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It's even a Touring, so we got the 6 speed.

I believe it's rated 19/29/22, quite good (probably the best?) for something w/ 7-8 seats & 4k lb curb wt. IIRC, they've advertised FE improvements from:
- 6 spd tranny, with more time locked up
- cylinder deactivation, shutting off oil to the lifters so that valves stay shut on unused cylinders. They operate in 6, 4, and 3 cylinder modes
- Major chassis work to remove weight and improve aerodynamics. I've heard that the top slots of the grill are actually closed off, but keep forgetting to look at mine.
- variable displacement steering pump
- low friction wheel bearings

Here's what I've noticed
- we're getting pretty close to EPA FE, according to the trip computer. I've seen as high as 29 on highway trips. This is in pretty cold weather though - mostly 20's and 30's.
- the thing coasts (in gear) forever approaching lights and such. The 4spd 4cyl CRV it's replacing would slow down a lot more. I'm finding I have to take my foot off the gas a lot earlier than I'm used to.
- at low throttle or coasting, the xmsn will tend to keep the engine between 1500 and 2000 rpm or so.
- it's easy to cruise in 4cyl mode at a variety of speeds on flat ground. 3cyl is more of a trick. I haven't found too many steady speeds on flat ground that will maintain 3cyl mode.
- cruising mpg at say 40-60mph will be something in the neighborhood of 22mpg in 6cycl mode, 30mpg 4 cyl, 40+ mpg in 3cyl.
- I expect Honda did most of the hypermiling for you in their powertrain controls, so I wouldn't expect to get the same % of EPA that you might be used to getting in other AT vehicles. If you can beat the EPA by a good margin, I'd expect it to come from something like a 4cyl-mode "pulse" mixed with a 3cyl-mode "glide" or some such trickery to keep the cylinders used to a minimum.

Hi Nathan:

With seating for 7/8 and still allowing close to 30 per the EPA, it is surely the best people hauler available nowadays... And it is a Honda so it will probably live a long and fruitful life with little to no extra maintenance other than oil and tires.

On a different note, be on the lookout for something a bit more rugged and right up your alley from CleanMPG in about 3-months time. While not as exciting as purchasing a new Ody, I think you are going to like what another company has in store when it comes to fun and adventure with lots of people carrying cap rolled up into a fuel efficient ride...

Congrats on the latest addition to the household and I cannot wait to hear what you do with it after we warm up this coming spring ;)

Good Luck

Wayne

Does it have a light or meter to say when you're in 6/4/3 cyl mode?

Does it have a light or meter to say when you're in 6/4/3 cyl mode?

They have an "ECO" light, that seems to losely correspond with cylinder deactivation, but the best feedback is the instant MPG bar graph. When you see a wild swing with just subtle changes in throttle and no gear shifts, I'm guessing that's cylinder deactivation changing states.

Forgot to mention tires. They're Michelin low-rolling resistance. max sidewall = 44, door jam ~ 35 psi IIRC

how much did it cost?

Those Michelin's are run flats aren't they ? (Not having to lug around a spare you may never use) :rolleyes:

how much did it cost?

IIRC, it was about $37.5, give or take.
out the door w/ extended warranty, mudguards and all weather mats was close to $40k
sticker was about $41.5k w/o the extras.

Those Michelin's are run flats aren't they ?

no, there's a spare under the floor between the first 2 rows. You pull up a trap door to get to it.

I've heard rumors that the previous gen auto trans could have significant problems. It will be good to hear how the new 6-speed holds up.

-soD

Nice purchase! :D

It was the 2002-2004 5AT trans that had trouble. They fixed it for the 2005 model, so any of the 2011's should be fine. (mine was replaced under warranty)

Transmission questions:
At highway speed, what happens when you let off the gas? Does it stay in gear and engine-brake, or does it release and drop to idle rpm? Same for downhills and uphills when you approach the final gear shift point - does it hold 5th or go into 6th easily? (if it holds 5th, try a quick D-N-D shift to encourage the upshift)

How eager is it to downshift on an incline? Do you have to baby it to stay locked in top gear, or will it stay there for you?

At highway speed, what happens when you let off the gas?

It will stay in gear and engine brake. It will still coast quite well in gear though, since engine speed is kept pretty low. By comparison, the Ody in gear seems to coast almost as well as my truck in neutral, and a whole lot better than the CRV or truck in gear.

At low throttle, it will keep rpms in that same 1500-2000ish range. It seems to me like there's rarely mpg left on the table due to gear selection, but much more often due to cyl deactivation state. If you cruise on the flat, you'll be in 3 or 4 cyl mode. Add a bit of throttle for a hill and the mpg goes way down without a gearshift or corresponding increase in throttle or power. I'm assuming this is from increasing the # of active cylinders.

I think the trick is going to be to figure out exactly how much throttle you can add, while still maintining 4 cyl mode (or 3 cyl mode). It's not much. I'm starting to wonder if they can only run deactivated cylinders at really low throttle before NVH or structural limits are reached.

Ok. Shifting to N, even on a regular basis, is ok with me. ;)

What range does the built-in mpg gauge read (what max mpg will it display)?

What range does the built-in MPG gauge read (what max MPG will it display)?


It is a bar graph with numbers every 10 from 0-50, and bars in 2mpg increments IIRC.
You get in the 40's easily in 3cyl mode (think 40mph cruise on flat ground), and it saturates at 50 (I only get up there when decelerating with little or no throttle). There's a little lag between what the engine is doing and the graph. Once you know what to listen for, you can hear the engine change # of active cylinders maybe a second before the graph changes.

Hi Nathan:

Adding a note as I did not think it provided enough relevance for a separate news item on the home page but it certainly is good news for new 2011 Ody owners including yourself!

The all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) best-possible Overall Vehicle Score1 of five stars and is one of the first two vehicles ever to earn five stars in each seating position for all three crash tests, each crash test category and the overall rating, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Odyssey joins the 2011 Accord Sedan as one of the few vehicles to date that achieves the federal government's best-possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score and five stars in the combined frontal and side crash safety ratings.

The Odyssey achieved its top Overall Vehicle Score with five-star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios. Additionally, the Odyssey received four stars for the rollover rating3, the highest achievable in the light-truck vehicle class using the program's measurement methodology.

The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the federal government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to 2011 models. As a convenience to new car shoppers, the Overall Vehicle Score represents the combined results of the overall ratings from the frontal crash tests, the side crash tests and the rollover-resistance into a single, summary score between one and five stars.

All 2011 Odyssey vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.

Overall, the Odyssey improves for the 2011 model year with greater interior functionality, a more distinctive style and higher fuel economy. A more powerful and efficient 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine features Variable Cylinder Management (standard on all models for 2011) and produces 248 hp while delivering an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 19/28/22 mpg on Odyssey Touring models.

The 2011 Odyssey is truly an American-made vehicle – designed, engineered and assembled in the United States. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Yeah, I knew you would like this bit of information and congrats on your new ride once again!

Wayne

That's great news! IIRC the new Sienna didn't do as well with the new rating system.

I got all excited when I heard they first announced that the new Sienna would have a 6 speed and a 4 cyl. I'm glad I waited for the Ody :) Better fuel economy, better safety, better seating arrangement (for kids & carseats, at least).

Thanks for the news!

Congrats on the new ride. Sounds like a good vehicle.

There are couple of things I noticed.

Nearly 40K for a minivan .... :eek:

Also why is it that Honda only offers 6 speed on the most expensive model. Higher MPG numbers would be within a reach of more people for 7 passenger if it were available on the low end of the spectrum as well. The 5AT model is 18/27/21, which is also higher than any other mini-van on the market.

Hopefully within couple of years it will be available on other trim levels.

Also why is it that Honda only offers 6 speed on the most expensive model. Higher MPG numbers would be within a reach of more people for 7 passenger if it were available on the low end of the spectrum as well. The 5AT model is 18/27/21, which is also higher than any other mini-van on the market.

Hopefully within couple of years it will be available on other trim levels.

I'm sure they are trying to ramp up on production of the 6 speed automatics. They are coming in quite a few acura's now so I'm sure it's just a transitional period for the odyssey.

Coached an owner to 35 first trip out, this is a capable vehicle