Commuting to and from places is a huge part of each day for lots of individuals. Transportation takes on a character of its own in the daily hustle and bustle of life where people frequent the workplace, daycare, eating establishments, leisurely outings, and living establishments. Those who own vehicles or are in search of new wheels understand that the investment simplifies their life in several ways. However, when it comes to buying a new vehicle, the determining factor for many people is usually price, style, or design. It’s equally important to consider the size of the engine when shopping at dealerships.
Why Engine Size Matters
Horsepower Rating
For the most part, the public’s perception is that the larger an engine’s capacity, the greater the performance and user experience will be. The majority of people determine a vehicle’s worthiness, in terms of the engine, by the amount of liters that are involved, although this number doesn’t necessarily dictate the engine’s cost. Ultimately, the features that are part of the overall makeup of an engine—torque, displacement, bore, and stroke—define its horsepower rating and help determine how much of an asset it is in the automotive industry.
Engine Displacement
Engine displacement is largely known as the volume of cylinders in an engine, which governs size and power. While several factors—compression ratio, induction system, etc.—tend to affect an engine’s overall output, displacement plays a huge role in determining its strength. Thus, when it comes to comparing the engines of various types of vehicles, the displacement and number of liters involved is what separates the mediocre from the high-quality choices.
Historical Significance
For decades, a vehicle’s engine size has determined whether it was eligible to be deemed an epic option in the ‘Best Car’ list. Regardless of a vehicle’s aesthetic appeal or sportiness, it wasn’t perceived as a classic unless the engine size was considerable. This mindset has been adopted by many of today’s automakers and auto enthusiasts, which helps keep vehicles with the biggest engines at the forefront of the automotive industry.
Judging the Honda Odyssey’s Engine Size
The Odyssey makes for a highly rewarding choice for many reasons. One defining factor is clearly its 3.5L engine size, which contributes to its 248 HP on the road. The Odyssey’s engine type is V6, with an aluminum-alloy engine block or cylinder head. The displacement is 3,471 with a 250lb torque. All of this matters a great deal, in terms of the vehicle’s stamina and value among its rivals in the automotive industry.
In comparison, the Dodge Caravan, as well as the Chrysler Town and Country, are the only minivans that outrank the Odyssey’s size at 3.6L and 4.0L. The Kia Sedona’s engine size matches the Odyssey at 3.5L, but has considerably lower horsepower: 195 HP. Similarly, the Nissan Quest’s engine size also equates to that of the Odyssey. However, the Quest has a slightly higher horsepower rating, which is 260 HP.