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inches, to 203.2 inches—and height— -0.1 inches, to 68.3 inches—the most substantial difference is to the width—down 0.7 inches, to 78.5 inches. As a result of this, there is a reduced frontal area, which helps reduce drag. ("Wait a minute!" you say. "By reducing the width of the vehicle, they are reducing the passenger volume." Which is a true point. And Honda personnel admit it. But they say that there is "almost identical passenger volume," then note that the EPA passenger volume for a 2017 EX-L model is 170.1-ft3 and is 160.1-ft 3 for the 2018 version. Which seems that the "almost identical" is something that needs to be taken with a grain of salt. A large one. However, they go on to explain that they're using a different approach to measuring interior volume, one that they say is "more consistent with the customer experience." What's more, they've taken steps to increase the passenger volume, as in taking the air condi- tioning duct work from the ceiling to under the floor and then through the door pillars. Based on the measuring method- ology the developers used, they acknowledge that there is a reduction in passenger volume, not 10-ft 3 but "within about 4-ft 3 ." However, they've actually increased the amount of maximum cargo volume, from 148.5-ft 3 to 155.8-ft 3 .) Speaking of the front of the Odyssey (after that long parenthetical aside), they've deployed an active shutter grille system. It is located below the front bumper. There is a processor that monitors factors including the engine coolant and radiator temperatures, the intake air temperature, the transmission oil temperature, and the cabin air conditioning requirements. Should the parameters warrant, then there is an electric actuator that opens or closes the four shutters that make up the system. When the shutters are closed—particu- larly when the minivan is cruising along—the aerodynamic drag is reduced. The system is engineered so that the shutters are kept closed as much as possible. Not only are they keeping unnecessary air from buffeting around in the engine bay, they're also directing the air beneath the vehicle. There are air-diverting strakes positioned in front of each of the tires, an undercover that runs behind the front fascia and beneath the engine and transmission, a flat piece between the front and rear wheels, and a cover behind the left rear tire. (Why just the left? Because the tailpipe is on the right.) UNDER THE HOOD In that engine bay there is a 280-hp, 3.5-liter SOCH V6 with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), as well as intelligent variable valve timing and lift control (i-VTEC) for the intake valves and direct-injection with multi-hole fuel injectors. Yes, this is the engine that is found in the Pilot, as is the nine- speed automatic transmission. However, the Odyssey is also available with a 10-speed automatic, which not only provides a wider gear ratio spread, but also faster upshifts and down- shifts. It is worth noting that the previous-generation Odyssey has a six-speed automatic. One of the things that is different about minivans as compared with other vehicles is that when a new platform emerges, there is something that changes above and beyond exterior sheet metal and powertrains and seat fabrics. The above-and-beyond for the 2018 Odyssey is what they're calling the "Magic Slide" seats. Chad Harrison says that when they were concepting the vehicle, this was something that they knew was essential as it was based on feedback from minivan owners. SLIDING SEATS The second row seat has a center section that can be removed so that there are two outboard seats, two full-sized captain's chairs. The second row seats can move forward and backward, as is the norm. But with the center section removed, each of the remaining two seats can adjust laterally in intervals of 3.2 inches to five positions, for a total of 12.9 inches of lateral movement. The primary objective is to provide a means by which the third row can be readily accessed even if there are two child seats in the second row. It is simply a matter of grabbing the slide release mechanism handle at the bottom of the outboard seat and sliding that seat toward the space left by the removed center seat. There are ways of positioning these seats, such as putting the two captain's chairs together in the middle so that they can be readily reached by front-seat occupants. Or the center seat can remain in place and folded so that it creates a massive arm rest. It's worth noting that for the 1995 Odyssey, Honda introduced the third-row "Magic Seat," which allowed the third row to be folded down flat into the floor. SEE AND HEAR Because the Odyssey is unapologetically a family vehicle, and because today's families are all about technology, Honda hasn't stinted in this area. According to figures from Autodata, total minivan sales in 2016 were up 8 percent compared to 2015. 32 COVER STORY