Where is the handbrake on the new Odyssey?
3 Answers
The handbrake on the new Odyssey is located on the left side of the steering wheel. Odyssey models without an electronic handbrake use a foot brake design. The electronic handbrake is a technology that uses electronic control to achieve parking braking. Its working principle is the same as that of a mechanical handbrake, both achieving parking control through the friction generated between the brake disc and brake pads. The only difference is that the control method has changed from the previous mechanical handbrake lever to an electronic button. Compared with traditional manual mechanical parking brake systems, the electronic parking brake system has the following advantages: 1. The parking brake handle is eliminated inside the cabin, providing more design space for the overall interior styling; 2. The parking brake is replaced by a button, eliminating the need for the driver to pull the parking brake handle forcefully, making it simpler and less labor-intensive, especially reducing the operational burden for female drivers; 3. With the continuous development of automotive electronic parking control technology, the system can not only achieve basic functions such as static parking, static release (off), and automatic release (off), but also adds automatic parking and dynamic parking assistance functions.
I drive the new Odyssey, which features an electronic parking brake button-style, tucked away on the lower left side of the dashboard near the steering wheel. See that small button with a 'P' on it? Press it down to engage the brake and lift it up to release. A special note: it automatically engages when temporarily stopping on a slope, and a green parking indicator on the dashboard means it's active. Remember to press the brake pedal when starting the car before pressing the electronic parking brake button to disengage. Compared to the old foot-operated parking brake, this design saves legroom and prevents kids from tampering with it. After driving for a while, you'll find the auto-hold feature super convenient in traffic—it automatically locks the wheels when you come to a stop. However, you'll need to adjust to this new operating logic when switching back to a car with a mechanical handbrake.
During my last test drive of the latest Odyssey, I specifically studied its electronic parking brake position. The designers integrated the switch on the left side of the steering column, where a ridged rectangular button is easily accessible with a finger hook. One complaint is that this location gets briefly blocked by the steering wheel during turns. But the advantages are obvious: pressing the brake pedal firmly at red lights activates auto hold, with the hub motor directly locking the tires - it looks pretty cool when the dashcam captures the wheels auto-locking. This electronic system is 50% lighter than traditional handbrakes, giving more balanced vehicle weight distribution. Now even at 100,000-km maintenance, there's no need to adjust handbrake cable tension.
