Honda Odyssey with optional fog lights

Honda’s Accord Euro and Odyssey have won their segments in the Fairfax newspaper group’s Top Ten Cars of 2005.

Drive, the motoring liftout in Fairfax’s group – which includes The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and the internet site drive.com.au – gave Accord Euro the best Medium Car award for the third year running and named Odyssey as the best People Mover for the second consecutive year.

Speaking about the Accord Euro, the Drive team wrote: “This is the third consecutive Drive Top 10 gong for this car. Despite new or refreshed competition, the Accord Euro still leads the way in dynamics, price, value and equipment. A recent freshen-up only enhances this model's virtues.”

They were equally impressed with the Odyssey, saying “It is fitting that the Odyssey looks like a spaceship - inside and out - because it is light-years ahead of the competition. It is well-priced, well - equipped, superbly built and has good open road economy. It also feels more secure on the road than such vehicles usually do. So make that win number two in Drive's Top 10 for the Odyssey.”

Honda Australia Director Lindsay Smalley said there was no doubt why the two cars have been successful.

“Outstanding quality and value for money sum up the Accord Euro and the Odyssey,” he said.

“Despite fighting in hotly contested segments their quality attributes put them well ahead of the opposition.”

The Odyssey is available in two variants – Odyssey, which is $38,790, and Odyssey Luxury, which retails for $45,290. Accord Euro pricing begins at $33,500 (six-speed manual transmission) and extends to $45,500 for the Euro luxury with optional factory-fitted satellite navigation (five-speed automatic).

© Copyright 2006 Driveguide.com.au

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