2021 Honda Odyssey
When it comes to minivans, the Honda Odyssey is the quiet one amongst them all. Families buy them because they’re reliable and engineered as a Honda should.
There’s a lot more to the Odyssey than meets the eye. We found that out as we tested a 2021 Honda Odyssey Elite – the top of the range.
The Odyssey is one of four vehicles on Honda’s larger vehicle platform, sharing with the Pilot mid-size three-row SUV, the Passport mid-size two-row SUV, and the Ridgeline mid-size pickup. While all four vehicles share plenty of DNA, components and, even, the assembly line in Alabama, the Odyssey has the largest interior volume and the lowest ground clearance.
The exterior of the Odyssey shares nothing with its platform mates. It offers its own form with the angled front end, sporting a cleaner new grille for 2021 and multi-LED bulb headlamps. The side profile has plenty of compelling angles and shapes framing a large glass profile from the a-pillar back. The rear end gets a revised taillamp treatment with a chrome-and-black trim surround. Each opening – the sliding rear side doors and liftgate – offer wide openings and greater access to passenger and cargo space.
Our Elite tester wore a set of 19-inch alloy wheels with a shark gray insert giving it a mix of luxury and sport. That is the image this Odyssey Elite minivan wanted to project – and does so successfully.
Stepping inside, our tester seats up to eight people. The second row seats three, though the middle seat fits best for children. The middle seat can be folded down and used as an armrest. You access the second- and third-row through a power- and -remote-operated pair of sliding doors, along with sliding second row seats for easy access to the third row. The front and outboard second row seats are swathed in leather with contrast piping. Not to mention, there is the HondaVac making clean-ups after road trips easier. Please note that the HondaVac is available through the 2021 model year, as this feature has been discontinued due to a supplier issue.
The liftgate can be opened without having to touch it. This is helpful for anyone with their hands full of at the end of a shopping trip. Once open, you get a deeply recessed space behind the third row filling up to 38.6 cubic feet. Use the third row to fold flat with the liftgate opening, and cargo space is now up to 91.0 cubic feet. With all seats out of the way, you can load up to 155.7 cubic feet.
Behind the driver’s seat is a digital screen with speedometer, a linear tachometer, and customizable information center flanked by two pentagonal-shaped dials for fuel and temperature. The readouts are large and easy to understand. The controls for practically everything is easy to reach from the steering wheel and on the center stack. A push button set-up actuates the transmission, while the center stack is crowned by the infotainment touchscreen.
You also have two features that will help in keeping tabs on second- and third-row passengers. CabinWatch gives you a view of the rear seats, shown on the infotainment screen, while CabinTalk allows you to communicate to them.
It takes plenty of power to handle up to eight passengers. This Odyssey is powered by a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Performance matches the minivan well with solid acceleration and quiet highway cruises. In terms of fuel economy, we averaged 22.8 MPG in our care.
The ride quality is quite good, with a smooth and comfortable feeling for all passengers on board. You might find a bit of roll and lean on some turns and evasive maneuvers beyond its low limits. The Odyssey delivers on being steady and stable on the road with its occupants in mind.
You will also find the Odyssey making sharper, tighter turns overall. On-Center feel was OK, as it sometimes feels soft on occasion. Meanwhile, the Odyssey has a good pedal feel for the braking system. The result is good stops in normal, panic, and winter situations.
There are five Honda Odyssey trim levels to choose from. Pricing starts from $32,090 with a 2022 LX model. Our 2021 Elite tester came with a sticker price of $49,335.
Honda continues to be a good choice for families looking for more space and utility in their minivans. However, they are up against some equally good competition, including the Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona, Chrysler Voyager and Pacifica, along with the Ford Transit Connect Wagon.
With so much to offer your family, the Honda Odyssey remains a good choice for families. It offers the space, along with features that make the family road trip an enjoyable one.
Story Credits: CarSoup Editors