Minivans might not be cool in the general sense of the word, but if you have a big family or transport a lot of people, they might be just what you need.

One minivan that has been around for nearly two decades and is still going strong is the Honda Odyssey. I recently spent some time in a 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite, and I'll let you know how it performed and who might want to pick one up.

LOOKS
On the outside, the Odyssey looks like what it is: A minivan.
It's big and long and not too fancy-looking. It's not overly boxy or unattractive, just keeps it pretty simple in terms of design and has some nice curves to it.
A power moonroof is standard on the higher-end lines, as is a power tailgate.
Inside, the best way to describe the Odyssey is spacious. You have the three rows of seats, including a pretty comfortable third row that is easily accessible, and even the rear storage area is pretty spacious, as it's been carved out a bit deeper on the bottom.
One nice touch is the inclusion of a vacuum in the back so you can suck up any messes, an inevitability in a family vehicle that will likely transport many children. And there are lots of cup holders and storage areas to put away all that stuff you might need when you're on the road.
Another cool feature, pun intended, is the "cool box" up front, where you can put drinks to keep them chilled.

ENGINE, HP
The 2014 Odyssey Elite features a 248 horsepower, 3.5 liter V6 engine on all trim levels. It was powerful, but not overly so. This is a big vehicle, I didn't expect it to rocket away from stop lights. But once you get going, it's a strong, steady and mostly quiet ride that responds pretty well to the driver's commands. I wouldn't exactly call it nimble, but it's not stubborn either.
Push-button start is standard on all models other than the base LX.

MPG
For a vehicle this large, the mpg numbers are very good on the Odyssey. You get 19 city/28 highway and 22 combined mpg. That's pretty much in line with what I experienced, and you'll be getting gas less often than a lot of folks in smaller vehicles.

TOUCHSCREEN
You get a dual-touchscreen setup in the Odyssey Touring Elite -- large screen on top and small screen on bottom. At first it's a bit confusing, but you'll figure it out pretty quickly.
There are also voice controls for much of what you'll be doing, limiting the need to use the screens too much anyway.
My test vehicle had the Honda Navigation System (which is also voice controlled) and the rearview camera, helpful safety feature.

ENTERTAINMENT
To keep the kids occupied in the back, you can also opt for a rear entertainment system. The screen can also be listened to via wireless headphones if you don't want the DVD playing its audio throughout the vehicle. A larger, 16.2-inch wide screen comes at the Touring Elite level.
The Touring Elite also features a pretty booming system for a minivan -- 12 speakers, 650 watts, subwoofer. More scaled-down stereos appear in lower trim levels, starting with a 240-watt system with 7 speakers in the base model.
Bluetooth streaming is a standard feature, and Pandora streaming is integrated into the car so you don't have to touch your phone to access all your Pandora stations and controls, which is convenient and safe. Also standard on all trim levels are a USB jack and an AUX jack.

SAFETY
This being a family vehicle, safety is king and the usual complement of airbags is standard, along with anti-lock brakes, traction control and more. The Elite I tested had other safety feature that are helpful (lane departure warning, forward collision warning), but these features are only offered on the EX-L and Touring/Touring Elite lines (not available at the LX or EX levels)
One safety feature across the lineup is child-proof rear door locks, something parents will be glad to see. And there's lots of child seat latches in case you're carrying a crew of little ones.

PRICE
All of this nice stuff doesn't come for free of course. The Elite trim level ride I tested came in at just over $45,000. If you go for the base model of the Odyssey without all the trimmings, you'll be out the door for roughly $30,000, so you have a pretty wide range of prices on the Odyssey depending how decked out you make it.

BOTTOM LINE
For families in the market for a minivan, the 2014 Honda Odyssey is one of the best options they currently have available.
Between its overall drive quality, the spacious interior and the creature comforts and safety features available, it will stand up to almost anyone's checklist of what they're looking for in a minivan.
There is some impressive competition, too -- namely Chrysler's Town and Country minivan -- but the Odyssey should find its share of families willing to take it on the long journey its name implies.