MPV. Honda Odyssey Hybrid?

[MC Bodge]

I have had a series of estate cars and am interested in a belated change to something with more space. I'd prefer something that rode and drove reasonably well, so an MPV rather than a van based car, and a petrol/hybrid that isn't too thirsty

Some of the later Honda Oddyssey hybrid imports look interesting, although buying one could be a bit of a minefield.

Any thoughts? Thanks

[edc]

A petrol or hybrid mpv is relatively rare anyway. Not much to choose from.

[MC Bodge]

I know, hence my pondering it and asking the question.

[MC Bodge]

No thoughts, presumably!

[edc]

What age or budget? The S-Max is always stated as the best handling MPV byt like most hard to find in petrol guise.

[djsmith74]

The problem with the Odyssey is, because there are not a huge amount in the country, there's a lack of a decent support network with regards to parts, fault finding, etc. Insurance is also fairly high because of this. My brother has an 2013 Odyssey and it's a cracking car, but he is having to source parts from Japan & Thailand and have a local garage who is willing to work on JDMs. The biggest cost/hassle was having to get a windscreen shipped in from Japan, as Autoglass/National did not have them in stock.

If you are after a JDM MPV, then your best bet is an Alphard as they are popular over here so the support network is very good (there are a couple of breakers in the country), along with several Facebook groups, and garages all over the country who will work on them. Insurance is also very good - I'm paying £250 a year for my V6 Alphard. You can get Alphard hybrids as well as standard petrols.

[MC Bodge]

djsmith74 said:

The problem with the Odyssey is, because there are not a huge amount in the country, there's a lack of a decent support network with regards to parts, fault finding, etc. Insurance is also fairly high because of this. My brother has an 2013 Odyssey and it's a cracking car, but he is having to source parts from Japan & Thailand and have a local garage who is willing to work on JDMs. The biggest cost/hassle was having to get a windscreen shipped in from Japan, as Autoglass/National did not have them in stock.

If you are after a JDM MPV, then your best bet is an Alphard as they are popular over here so the support network is very good (there are a couple of breakers in the country), along with several Facebook groups, and garages all over the country who will work on them. Insurance is also very good - I'm paying £250 a year for my V6 Alphard. You can get Alphard hybrids as well as standard petrols.

Thanks for the info.

I quite like the Odyssey, and somebody I know did have one, but they are very scarce in the UK.

[mudnomad]

I don’t know whether that’s of any help but recently I did over 1000miles in a Toyota Sienna hybrid in the US and it was very good. Fuel consumption for something of this size was phenomenal

[Matt_T]

I was looking at these the other day in fact and thought that this one looked lovely...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507114...

[Matt_T]

Nissan Serena is an alternative - probably now where near as nice to drive as the Honda though...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18965575

[MC Bodge]

Matt_T said:

I was looking at these the other day in fact and thought that this one looked lovely...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507114...

Yes, I've seen that one too.

Purple may not be as appealing to my wife, though.

It's a shame that MPVs are not as popular as faux-off-roaders (that are becoming ever less off road) in the UK.

The UK market equivalent is the CR-V, whuhc does not appeal to me at all.

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 23 September 19:07

[MC Bodge]

Matt_T said:

Nissan Serena is an alternative - probably now where near as nice to drive as the Honda though..

Almost certainly not.

[Jonny1984]

One thing I would recommend is getting a CarVX report done on any import you're looking at buying.

They are buggers for being clocked! I only discovered my Cube was clocked when I went to trade it in for my current Vellfire G's.

Get on some of the Facebook groups for the particular models you look at and you'll usually get pointed towards the more reputable dealers.

For what it's worth my 3.5 V6 Vellfire is the best car I've ever owned. There are quite a few 2.4 hybrids floating about now (Vellfire/Alphard).

[edc]

Depending on your priorities there are petrol version of the 5008, C4 Grand Picasso, VW Touran. For young families these are probably better.

[MC Bodge]

edc said:

Depending on your priorities there are petrol version of the 5008, C4 Grand Picasso, VW Touran. For young families these are probably better.

I was thinking of something that would be used with the back seats removed/folded for a big luggage space. We have two teenagers, and do various outdoor pursuits and camping.

Ideally, it would drive quite well. I would be interested in something non-Ford (for a change) and non-VAG as the chassis and NVH have typically been a let-down.

[andburg]

The Mercedes oddity…

I had a previous generation b class as a short term a few years back and it’s was great for what it was, a small mpv so about as much space as medium estate just differently shaped. Much more space than I thought it would have, decent to drive and very well equipped in AMG line trim.

[edc]

MC Bodge said:

I was thinking of something that would be used with the back seats removed/folded for a big luggage space. We have two teenagers, and do various outdoor pursuits and camping.

Ideally, it would drive quite well. I would be interested in something non-Ford (for a change) and non-VAG as the chassis and NVH have typically been a let-down.

The rear boot seats fold flat to give you a flat floor. In the Grand picasso at least fold all the seats and it is flat. You could fit 2 or 3 mou than bikes in front wheel off and stood up.

Also had a B class Merc. More like a large back than MPV. Boott nowhere near as big as a 7 seat MPV.

[MC Bodge]

Jonny1984 said:

One thing I would recommend is getting a CarVX report done on any import you're looking at buying.

They are buggers for being clocked! I only discovered my Cube was clocked when I went to trade it in for my current Vellfire G's.

I would have assumed that every single one had been clocked.

Jonny1984 said:

Get on some of the Facebook groups for the particular models you look at and you'll usually get pointed towards the more reputable dealers.

For what it's worth my 3.5 V6 Vellfire is the best car I've ever owned. There are quite a few 2.4 hybrids floating about now (Vellfire/Alphard).

No offence, but they are a little challenging to look at aren't they?

[djsmith74]

For what it's worth my 3.5 V6 Vellfire is the best car I've ever owned. There are quite a few 2.4 hybrids floating about now (Vellfire/Alphard).
[/quote]
No offence, but they are a little challenging to look at aren't they?
[/quote]

Granted, from certain angles, they have looks that only a mother can love, and made worse by some bodykit/wheel combinations. But, as an all-round MPV, they are stonkingly good cars with a very clever interior layout & functionality.

[ChocolateFrog]

I'd have a Alphard/Vellfire in a heartbeat if they did one with reasonable economy.