for initial quality.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study (APEAL), the Honda Odyssey received 5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings for performance and design, and was the top-ranked minivan in this study.

Vehicle Dependability – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures dependability of three-year-old vehicles, the Honda Odyssey received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings for vehicle dependability.

Fuel Economy – The 2009 Honda Odyssey is equipped with one of two versions of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that drives the front wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. Odyssey LX and EX have the less fuel-efficient version of this engine, rated to get 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway by the EPA. The Odyssey EX-L and Touring have Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology, which shuts down two or three of the six cylinders under low-load cruising conditions. According to the EPA, fuel economy estimates for this engine are 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Our review vehicle, an Odyssey Touring with VCM, averaged 19.1 mpg in mixed driving. Combined with the Odyssey’s standard 21-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 400-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

Safety – According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2009 Honda Odyssey gets 5-star crash-test ratings for frontal and side impact occupant protection, and a 4-star rollover rating.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls the Honda Odyssey a “Top Safety Pick” because it has standard stability control and received a “Good” rating in the offset frontal impact crash test, a “Good” rating in the side impact crash test, and a “Good” rating for rear impact protection.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Honda Odyssey consumes 19 barrels of petroleum annually without VCM, and 17.1 barrels of petroleum annually with VCM. The resulting carbon footprint rating is 10.2 tons of air pollution per year without VCM and 9.2 tons of air pollution per year with VCM. According to the EPA, the Honda Odyssey’s national air pollution score is a 6 out of 10, and in California and New England the air pollution score is a 7 out of 10.