Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) once offered a minivan that went by the model name Odyssey. It’s now been three years since HCPI decided to discontinue selling the model, which is regarded as one of the popular choices in the local market when shopping for a minivan.
During its tenure in the Philippine market, the Honda Odyssey competes with the likes of the Toyota Alphard and Kia Carnival. The Alphard and the Carnival are still being offered in the Philippines as of this writing, but the Odyssey has hung up its gloves, so to speak, as Honda decided to axe it back in 2022 due to production issues.
As a refresher, Honda decided to discontinue the Odyssey in the Philippine market due to the closure of the automaker’s Sayama production plant in Japan. The last Odyssey that HCPI introduced in the Philippines was in 2018, featuring a 2.4-liter I-VTEC gasoline engine that delivers 173 horsepower and 226 Nm of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
The current Honda Odyssey, offered in markets such as Japan, features a more streamlined exterior design compared to the minivan’s 2018 look. It has a newly designed front grille that gives the Odyssey a more assertive yet cleaner fascia, while the headlights look sharper.
Notably, the Odyssey featured in the photos is the new e:HEV Absolute EX Black Edition, which boasts a black chrome-plated front grille, rear combination lights with black smoked lenses, matte Berlina Black 18-inch aluminum wheels, and black roof and pillar linings.
The cabin features generous space for seven occupants. It features a straightforward dashboard, along with glossy black trims and silver accents, and is equipped with physical buttons. The gear selector utilizes buttons instead of a conventional stick, a feature common in Honda vehicles, such as the CR-V.
The new Honda Odyssey is powered by a 2.0-liter hybrid engine that produces a combined output of 181 hp and 315 Nm of torque, mated to Honda’s e-CVT.
With all of that said, it makes us wonder if HCPI is looking to reintroduce the Odyssey; after all, the minivan segment in the local market is becoming more competitive as more vehicles enter the segment. As mentioned earlier, the Alphard and the Carnival are among the choices in the minivan segment. There’s also the Hyundai Staria and even the Toyota Hiace Super Grandia or the more premium Lexus LM.
Not to mention the Chinese car brands that have also launched their respective challenger in the minivan market in the Philippines. There’s the BYD eMax, the GAC M8, and the MG G50 Plus, among others.
One can say that the minivan segment in the Philippines is growing and becoming more competitive. With that, do you think that a model with such familiarity as the Honda Odyssey could have what it takes to stir the minivan market? Well, all of your thoughts are considered what-ifs, not until Honda decides to bring back the Odyssey.
