Honda photo

Honda Odyssey 2012 Review

2012 Honda Odyssey public is a practical MPV with spacious interior and stable, balanced performance, featuring sliding doors and flexible seat arrangements to meet the daily and travel needs of multi-member families.
Honda Odyssey photo
Honda Odyssey photo
Honda Odyssey photo
Honda Odyssey photo
Honda Odyssey photo
TBC
Honda Odyssey 2012
Body Type
MPV
Segment
-
Capacity(L)
-
Engine Power(PS)
-
Engine Torque(Nm)
-
Transmission
-
View Honda Odyssey >
View Full Specs >
Review
User Review

The MPV market has consistently maintained stable demand among family users and business scenarios. As a frequent player in this segment, the 2012 Honda Odyssey public version has long been one of the options for multi-member families due to its practical space and balanced performance. This time, we conducted a comprehensive review of the 2012 Honda Odyssey public edition. The core purpose is to verify its practical performance in scenarios such as daily commuting and family outings, and to see whether this car still meets the needs of today's users.

The exterior design of the 2012 Honda Odyssey public is inclined towards steadiness, with overall rounded and smooth lines without overly aggressive elements. The front features a large-size grille with the Honda logo embedded in the center, accompanied on both sides by halogen headlights. The design is simple, but the lighting effect is sufficient for daily use. The most notable aspect of the side is the sliding door design, which is particularly practical for families with elderly people or children, making getting in and out more convenient. The body lines extend from the front fenders to the rear, with an overall harmonious proportion. The wheels use 16-inch alloy rims with a conventional design. At the rear, the taillight assembly is naturally integrated with the side body lines. A chrome trim is set on the lower part of the tailgate, adding a touch of refinement. However, the overall design remains focused on practicality, without too much flashy detail.

Inside the car, the interior style leans towards home practicality. The center console adopts a two-tone scheme with a darker tone on top and a lighter tone below, aligning with the MPV's positioning. The upper part of the center console is made of hard plastic material, and the middle section features silver trim accents. While the materials are not high-end, the craftsmanship is relatively precise. The central control area is equipped with a 7-inch LCD screen that supports Bluetooth connectivity and basic audio playback functions. Its operation is straightforward and easy to master. The steering wheel is a three-spoke design, with multifunction buttons on both sides to control volume and answer calls, which is convenient for operation while driving. The seats are made of fabric material. The front seats support manual adjustment, and the backrest and cushion offer decent support, making long drives less tiring. The second row consists of independent seats with spacious room, allowing passengers to adjust their seating positions freely. Although the third-row seating space is not as ample as the first two rows, it can comfortably accommodate two adults for short trips. In terms of storage space, there is a large storage compartment under the center console, along with storage slots on the door panels. The trunk offers an average capacity in its standard configuration, but folding down the third-row seats can expand the space significantly, meeting the need for carrying luggage on family trips.

In terms of power, the 2012 Honda Odyssey public is equipped with a 2.4L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 170 horsepower and a peak torque of 225 Nm, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. During actual driving, the power output is relatively smooth during starts, without noticeable jolting, and the acceleration process is linear, fully sufficient for daily urban commuting. When overtaking is required, flooring the accelerator causes the transmission to downshift, but the response speed isn't particularly fast, necessitating some advance planning. There are two driving modes: Economy and Standard. In Economy mode, the throttle response is slightly slower, which is suitable for fuel-efficient daily driving.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel offers moderate effort and is fairly precise, with no noticeable play. The suspension system uses a front MacPherson strut independent suspension and a rear double-wishbone independent suspension, which are tuned towards comfort. It effectively absorbs small bumps on the road, but when encountering larger potholes, the body experiences noticeable shaking. At high speeds, the car's stability is good, without any noticeable floating sensation. As for fuel consumption, our tests show that the average urban fuel consumption is approximately 10.5L/100km, while highway consumption is around 8.5L/100km. This performance is considered average for an MPV.

In terms of driving comfort, the noise control inside the car is average. At high speeds, wind noise and tire noise become more noticeable, although still within an acceptable range. The seats are quite comfortable, with the second-row independent seats offering good support and cushioning. Although the backrests of the third-row seats are relatively upright, they are still comfortable enough for short trips. The air conditioning system provides good cooling performance, and the rear row is equipped with independent air vents, allowing passengers to adjust the temperature based on their needs.

Overall, the 2012 Honda Odyssey public's core strengths lie in its practical space layout and stable power performance. Although its features and design do not offer many surprises, the vehicle is balanced and reliable. Compared to other MPVs in its class, it excels in space and practicality, making it suitable for family use. This car is particularly recommended for families who prioritize space and practicality, especially those who often travel with family members or need to accommodate multiple passengers. If you are looking for a stable and reliable family MPV, the 2012 Honda Odyssey public would be a great choice.

Pros
The power performance is excellent, stable in starting and climbing, strong in high-speed overtaking, not sluggish
Spacious and comfortable interior, no pressure for carrying the whole family and luggage
Good stability of the body, small tilting when cornering, stable driving on water-covered roads
Cons
After folding down the third-row seats, the trunk floor is raised, affecting the stability of luggage placement.
Fuel consumption is relatively high when stuck in urban traffic.
The vehicle shows a noticeable nosedive when braking heavily.
Overall Rating
4.5
Excellent
From 6 Reviews
Section Rating
Performance
4.5 / 5
Interior Design
4.5 / 5
Safety
4.5 / 5
Exterior Design
4.3 / 5
Showing 6 reviews
5 Excellent
TritonMR
Owner of 2012 Honda Odyssey public
Last week, I drove the whole family through mountain roads. Starting and climbing were very stable, this power really didn't let me down!
4 Excellent
JazzGK5
Owner of 2012 Honda Odyssey public
Previously, driving the old Myvi felt cramped when taking the whole family out, but after switching to the 2012 Odyssey Public, it finally feels comfortable! The 2.4L engine handles the Kuala Lumpur morning rush hour traffic smoothly, and when taking the parents and kids to Genting Highlands on weekends, it climbs hills without any struggle—giving it a 4 out of 5 for performance is fair. The exterior maintains the classic MPV design and looks younger compared to the Toyota Estima of the same era, so 4 out of 5 is reasonable. A small downside is that after folding up the third-row seats, the trunk floor becomes slightly raised, so you need to pad something under the suitcase to keep it stable. Last week, we took the whole family on a road trip to Penang—cruising at 120km/h on the highway felt very stable, the air conditioning was cold enough (you know how Malaysian summers are), and the kids in the back slept the whole way without making a fuss. The only regret is the fuel consumption, which is slightly high in city traffic, but for the space and comfort, this compromise is worth it!
5 Excellent
TunerPro
Owner of 2012 Honda Odyssey public
This 2012 Odyssey is truly the ultimate family car! It's reliable for daily school runs and perfect for weekend family trips. On the highway, it feels powerful and not sluggish at all when accelerating. What pleasantly surprised me the most is the safety features — it has never let me down after all this time. The only slight downside is that the fuel consumption is a bit higher compared to new models.
4 Excellent
RSQ3
Owner of 2012 Honda Odyssey public
This Odyssey interior is really spacious, even with the whole family and luggage loaded up, it doesn't feel cramped at all. So awesome!
5 Excellent
Gearhead
Owner of 2012 Honda Odyssey public
Last week, I took my wife and kids to the orchard at the foot of Yunding Mountain. Just after getting off the highway, we encountered a heavy downpour. Even with the wipers on full speed, visibility was still a bit blurred. But the body of this old Odyssey is really stable; the body roll during turns is much less than in my previous sedan. My wife said the kids in the back seat didn't even wake up—4 points for safety is well deserved, though the brakes feel a bit jerky when pressed hard. Honestly, the silver-gray body has an especially dazzling reflection in the rain, and it’s easy to spot in the parking lot. Back then, half the reason I chose it was for its timeless MPV design—5 points, no doubt about it.
1
2

How much is a transmission fluid change for a 2018 Honda Odyssey?

What engine is in a 2018 Honda Odyssey?

Is there a recall on the 2018 Honda Odyssey?