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2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid Goes on Sale in Japan

Chrysler may be the manufacturer that introduced the minivan to great success to the American public, but Honda is the manufacturer that perfected the recipe. An illustrative example is the all-new Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid, a model that was recently launched in Japan.
2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification) 10 photos
Photo: Honda
2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid (Japanese specification)
By borrowing the tidy design cues of the conventional Odyssey, the Sport Hybrid fits in better than the Prius or other hybrids do with their uncalled-for exterior styling. The 2016 Toyota Prius proves the point with its mecha anime-inspired front fascia design. If you squint your eyes and look closely, you’ll see a little bit of Evangelion Unit-02 in there.

Regarding the bits and bobs that motivate the hybrid Odyssey, Honda employs a 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine and the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive system. The latter is Honda’s way of telling us that the Odyssey Sport Hybrid has an electric motor, a battery pack, and a CVT.

If you adopt a driving style that rivals that of your grandma’s, it’s possible to squeeze 61.1 mpg US (3.8 liters/100 km) out of this eco-friendly giant. Depending on the customers’ needs, the 2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid is available in seven- or eight-seater format.

Compared to the previous model, the facelifted Odyssey comes with a larger armrest for the driver’s seat and automatic air-con that adopts the Sharp Corporation’s all-new Plasmacluster 4 technology. In addition to these, the Honda Odyssey’s SENSING suite of safety tech is now available for all trim levels of the Japanese-spec model.

Although nothing is confirmed at the time of writing, the 2016 Honda Odyssey Sport Hybrid will probably be sold in the United States if the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan becomes a commercial success. If the recently launched Pacifica fails to reignite America’s dwindling love for the minivan, then we’ll have to raise the white flag and reaffirm that we won't get over SUVs and crossovers anytime soon.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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