Odyssey competes at minivan segment's top level

 Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- Is the Honda Odyssey the best minivan on the market?  Some auto reviewers certainly believe that to be true.

Others, including myself, have found the Chrysler Pacifica to be an exceptional people hauler.

In its "Ultimate Vehicle Rankings" for 2021 motor vehicles, Motor Trend put the Chrysler Pacifica at the top of its list, with the Odyssey No. 2.  So the good news is that, either way, you get a top-quality minivan whether you're signing a check at a Honda lot or a Chrysler dealership.

And for those looking elsewhere, the latest Toyota Sienna is being highly touted on the airwaves, on social media and in print.

I'm not inclined to rank these minivans.  All I know is that my recent week in the 2021 Honda Odyssey Elite proved to me that the Odyssey is a top-flight minivan that definitely competes for that much-debated top spot.

My tester was generously equipped, downright luxurious, loaded with safety features, comfortable, versatile and highly-ranked on the safety front (a max five stars overall from the federal government).

As such, it was priced about where I expected it: $49,335.

Best of all, the Odyssey in my hands felt like an old friend.  Controls and technology were easy to understand.  After two days, it felt like I'd had the vehicle for a year....a comfortable, enjoyable year.

The look is classic minivan with a conveniently comfortable step-in height.  Inside, soft leather surfaces are warm and welcoming.  Everything is within easy reach of the driver.  Honda Sensing, the exceptional suite of safety technology features, is standard on all Odysseys, adding an extra layer of confidence and security before the ignition is triggered.

And there are some extra-special features of note.

Removing the middle seat from the second row enabled me to slide the passenger-side seat left and right.  This drew raves from a passenger who said "it's great to see out the front of the vehicle from the middle, instead of just the back of the seat in front of me."

The "CabinWatch" camera enables the front seat passengers to keep an eye on what's going on in the rear seats -- a godsend for parents of restless children who might indulge in the occasional in-vehicle scrap.

The bird's-eye view monitor also is helpful, providing a fuller view of surroundings, a plus in busy neighborhoods and tight parking lots.

The Odyssey Elite was an easy driver, with just-right firm steering and a surprisingly agile turning radius.  It's particularly smooth on the freeway, and the 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 provides more-than-adequate power.

Fuel mileage is pretty fair at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

So, how does it rank among the minivan crowd?  High.  You want specifics?  I'll leave that to others, many of whom can be found on this thing called the internet.