Schomp Honda

Safety

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Odyssey deploy with different levels of force or don't deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Odyssey's side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Enclave's side airbags don't have smart features and will always deploy full force.

 

The Odyssey has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Enclave doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

 

The Odyssey Touring has standard parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Enclave doesn't offer a front parking aid.

 

The Odyssey Touring Elite's blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. The Enclave doesn't offer a system to reveal objects in the driver's blind spots.

 

Both the Odyssey and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

 

Reliability

 

The engine in the Odyssey has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Enclave has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 18th, below the industry average.

 

Fuel Economy and Range

 

On the EPA test cycle the Odyssey Touring six-speed Auto gets better fuel mileage than the Enclave FWD (19 city/28 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy).

 

An engine control system that can shut down half of the engine's cylinders helps improve the Odyssey's fuel efficiency. The Enclave doesn't offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

 

Environmental Friendliness

 

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Odyssey higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Buick Enclave (5 to 6). This means the Odyssey produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Enclave every 15,000 miles.

 

Suspension and Handling

 

The Odyssey has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Enclave's suspension doesn't offer gas-charged shocks.

 

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Odyssey is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Enclave.

 

For better maneuverability, the Odyssey's turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the Enclave's (36.7 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

 

Chassis

 

The Honda Odyssey may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 pounds less than the Buick Enclave.

 

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Odyssey has an electronically controlled liquid-filled engine mounts. A computer controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Enclave uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

 

The Odyssey uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Enclave doesn't offer active noise cancellation.

 

Passenger Space

 

The Odyssey has 19.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Enclave (172.6 vs. 153).

 

The Odyssey has 1 inch more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom, 9.1 inches more rear hip room, 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom, 9.2 inches more third row legroom, .1 inches more third row hip room and 3.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

 

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Odyssey's middle and third row seats recline. The Enclave's third row seats don't recline.

 

Cargo Capacity

 

The Odyssey's cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

	Odyssey	Enclave
Behind Third Seat	38.4 cubic feet	23.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	93.1 cubic feet	67.5 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	148.5 cubic feet	115.9 cubic feet

 

Towing

 

The Odyssey's standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave's (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

 

Ergonomics

 

The Odyssey's front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave's front passenger window doesn't close automatically.

 

If the windows are left down on the Odyssey the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the Enclave can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

 

The Odyssey has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Enclave doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

 

The Odyssey Touring has a standard center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The Enclave doesn't offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

 

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Odyssey's passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation, which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Enclave doesn't offer a filtration system.

 

Recommendations

 

The Honda Odyssey outsold the Buick Enclave by over six to one during the 2010 model year.

* [1]  Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.