2014 Honda Odyssey Sucks up Another Prize

HondaVac inside Honda Odyssey ・ Photo by Honda

While folks sometimes think of today’s minivans as mere appliances, one automaker has taken that idea and run with it, much to the benefit of the 2014 Honda Odyssey: The top-of-the-line Touring Elite model comes with the HondaVac integrated vacuum system as part of its standard content, providing an ideal accessory for quick rear-row cleanups. In fact, the editors at Good Housekeeping were so impressed with the HondaVac that they honored it with the publication’s 2014 VIP Award for “Very Innovative Products.”

Just six products earned VIP honors this year, and no other winner came from the auto industry.

The bottom line from the Good Housekeeping gurus: The much-beloved minivan's Touring Elite series now comes with a specially designed Shop-Vac to suck up rogue Cheerios, pet hair, and dirt (we know—we tried it all and then some!) even when the car isn't running. An easy-to-use 12-foot hose reaches every corner, then stows neatly in the trunk. Our staff members could let their kids snack in transit for the very first time, stress-free.”

Now, just to be clear, owners can rely on about eight minutes of suction when the 2014 Honda Odyssey is turned off, but with the minivan’s motor on, the HondaVac could conceivably run as long as the engine does.

As for the rest of the Touring Elite package for the 2014 Honda Odyssey, it includes ultra-premium upgrades like:

• The automaker’s wide-screened DVD entertainment system with HMDI functionality and a high-res WVGA screen
• Premium audio, with 650 watts of power, 12 speakers (including subwoofer) and 5.1 Surround Sound
• A blind-spot information system
• Automatic on/off HID headlights

And all that’s on top of the full slate of Honda goodies offered lower on the pricing spectrum, from satellite-linked and voice-controlled navigation to heated leather-trimmed seating to both forward-collision and lane-departure warnings. It’s also worth pointing out that, when equipped with that frontal-crash avoidance feature, the 2014 Honda Odyssey is the only minivan in the country to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

It’s true that the starting price for the range-topping 2014 Honda Odyssey is $44,450, but the entry point to the family is a more manageable $28,825, and that model, as well as each member of the entire Odyssey team, can post a best-in-class EPA line of 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway/22 mpg combined.