The Honda Odyssey receives minor exterior styling updates for 2010, including an updated grille and a number of new exterior colors. Other than that, the Odyssey changes little for 2010, despite rumors indicating a major redesign would take place this year. Many industry watchers were hoping the 2010 Odyssey would take the form of the sleek, futuristic JDM Odyssey, which went on sale in Japan in 2008 to much acclaim. However, we'll have to wait until next year to see if the highly anticipated and well-reviewed JDM design makes its way to U.S. shores in 2011.

For now, American owners will have to settle for the current Odyssey, which displays a design dating back to 2005. And for many owners with families who appreciate the expansive interior, car-like handling, wide range of amenities, safety features, and reliability offered by the current incarnation of the Odyssey, that's not a problem. In addition, owners continue to appreciate the Odyssey for its versatility, thanks to such features as the second-row PlusOne Seat, which enables all trims except the entry-level LX to carry up to eight passengers, and the 60/40-split third-row Magic Seat, which folds flat into the floor on all trims to expand cargo space.

As in previous years, the 2010 Honda Odyssey comes in four trims, including the mid-range EX and EX-L and the top-of-the-line Touring, in addition to the LX. The automaker outfits each trim with a long list of convenience and safety features. The base LX trim comes well-equipped with such features as air conditioning, cruise control, full power features, and a four-speaker, 120-watt AM/FM audio system with a CD player and MP3 input jack. In addition, it includes such storage and cargo features as a retractable center tray table with bag hooks, a second-row in-floor storage compartment, and 13 cupholders.

Stepping up a notch, the EX trim offers an 8-way power driver's seat, tri-zone automatic climate control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, power-sliding doors, and a six-speaker audio system with a 6-CD changer. The EX-L adds heated leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power moonroof, and a power tailgate, while the upper-end Touring trim goes for the gold with such standard features a 4-way power-adjustable passenger seat, power-adjustable pedals, a 300-watt seven-speaker audio system, a rear DVD entertainment system, Bluetooth, and a navigation system with voice recognition and a rearview camera.

The Odyssey provides plenty of headroom throughout the cabin and good legroom in the first and second rows, although taller adults will find legroom in the third-row seats tight. Cargo capacity starts at 38 cubic feet with all three rows of seats in place, and expands to 91 cubic feet and 147 cubic feet, respectively, with the third and second rows folded down. Overall, owners give high marks to the interior's fit and finish, with plenty of padding on the seats and soft-touch surfaces.

For power, the LX and EX trims come equipped with a 3.5-liter VTEC V6, which produces 244 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The EX-L and Touring trims are powered by a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6, which delivers 5 more lb-ft of torque for slightly better response off the line, although horsepower remains the same. In addition, the i-VTEC V6 in the upper-end trims features variable cylinder management, which can deactivate two or three of the engine's six cylinders when not needed to improve fuel efficiency. It posts fuel economy numbers of 17/25 mpg, compared to 16/23 for the VTEC V6. The upper-end trims also come equipped with an Active Control Engine Mount System and Active Noise Cancellation, which help reduce vibration and ensure a quiet cabin. In all trims, the engine links to a five-speed automatic transmission.

Safety features for the 2010 Odyssey include front side airbags and three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor. Antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist come standard on all trims. In addition, all trims include Honda's version of an electronic stability program, called Vehicle Stability Assist. The Odyssey receives five stars, the highest rating possible, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for both frontal and side-impact crash tests. The front-wheel-drive Odyssey rides on 16-inch wheels in all trims, except for the high-end Touring trim, which upgrades to 17-inch alloy wheels.