Planet Honda

All of the redesigned minivans faced off this spring in a head-to-head shootout to determine which was best and the Odyssey beat out all of its competitors. It's a big accomplishment!

To evaluate the high-end vans that make the small market worthwhile, USA TODAY, Cars.com and the MotorWeek TV show convened the Ultimate Minivan Shootout, a comparison test among well-equipped vans priced from about $34,000 to $43,000, without shipping charges.

A suburban Atlanta family was recruited to help judge the vans, ensuring that real-world considerations weren't overlooked. And the family � Travis and Heather Weatherby and their three children ranging from 15 down to 1 year old � made the point about high-price vans perfectly.

They are on a push to minimize or eliminate debt, and spent a lot of time with the second-lowest-price van of the group. But in the end, their highest scores went to the loaded $43,000 Honda Odyssey.

Scores from professional auto reviewers who made up the panel of judges also favored Odyssey, making it the overall winner.

HOW THE ULTIMATE MINIVAN SHOOTOUT WAS DONE:

�The setup.Cars.com, USA TODAY and MotorWeek TV tested six new full-size minivans in the Ultimate Minivan Shootout � "ultimate" because we gave automakers a price ceiling of $45,000, before shipping was added. Typical selling price nowadays for minivans: about $33,000.

Testing was done over three days in and around Atlanta.

�The testers. As with all our Shootouts, the vehicles were rated in a variety of areas � from first impressions to handling and comfort � by experts and by consumers.

Expert testers were USA TODAY's James R. Healey, Cars.com writers David Thomas, Kristin Varela and Jennifer Newman, MotorWeek producer Brian Robinson.

The family testers were Travis and Heather Weatherby of suburban Atlanta and their three children.

�The scoring. Experts' total scores made up 65% of the final score; the family's, 25%; real-world gas mileage in our highway tests, 10%. A perfect score would be 1,000 points.

Though scores in individual categories varied widely, overall scores for the vehicles were clustered closer, from a lowest of 715.15 points to the top of 854.55.

�The test drives. One-day gas mileage drive of roughly 175 miles, mainly highway and interstate travel, rotating drivers. One day of features comparisons and test driving by experts, over a prescribed suburban Atlanta route. One day of family testing in which the Weatherby family compared features and cargo space and then drove each van over a prescribed suburban route.

No. 1: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

Shootout score: 854.6 points

Price as tested: $43,250

Mileage rating: 19/28 mpg; 22 mpg combined (best rating)

Mileage in shootout highway test: 25.9 mpg (first place)

Pros: "It doesn't look like such a Mommy car," Heather said. "The outboard seats in the second row are the comfiest seats in the shootout, and the expandable second row seats three car seats," Newman noted. "By far the best handling of the bunch!" Robinson enthused. "This face-off proved � just how good the Odyssey is," Thomas wrapped up. "It does everything very well."

Overall: The combination of ride, features and handling made this one the winner for our experts and our family. Our family might have been a little biased toward the Odyssey because the Weatherbys previously owned one. Odyssey was the highest-priced and scored first, but that wasn't a theme. Sienna, the second most expensive van, came in last.

Key additional features:

�16.2-inch video screen in 2nd row; HDMI input

�Navigation

�Only competitor with seats for eight

�National Highway Traffic Safety Administration five-star overall safety score (2011 methodology)

�Second row has adjustable seat width to allow three child seats, removable center seat

�Leather seating

�115-volt house-style power outlet

�Blind spot monitoring system

The fashion-forward 2012 Honda Civic Coupe, wearing the official livery of an IZOD IndyCar pace car, has taken up residence in the windows of the Herald Square and Roosevelt Macy's stores to promote the Civic Racing Style sweepstakes heralding the arrival of the all-new, ninth generation Honda Civic.

Visitors to the Herald Square and Roosevelt Field Macy's stores are eligible to join the Honda contest. Eleven (11) top-prize winners in the Civic Racing Style sweepstakes will win a 2012 Honda Civic LX Coupe and a $2,500 IZOD shopping spree. Twenty (20) runners up will win a "second chance" trip for two to the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race in Las Vegas, Nevada, which includes one more opportunity to win a 2012 Civic before the start of the season-ending race.

In addition to the Civic Racing Style sweepstakes, visitors to the Macy's stores will be eligible to enter a second contest, the Honda Fastest Seat in Sports sweepstakes, in which winners will have the opportunity to ride along with legendary racecar driver Mario Andretti in a specially prepared, two-seat IndyCar for the start of an upcoming IZOD IndyCar race. "Teaming with iconic brands like Macy's and IZOD and offering consumers chances to win a new Honda Civic and the experience of starting an IndyCar race with Mario Andretti makes this one of the most unique promotions we have undertaken, there is nothing like it in sports," said Richard Kent, senior marketing manager at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

This unique partnership brings together Honda, Macy's and IZOD, the presenting sponsor of the 2011 IndyCar season, to promote three of the world's most popular consumer brands along with America's preeminent open-wheel racing series, in conjunction with the launch of the all-new, completely redesigned 2012 Honda Civic, which is the ninth generation of Honda's fast, fun and fuel efficient compact car.