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Honda issues seat related recall for Odyssey Minivan

According to Torque News and others, Thursday found American Honda issuing a 2nd row seat latch related safety recall. Honda estimates that upwards of 650,000 Odyssey minivans produced from 2011 through 2016 may be effected.

In short: Based on 689 defective seat to floor latch warranty claims, American Honda has initiated a precautionary recall, with notification by mail to consumers scheduled for February 2017, and modifications to commence sometime in early Spring 2017.

The key word here is “precautionary.”

Looking to the design of the current seat to floor latching mechanism installed in the 2011 through 2016 Odyssey minivan, an inadvertent improperly latched seat can result in the seat shifting during an auto accident episode. To remove the possibility, Honda will install at no cost to the end user, a modified latch and additional spring mechanism.

As a fellow Odyssey driver, I kindly recommend a quick check of the second row seat top floor latching mechanism. Is it in the lock position?

Honda Odyssey was the best selling minivan in North America for 2016. A reinvented next generation 2018 Odyssey will be revealed at the Detroit International Auto Show in January.

For more information on this and other Honda related recalls

Civic tops our Honda news for December

2017 Honda Civic Hatchback passes my drive review with flying colors.

With a much anticipated arrival of the manufactured in England 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback, the 44 year compact icon bettered its sales position in the United States. Actually, Civic was the best selling compact sedan in North America for 2016. We first experienced 2016 Civic behind the wheel in Malibu, California.

And although American Honda doesn’t disclose individual variant sales numbers,(sedan, coupe, hatchback) I’ll step out on a limb here with a qualified guess that the November arrival of Honda’s turbocharged 5-door hatchback pushed the lineup into a world-class-compact competition, with very positive sales results.

On a personal note: 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Touring was my Honda-Torque News pick for Honda’s most surprising car offering in 2016.

That’s a big deal with American Honda no leading the sales race with 4 contenders taking #1 in class: Honda Accord, Civic Sedan, CR-V SUV and Odyssey Minivan. In short, the buying public has made Honda the fastest growing automotive brand in North America. And crossover/SUV fans: 2017 Honda CR-V arrives with a welcomed surprise or two.

When we look to the numbers, Honda not only builds well over 95% of cars sold in North America, in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., but, when looking to domestically sourced parts percentage, your North American Honda contains a higher percentage of “Manufactured in the U.S.A.”parts than Chevrolet, Dodge or Ford.

As to the engine: Honda’s dedicated to manufactured in the U.S. low displacement, super low friction and near-zero emissions turbocharged 4 cylinder gasoline engines throughout the re engineered lineup. This holds true for the exceptional manufactured in England turbocharged 5-door hatchback. Reflecting on my initial drive time, I find Civic Hatchback to be the most refined offering in the 10th generation lineup. Speaking of auto-innovation, take a look at Honda Clarity.

As to Honda’s latest Civic offering: Say what you will, I appreciate the utility of a compact hatchback; Honda’s quirky good looks, and what I now consider to be the most comfortable power adjusted driver’s seat in the Civic brand.

Was it love at first site? Well no! But much like the proverbial ‘girl next door,” she grows on you.

2017 Honda Ridgeline only IIHS Top Safety Pick + pickup truck to date

In the case of the reinvented Honda Ridgeline Pickup, its latest well earned industry accolade is a ‘one of a kind.’ According to Honda-Torque News and others, 2017 Honda Ridgeline is the first pickup in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) history to receive the highest available crash safety rating.

As for me, I like the 2nd generation Ridgeline for cabin comfort, decent road handling and control, as well as a measurable off-road, all-terrain capability — when equipped with all-wheel-drive, and Honda’s exclusive push button electronic engaged variable traction drive mode.

As I recall from my time behind the wheel of Honda’s most surprising offering, available in front and all-wheel-drive equipped models. Read my latest Ridgeline drive review here.

What do NSX, Accord and Civic have in common?

Some how I missed it! Back on December 8, Honda announced the addition of two epic Indycar drivers to the Rolex 25 Hour Acura NSX GT-3 Car. My good buddy Graham Rahal joins Ryan-Hunter Reay teams up with Michael Shank Racing and Honda Performance Development behind the wheel of the all new factory NSX platformed NSX GT-3 car similar to Acura’s choice for the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge Race Series. Take a moment to read my Honda-Torque News update here.

I took a hot-lap or two with Graham earlier in 2016 — damn near lost my lunch, thank you Graham.

In other Honda racing updates: We find rising racing star Shea Holbrook, and team driver Jason Fichter expanding their Honda Accord team efforts for 2017 with the edition of PWC winner Tom O’Gorman and a H.P.D partnered 2017 Civic Si to Shea Racing. With 3 cars on the track in 2017, Shea Racing will be a team to recon with.

I further look forward to reporting on RealTime Racing as they take on the GT class in 2 HPD equipped and Acura factory co-built NSX GT-3 cars. Reportedly approaching 600+ horsepower, rear-wheel drive and track sticky contenders, 2017 should be a winning year for P.D. Cunningham and the RealTime Racing Team.

Why Honda Civic is Kelley Blue Book’s most awarded car for 2016

2016_Honda_Civic_Touring_McCants

For those of us who have driven the reinvented 10th generation Honda Civic, there remains little mystery as to why Honda’s latest Civic lineup is soon to cross into the books as the best selling Honda Civic of all time.

With no lack of financially affordable, fuel efficient competition rolling within the ranks of America’s compact sedan and coupe segment, Civic continues to buck the crossover/ SUV purchase trend with unprecedented sales — despite cheep and plentiful gasoline, low purchase interest rates and dealer purchase incentives for larger fuel-thirsty vehicles.

I believe Civic’s sales success is due to Honda’s willingness and manufacturing capacity to produce an affordable, quality, fun to drive compact sedan — featuring midsize interior-like ergonomics, elbow room, and measurable drive and ride comfort. Furthermore, Civic ‘bests’ the compact sedan segment with class topping good looks, engine performance, and what has been called the finest working CVT (constant variable transmission) available in the auto industry today. Agreed! Honda_Civic_McCants

But for me, a truck, and SUV owner, the 10th generation Civic effectively takes “tiny” out of the drive and ride equation. Remarkably for me, a 6 foot 5 inch tall driver, I find adequate seat adjustment, Head, leg and shoulder room in Civic sedan and coupe, that wasn’t always the case. Furthermore, Civic’s ride and overall road handling dynamic is best in class — all at a very attainable MSRP ($18,740 LX to $26,600 Touring.) How does 2016 Honda Civic hold up in the long run?

Today in Honda-Torque News

Today in Honda-Torque News we discuss why 2016/2017 Honda Civic is Kelly Blue Book’s most awarded car for 2016. When we were first introduced to the 10th generation Honda Civic back in the fall of 2015, on first look it became very evident that Honda bench-marked BMW 3 Series, Audi 4 and other compact European sedans in designing a new beginning for this made in America iconic brand.

Today from Honda-Torque News

Following yet another round of segment leading awards for Pilot, Ridgeline and the reinvented 2017 CR-V crossover, Honda- Torque News and yours truly take a look at the benefit of turbocharging Honda’s best selling compact crossover.

I had my first opportunity to experience Honda’s next best seller on the back roads and highways of San Francisco and Monterey Bay, California – stunning! And, so is Honda’s most refined compact CUV to date. In danger of reading like an advertisement for 2017 Honda CR-V, frankly, I found nothing but positive accolades for this much improved compact crossover segment best seller.

Following the lead of 2016 Honda Civic Touring, buyers will now find a turbocharged engine option as well as Honda’s much improved G-Shift logic CVT transmission. What turbocharging does for 2017 Honda CR-V performance.

Beyond the confines of arguably the most refined and ergonomically correct cabin found in the compact crossover/SUV segment, buyers will enjoy the much improved soft and hard touch surfaces, an enlarged center-stack touch screen, multiple cellphone O.S. pairing capabilities, an uptick sound system, and top of segment “Honda Sensing” active safety options.

For our readers living in colder climates, when equipped with all-wheel-drive, CR-V claims a 50% greater torque efficiency to rear wheels when traction loss is detected – seamlessly. I like that.

As to the 5th generation CR-V exterior look, I believe that the reinvented CR-V speaks for itself. Honda engineering injects the design language of the reinvented A.H.M.C. lineup into CR-V without loosing the essence of the made in America best seller. I’m impressed by the balance of line, the wide-track stance, available wheel selection and slightly increased ground clearance. The understated urbane fighter ‘look’ works very well .

For more details as to features, options and MSRP read my initial 2017 CR-V drive impressions here. In short, with Car and Driver voting 2017 CR-V “Best Compact SUV,” CR-V has earned your test drive when considering the purchase of a new fuel efficient compact crossover.

2017 Honda CR-V named Car and Driver ‘Best Compact SUV’

Interestingly enough, prior to its North America dealership debut, auto industry bellwether “Car and Driver.com” names Honda’s reinvented 5th generation CR-V “2017 Best Compact SUV” when weighed against some rather good competition.

I had the pleasure of driving 2017 Honda CR-V from San Francisco to Monterey California last month, and was just a bit blown away by how comfortable, road worthy and spacious CR-V truly is. Read my first drive impressions here.

But in short: What Honda has done with CR-V goes way beyond turbocharging; although the benefits of the 1.5 Liter VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine can’t be understated. Where 2017 CR-V truly shines is in superior interior seating comfort, ease of control, and welcomed added passenger, cargo space.

I was further impressed by CR-V’s much improved interior noise reduction, total lack of torque steer, side roll and truck-like suspension attributes. It’s posh way beyond the restrictions of the compact crossover/SUV classification. Apparently our friends at “Road and Track” agree with me. I further predict that 2017 Honda CR-V will continue to rank as the best-selling SUV of any size segment in North America.

Read how Road and Track assessed Honda’s best-selling SUV here

CR-V’s in good company with 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup. In other news we find the 2nd generation Honda Ridgeline picking up yet another much coveted auto industry accolade. With a reported 60% of all new auto sales dedicated to the pickup truck, crossover or SUV, according to Road and Track.com, Ridgeline is the best value found in today’s growing midsize pickup truck segment.

Read my latest Honda Ridgeline road adventure here.

10th Gen Honda Civic redefines compact car segment

With unprecedented accolades coming from the automotive press and consumers alike, the reinvented Honda Civic lineup is on course for a record sales year — not an insignificant accomplishment in a rather good field of domestic and import car contenders. In effect, the 10th generation Honda Civic redefines the compact car segment. and, what buyers anticipates as to performance, standard features and comfort, in what was at one time the bare bones introduction to car ownership.

At this point I’ve driven the entire Honda lineup with the exception of the Civic Si variant and the legendary Civic Type-R — that will most likely happen for me sometime in early 2017. In the meantime, read my latest initial drive and ride experience behind the wheel of what I consider to be Honda’s most refined Civic to date.

Honda’s reinvented 10th generation Civic world car

With very few bumps encountered along the road to segment supremacy, American Honda Motor Company is on track to a record sales year for 2016. While Accord and the reinvented Civic continue to dominate the non-fleet midsize and compact sedan.

CR-V crossover and the surprisingly well selling subcompact HR-V 5-door hatchback drives Honda’s light truck segment sales, with Honda Pilot and the reinvented 2nd generation Ridgeline pickup exceeding projected sales targets for the big “H.”

Monday morning found yet another accolade placed in the 3rd row of this vehicle. Congratulations Honda!

2017 Honda Pilot named ‘Best 3-Row SUV’ by Cars.com

Looking to Monday morning Honda News: According to our friends at Cars.com 2017 Honda Pilot tops the 3-row SUV segment in standard feature value, comfort, fuel efficiency and ‘real-world’ MPG — when compared to a rather good field of competitors. You may read my latest drive review of the reinvented Honda Pilot here.

Read how Cars.com assesses the reinvented Honda Pilot

After extensive testing in the Cars.com “Three-Row SUV Challenge,” the completely redesigned 2016 Honda Pilots named the best midsize SUV of 2016 and the overall Challenge winner. Testing, which included expert evaluation on a set course, a 170-mile drive to determine real-world MPG, and driving by an in-market family, revealed Pilot as the clear leader within its segment.

Recognized for its interior space, versatility and utility with comfortable seating for up to eight passengers, the Pilot is now also available with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ functionality. To read more about the awards, visit www.Cars.com.

What I like about 2017 Honda Pilot

For 2017, Honda refined Pilot’s ride and drive experience while increasing horsepower and torque to segment leading levels. Absent is the harsh ride tendencies associated with pick-up-truck based SUV s. Thanks to Pilot’s shared Oddysey and Ridgeline’s unibody manufacturing platform, primary front-wheel-drive, i-VTEC V6 power and Pilot’s optional 9-speed automatic transmission with electronic drive-mode selection, Pilot presents a much improved all-weather, variable road surface traction, and much more.

Family friendly, work ready

No worries: Although Honda has measurably refined Pilot’s interior layout and finish while increasing seating capacity and behind row-3 cargo room, Pilot remains a financially attainable crossover/SUV package for discerning buyers looking to Honda for exceptional initial purchase and ownership value. * MSRP from $30,950 FWD LX to $47,070 Elite AWD. MPG: 27 Highway/19 City.

In the dirt

Yes, Honda Pilot is surprisingly good off-road. Check out my Texas experience here.

2017 Acura RDX Advance may be maker’s best kept performance secret

When Acura installs their rendition of Honda’s near mechanically bulletproof VTEC V6, in a 2 row CUV the size of a Honda CR-V, great things happen! You won’t discover much if any acceleration or torque lag behind the wheel of Acura RDX. And yet RDX remains well balanced.

Also, thanks to optional AWD (all-wheel-drive) very road sticky. While not a torque vectoring super handling all wheel drive like this car, 2017 Acura RDX takes Honda’s time proven all-wheel-drive AWD with Intelligent Control System ™, to the next level in performance, by sending torque from primary front wheel drive to rear wheels when it’s most needed.

In this system up to 50% of the generated torque is dedicated to the rear wheels when slippage is detected — it’s seamless, and very effective on slick, muddy or icy road surfaces.

The beauty here is when driving RDX, there’s virtually no torque steer noted by the driver when pushing the ‘pedal to the metal.’ In essence, RDX ‘feels” like a live rear axle performance car, without the rear wheel “burnout!” It’s a beautiful thing! And I do love that V6 exhaust growl, as well as the engines interaction with what some in the industry will consider out dated, the 6 speed automatic transmission, with standard equipped sequential steering wheel mounted paddle shifting.

As noted by my fellow automotive journalist, while 2017 Acura RDX is not the most powerful or sophisticated 9 luxury) offering in the luxury segment, when weighing the total package that is RDX, this crossover is effectively a drive and ride purchase value.

O.K., where’s the wood and the bling?

Granted, Acura’s held the path with RDX as to their philosophy of “precision driven performance,” and understated elegance. The style is there, but it’s Acura styling, a bit plastic rich, and either you’ll like the front end (grill) design, or you won’t. For me it’s not a deal breaker. But then again, I’m not buying or leasing RDX. Did I mention how much we enjoyed RDX in Phoenix?

I appreciate the light and bright confines of what is arguably the most comfortable interior in the segment. What truly stands out for me is the touch and ‘feel’ of the 10 way power adjusted driver’s seat, the sweeping curve of the soft-touch dash, the uncluttered 2 dial, i-MID instrument cluster, and the historically correct placement of the stick shift.

Plush, but not posh, that’s Acura. If I have but one gripe here, it’s that Acura retains the dual screen center stack layout for 2017. And, this kills me — manual knobs for climate control, fan speed, mode selection and ?

As with most vehicles on the market today, there exists more than a bit of redundancy in the overlapping of sometimes less than intuitive smart-wheel-controls, touch screen interface, voice command, and manually manipulated directives — as to mechanical and electronic conveniences and personal electronic connectivity — ‘beam me up Scotty, now!”

It all works well enough with exception of “smart phone” pairing. I don’t know, there may be a glitch in my personal hard drive.

What’s frustrating for me as a Honda aficionado, Last weeks run in the all new 2017 Ridgeline Black Edition was seamless — Acura has the technology to take its lineup to the next level of personal electronics connectivity.

Very comfortable, reasonably quiet, keyless entry, ignition, power liftgate and more

Our 2017 Acura Advanced AWD came fully equipped, and then some. Stacked on top of what is arguably the most comprehensive trim-level-option in the segment, were 18 inch black alloy rims, color matched roof rails, cargo bars, running boards, rear bumper applique, light door sills, and a waterproof cargo tray — making for a near sinister looking RDX package with a total price as equipped of $47, 094 + prep, licence, registration, applicable sales tax and optional extended warranty, etc.

On the convenience and ease of access side, I found Acura RDX very accommodating, especially in the second row. Even at 6 foot 5 inches tall, I discovered a very comfortable 40/60 split rear bench with ample shoulder, head and legroom. Acura claims that 5 adults and their luggage can travel in comfort in RDX. After spending a week in the seat, sure, why not?

Room with a view

Thanks to a slightly elevated seating position, view to the front is good, as is ease of conversation while in motion. Thanks to electronic active noise control and amble road noise and vibration abatement, conversation between the front and rear row passenger occurs in normal tones. While not a s quiet as MDX, it’s close.

Great sound system, decent ride quality, ease of operation

Acura’s ELS 9 speaker premium sound system is one of the best in the industry. And with 4-wheel independent suspension, hydraulic dampers, and electronic assisted steering, driving and riding in Acura’s compact 2 row crossover is pleasurable.

You need not purchase a top of the line trim level RDX to enjoy premium quality, passive and many of the active safety features presented in the Acura Advance. With a beginning MSRP of $35,570, Acura RDX gives the European entries a run for the dollar.

Next generation RDX scheduled for 2018

With big changes on the horizon slated for Acura’s second best-selling SUV, crossover, It would be just a bit counterproductive for me to make a change suggestion of two. Throwing caution to the wind, I‘d like to see RDX styling go the way of 2017 MDX, I have little doubt that it will.

The precision diamond grill would look great on RDX. Also, RDX is in dire need of an updated center stack, single static screen display. Furthermore, what can we do to improve “voice command,” navigation, and “seamless” cellphone/vehicle pairing?
And while I’m at it, is there any particular reason Acura couldn’t offer an air-suspension option for RDX? This would be great for mild off-road use. Dare we talk hybrid? O.K., I’ll leave that question for a future article. For me, my week in the seat ended with a nod and a smile. I thoroughly enjoyed my RDX experience. But then again, who doesn’t appreciated value priced quality and drive performance?

We head on down to Fort Umpqua Days in 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup

Fall is a great time for driving the back roads of western Oregon. The weather borders on perfection and is generally dry, cool in the mornings, warm in the afternoon, and breezy. Last Labor Day Weekend, we headed down to “Fort Umpqua Days,” with Ms Nancy King. Frankly, she wasn’t eager to vacate the driver’s seat of 2017 Ridgeline, and headed south on the old Territorial Highway toward Drain, Oregon.

V6 powered, fuel-efficient, easy handling

In talking with Ridgeline development engineers, as shared with Torque News, Honda’s only pickup truck offering is designed with the part-time pickup truck user in mind. Our 2017 Ridgeline Black Edition comes fully equipped with every bell and whistle in Honda’s arsenal, including HondaWatch ™, active safety suite, standard multi directional back up camera, power adjusted, cooled and heated driver and front passenger seat, leather trim, and black anodized exterior trim details. You will find full specifications here.

For night driving, our Ridgeline comes equipped with LED self dimming headlights, high visibility running and tail lights. Sinister by day, congenial by night, Ridgeline proves an exceptional multiple task master, tough yet accommodatingly posh — in a pickup truck sort of way.

The best seats in the Honda lineup

I realize that what constitutes “best” is a very personal assessment. Yet, our Ridgeline pickup with just a bit under 4,000 miles showing on the odometer, presented the most comfortable seat that I’d encountered behind the wheel of a Honda or Acura for that matter, over several years of short and extended vehicle drive review.

It may simply be relative to my personal size, weight, body condition, etc, I don’t know, but I’m very impressed, so was Nancy! In short, 6 foot 5 inches tall, and 5 foot 6 inches tall, both found 2017 Honda Ridgeline infinitely adjustable, medium soft as to ride quality, without being squirrely, and powerful enough as to engine performance.

Interior sensory perception

Ridgelines interior is pleasing to the eye and touch, and while a bit plastic-rich, does present a nice balance of utility meets refinement. I further appreciate the ergonomically correct layout of Ridgeline’s center stack touchscreen monitor, instrumentation and i-MID. We both found Ridgeline personal electronic connectivity to work seamlessly, as did the Garmin based navigation.

And of course, the backup camera as displayed through the monitor produced images of clarity, although a bit grainy at night! The leather seating in our black edition is nicely detailed with muted red piping seating surface inserts, and perforated for heating and cooling. I further found the fit and finish as to material interface exceptional.

Engine exhaust tone, shift patterns, cab noise, and more

I truly appreciate the throaty exhaust tone of Honda’s mechanically bulletproof 3.5 Liter V6. Our Ridgeline test mule is equipped with “Econ mode.” and at the touch of the button will seamlessly transition to 3 cylinders when driving at speed on the highway.

Honda employs the 6 speed automatic transmission across the lineup with torque transfer duty relegated to either a FWD ( front-wheel-drive) differential or optional “Intelligent Variable Torque Management,” VTM 4, AWD (all-wheel-drive.)

For 2017 all Ridgeline trucks come equipped with a push button “dedicated traction mode,” We discovered it initially in the all new Honda Pilot. Bottom line: Ice, Mud, Snow, no problem! But for us on this mostly dry day (we did encounter a raindrop or two,) Ridgeline proved a no fatigue drive and ride experience, despite an 8 hour, 400 mile drive day, on mostly two lane rural roads. Like I said, Ridgeline is quiet, smooth and fun to drive.

23.9 MPG combined real world fuel efficiency

On a day rural two lane, highway and gravel road transitions, on the flat and through the mountains, our 2017 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition, as fully loaded as you can find one, averaged 25.7 MPG combined on regular unleaded gasoline — we didn’t baby it! And yes, we did encounter more than one conventional pickup truck owner that appreciate the almost sinister look of Honda’s latest and greatest offering.

In conclusion

I recommend 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup to anyone considering a new truck purchase, or wishing to eliminate a car or two from the stable, while opting for a vehicle that presents truck toughness, crew cab, SUV-like utility and premium Accord-like interior comfort and quiet. For those of you living in regions that don’t require AWD traction, take a look at the all new FWD(front wheel drive) Ridgeline with a beginning MSRP of $29,475 to $42,870 +.

What I’d change

Truthfully, not much. However, for dedicated off-road use, I’d personally like to find a bit more ground clearance, specifically up front. I talked a bit with Honda engineering as to a possible air-suspension option, it could be done. Also, a few more inches in truck bed length and rear door seat access would be appreciated. But then it wouldn’t be a Honda Ridgeline.

2017 Honda Ridgeline is the makers greatest achievement to date on the road to reinventing their entire line.