Our 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan has only been with us for 2–months, but we’ve already racked up 4,000–miles, had the seats arranged in every configuration possible, and loaded it full of equipment for our annual trek south to our winter testing facility. 

This family truckster may not win anyone over on its exterior design, but that clumsy styling is just a clever disguise; as spending any time at all inside the cabin, reveals the Odyssey is really a luxury-sedan in mom-mobile’s clothing.

At least in this well-outfitted Elite; where heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, and premium audio are all standard.

Early reports are positive, with the 3.5-liter V6 averaging a fine 23.7 miles-per-gallon so far.

We’ve put just over 6,000-miles on this 2018 Honda Odyssey since it arrived in December. And it speaks volumes about how things are going when the only complaint in our log book over that time, is in regards to the cup holders. It seems one of our constantly hydrating staff members can’t seem to find a substantial water bottle or coffee mug that properly fits them; first world problem indeed. Otherwise, it’s been smooth sailing, whether we’re daily commuting or weekend getawaying; the 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 has provided smooth and seamless power. 

Aided by an equally good-natured 10-speed automatic transmission, we’re averaging 22.4 miles-per-gallon. And we still love the numerous storage options seemingly everywhere in the cabin, as well as space galore for hauling just about anything. With warm weather arriving, vacation season is about to kick in full, and the Odyssey will no doubt be a big part of that. 

In just five months’ time, we’re at the 10,000-mile mark in our Honda Odyssey minivan. Everyone thinks they’re above the “lowly” minivan, until they need to move something big, or take a basketball team to a post-victory party; and then they’re not so worried about the mom-mobile image.

The fact that the Odyssey’s 2^nd row seats don’t fold into the floor like the Chrysler Pacifica is well documented; but the seatbacks in our Elite tester don’t even fold flat, requiring you to remove them to haul long, bulky items. And, boy are they heavy. And while we’ve also commented before on the 3.5-liter V6’s great power, and are on record as not being fans of the push-button transmission control; we’ve heard no complaints yet, about the 10-speed automatic’s operation itself. It’s been smooth all the way.

Long term mileage has stayed fairly consistent, up a tick this go-around to 23.8 miles-per-gallon.

Another 2,500-miles added to our 2018 Honda Odyssey’s odometer.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again; minivans truly are the most practical vehicles out there. What other vehicle allows you to haul 7 or 8-adults in comfort one minute, and after folding and removing seats, haul full sheets of plywood or an 80-inch flat screen the next; all while being so easy to drive and park, you wouldn’t think twice about letting your neighbor borrow it for a few hours. 

While doing all of that and more, we’re averaging 23.3 miles-per-gallon from a 3.5-liter V6 that delivers power better than many V8’s from not long ago. Yes, there are many ways to “haul” in this family truckster.  

As for our 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan, this summer has been a busy one. We managed to travel another 4,500-miles since our last report, bringing its 7-month total to 13,900-miles. 

And we also made our first unscheduled trip to the dealer. We were getting some pulsing through the brake pedal, which was quickly remedied by a resurfacing of the rotors; no charge to us. 

Nothing else has gotten in the way of our enjoyment of this quiet and an quite luxurious cruiser. The 3.5-liter V6 engine continues to deliver gutsy performance, making uphill chores not so chorish. All while delivering 25.7 miles-per-gallon.

Visibility is great; and all of the tech. features are working just fine, including the much easier to use Garmin-based navigation system.   

We’ve covered 18,000-miles of mostly highways in the 8-months that this 2018 Honda Odyssey has been in our fleet. And as expected, this summer has been a busy one, taking us on odysseys up and down the East Coast. 

We’ve had interesting weather around here, epic rainstorms… extreme heat… and the Odyssey has handled it all in stride. 

We still enjoy the highly refined, almost luxury car experience; as well as all of the power from the 3.5-liter V6. Mileage is averaging a fine 25.6 miles-per-gallon, and it nudges 30 on long hauls.

But long or short haul, lightly loaded or packed to the gills, the Odyssey remains a great ride for a family on the move.    

Time with our 2018 Honda Odyssey is also winding down. We’re 9-months in, and the odometer has measured a healthy 21,500-miles. More than healthy, is our uptick in fuel economy, now sitting at 26.2 miles-per-gallon. 

It succeeds mightily at doing what minivans are designed to do, haul a big family around with great comfort, and once you remove and fold the rear seats, load lots of Costco sized cargo. 

Do we miss the all-wheel-drive and ground clearance of a crossover when the weather and roads turn bad? Sure, but it hasn’t stopped us from racking up the all kinds of miles in the Odyssey. 

“Most people are shocked when we mention a minivan in our list of favorite cars, but the Honda Odyssey has absolutely earned its spot. The miles we put on it this summer came mostly from vacation road trips; a number of those on flat highways to Maryland’s eastern shore, hence the increased fuel economy. It’s comfortable for the driver and the passengers, plus there’s so much usable space, we found ourselves bringing along completely unnecessary items.”

The summer travel season is now well-passed, but that hasn’t stopped our 2018 Honda Odyssey from racking up the miles. 

In 11-months’ time, the odometer sits at just over 25,000-miles. If that seems like a lot, that’s because it is. Factor in the…shall we say heavy-handed or footed nature of some of the drivers around here, and it’s amazing how well this Odyssey is holding up. 

Our 26.0 miles-per-gallon average is perhaps even more noteworthy, as power from the 3.5-liter V6 continues to be strong, no matter how many people or how much cargo we’re hauling. 

Most folks refuse to believe it, but the humble minivan is a much better choice for most families than the SUV they’re currently driving. 

We only have a few more weeks to keep driving and enjoying this one. 

Our year is almost up with this 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan, the most useful vehicle type of all time. With a few small exceptions, the Odyssey’s stay with us has been exceptional! Just like we are used to from Honda. It certainly “ran like a deer” over these last 26,000 miles of very hard use. 

Through all the road trips both long and short, seat comfort remains a true high point, and not just for the driver. Second row seats are equally comfortable; and that means less complaining from the brood in back.

There were a few nits to pick when the Odyssey first arrived, and we recently had a loose fuel filler assembly replaced under warranty. 

But, it’s been nothing but praise over the last few months; and average fuel economy has remained steady at 25.8 miles-per-gallon of regular, with over 30 during highway cruising.

Time to wrap up our time with the 2018 Honda Odyssey. This Elite-trimmed party for eight was a popular choice for road trips; evidenced by traveling 30,800-miles over just 13 months.  

In an automotive landscape that seems to have every possible automotive niche filled, sometimes you just need a minivan. And whether you are hauling the neighborhood’s brood; or just your own family with all of their gear, the Odyssey never disappointed. We even averaged a great 25.4 miles-per-gallon.

Other highlights were the exceptional ride, comfortable long haul seats, and near luxury-car refinement; not to mention the interior flexibility that truly makes minivans the Swiss Army knives of the automotive world. The Odyssey will be greatly missed. 

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a recurring name in our Long Term fleet, having tested a previous-generation plug-in hybrid in 2019, and a next-gen non-PHEV just last year. With the new-gen PHEV now available, we couldn’t wait to give it a go.

This is our 2023 Outlander PHEV, decked out in the SEL Premium trim.

Under the hood is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, assisted by front and rear electric traction motors for standard all-wheel drive. The combined output is 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, with an EV-only range of about 38 miles; 14 more than the last gen PHEV.

The Outlander PHEV is the most powerful Outlander available, which means it would definitely be our choice. Although to be honest, it’s not just about the extra power. Being able to hit a button and quietly cruise on battery power alone is another nice perk of this powertrain. As is the ability to hit the same button and add significant charge back to the battery just by driving on gas-power.

The SEL Premium Package adds semi-aniline leather upholstery with heated front and rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a Bose sound system. Most importantly, all SELs come with DC Fast Charging. An unusual feature for a PHEV, it can get the 20-kWh battery to 80-percent in under 40 minutes.

We kicked off the summer with a new addition to our Long Term fleet, this 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid. And after 3000 miles of fun in the sun, we have our first official update.

In the two months since it arrived, we’ve observed an overall 33.9 miles-per-gallon. That’s significantly better than the final tally of 31.4 miles-per-gallon for our 2019 Outlander PHEV long termer.

We attribute some of our newfound success to plenty of due diligence keeping the 20-kilowatt-hour battery juiced up. That’s pretty easy, since our SEL Premium packs DC Fast Charging capabilities.

It’s also easy to slip into EV-only driving. The Outlander PHEV is rated at 38 miles of electric-only range, meaning we can use the battery for most of our local driving and fall back on the 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder for longer and more intensive hauls.

With a decent driving experience and a luxuriously wrapped interior, this Outlander is exactly what we need to fill a minivan-shaped hole in our hearts.

It’s been a busy summer for our 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. We’ve already logged another 4,000, mostly long-distance highway miles on the odometer. With a comfortable, quiet ride and a suite of amenities, we’ve all wanted it as our Road Trip companion.

But those high speed runs up and down I-95 have taken a toll on PHEV gas use. With highway trips quickly depleting the 38 electric-only miles, overall fuel economy has dropped about 10% to 30.2 mpg. Still, that’s just fine, thanks to this 2.4-liter inline-4’s efficient hybrid powertrain.

But, there is more to our Outlander PHEV experience than just saving at the pump.

We’ve raved about the Outlander’s looks both inside and out, but we all know looks only go so far. There needs to be substance behind the appearance. Well now that we’ve put in the road trip miles, we’re happy to report the Outlander holds up as a long-haul vehicle. On vacation my favorite feature was the massaging seats and, granted, they’re not as advanced as we’ve seen in of the high-end luxury vehicles, but they get the job done when back fatigue sets in.

With daily recharging, and shorter fall drives, we expect to see this Mitsubishi’s fuel economy tick up in the weeks ahead.

Cooler weather and shorter days are upon us. So, it’s a good time to recap our summer spent with this 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. We’ve tallied another 3,000 miles, bringing our long term test total to just over 10,000 miles.

You may recall a recent dip in fuel economy, attributed to the high-speed, long-distance miles from seasonal road trips, which are not always kind to hybrids. With the change in seasons, our Outlander is spending more time on the plug followed by shorter, mostly commuting trips. And that means better fuel economy, climbing back up to 31.3 miles-per-gallon overall.

As we’ve mentioned before, juicing the 20-kWh battery back up to full is easy thanks to the SEL-trim’s DC fast charging capabilities. Rare for a plug-in hybrid. And now having spent some time trying it, not only does it sound good on paper… it’s a really great feature to have.

And out on the road, things are equally satisfying.

“Ten thousand miles into our test, we are officially over the “get to know you” phase with this Outlander PHEV. And personally, I’ve grown fond of two things: One: the ability to precisely dial in the right amount of regenerative braking on the fly with these steering wheel paddles. And two, the quick burst of electric torque when you stab the throttle.”

Everyone around the office is still impressed with the Outlander overall. It’s versatile, it’s comfortable, and it’s very well appointed. If we could lobby one complaint, the wireless device charger seems to not always jive with our devices. Still, in-vehicle wireless chargers aren’t yet a perfect science.

If we’ve learned anything over the last 42-years here at MotorWeek, it’s that numbers on spec sheets don’t make great cars.

Vehicles like this 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec, which we’ve had the pleasure of driving for the last 2-months, may not boast big numbers of any kind, but the high revving 200-horsepower turbo-4 and the short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission help make this car much greater than the sum of its parts.

There is a little turbo lag from this tiny 1.5-liter, but that just seems to make it even more fun. It really is just a blast to drive; and don’t say we didn’t warn you; this car does make you want to drive fast.

That’s mostly due to this 6-speed manual transmission, which raises the question, why would anyone settle for an Integra A-Spec Tech with CVT? Rhetorical questions aside, I’m liking this car more and more. Now that I’ve got the high engagement point of the clutch figured out, I’m really starting to appreciate how dialed in the suspension is. At this rate, on the next update I might upgrade my “likes” to “loves.”

All this and great fuel economy too, with our current average sitting at 33.6 miles-per-gallon over 5,500-miles. Plus, the Integra’s hatchback practicality delivers storage space that rivals many small crossovers.

While it may not boast quite the refinement as most of the Acura lineup, everything inside looks and feels sporty too, and hey, that’s why they call it entry level.

Summer is speeding by quickly, but we’re getting our money’s worth of summertime driving fun in this 2023 Acura Integra.

We’ve racked up over 6,000-miles in just 3-months’ time, averaging a great 33.8 miles-per-gallon from the tiny but mighty 200-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo-4.

We were thrilled that Acura brought the Integra name back and have been even more excited to discover it delivers a driving experience worthy of the name; easily winning a MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award earlier this year.

“200 horsepower coming from the Integra’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder doesn’t sound like much, but trust us…it is. We’ve mentioned the turbo before and how there’s a bit of lag at low rpm. Yeah, you wouldn’t get that in a naturally aspirated engine, but you also wouldn’t get as much low-end torque, and torque is what brings a smile to your face.”

We mostly love the functionality and looks of its sporty interior, but do wish they would have poured just a tad more Acura into it, as in certain places, its Civic roots are a little too obvious.

We are 4-months into our extended drive time with this 2023 Acura Integra sport luxury sedan. But after a host of early road trips it mostly seems to have settled into commuter duty, adding only about 700-miles since we last checked in.

On that score, the 200-horsepower turbo-4 and 6-speed manual makes for one highly entertaining commute, and most logbook comments agree the Integra feels more fun than luxury. And that’s just fine by us.

Since our last update, we have driven the high-performance Integra Type S, and while we really like that car, it doesn’t feel like we’re giving up all that much in this Integra. Sure, it doesn’t have as much power as the Type S, but it still feels quick and the suspension is more than capable of keeping momentum in tight corners.

We probably haven’t talked enough about how aggressively sporty it appears outside; our tester’s Liquid Carbon paint job looks fantastic, without being too flashy.

Despite a heavy foot or two, economy is very consistent, with our average hovering at 33.9 miles-per-gallon. And while the summer sun may be setting in the rear view, we’ve still got many miles to cover in this Acura Integra.

The leaves are beginning to change here in the Mid-Atlantic and temperatures cooling down, but our fondness for this 2023 Acura Integra is still heating up, and some last-minute summer getaways helped tack another 5,000-miles on our tally since the last report.

We’ve reached the 5-month mark, having driven 12,000-miles, and this 200-horsepower turbo-4 really is a dream to operate even if the revs hang a little high on the freeway. Monitoring those revs is easy with the clear and precise digital gauge display, which ironically enough, is actually called Acura’s Precision Cockpit. And it’s worth noting the 6-speed manual transmission, not just for its novelty, but for the fact that it works so well.

“A lot of the charm and even credibility for the Integra being a sporty compact comes from the manual transmission option. Shifter throws are short and precise while the brake pedal and gas pedal are spaced perfectly for heel-toe downshift action… that is assuming you turn off the automatic rev matching feature. And, uh… don’t tell any purists… I’m starting to leave that function on.”

Some additional highway miles have helped the fuel economy average climb slightly to 34.5 miles-per-gallon; and so far, the only downtime for the Integra has been for regularly scheduled maintenance.

Everything inside is holding up quite well, including the Sport Seats with Microsuede Inserts that come with the Tech Package, which also gets you a nice head-up display and nicer 16-speaker ELS Studio Premium Audio which brings the noise with clarity. And there’s even plenty of room in the back seat for bringing some friends along.