2022 Honda Odyssey

 Although the LX and EX are well equipped, the EX-L trim will be our pick. It is reasonably priced and provides some good convenience features such as a power liftgate, a leather steering wheel, leather-trimmed first and second-row seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a moonroof, and an 8-way power passenger's seat.

The tech in the Odyssey is hit-and-miss- Edmunds

The Honda Odyssey is available in five different trims- LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. It carries a starting price tag of $32,290 for the LX trim while the top-end Elite trim can cost up to $48,020. Add to that a $1,175 destination fee. Each version of the Odyssey makes a compelling case for itself but clearly, the LX trim is for bargain hunters. 

Speaking of features, the earlier available integrated vacuum cleaner has been discontinued this year due to some supplier issues. The rest of the options carry forward this year. A heated steering wheel can be fitted in the EX trim for $523. You can equip a hands-free power tailgate and wireless charger in the EX-L trim for $595. 

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Fleet-footed, efficient, and polished, the Odyssey's powertrain is a sweetheart that requires zero compromises- CarAndDriver

The Honda Odyssey will be equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine that puts out 280 hp and 262 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike its rivals, only the FWD drivetrain is available. This engine is powerful enough for a minivan to go on long drives without much hassle. The gearbox finds the right gear at the right time. At its full capacity, the Odyssey can tow up to 3,500 pounds. 

When you get behind the wheel of a minivan, you really don't expect that much in the way of driving pleasure and that's where the Odyssey is a pleasant surprise. The ride is connected and communicative but compliant. The handling, especially on the wider 19-inch wheels, is predictable and even entertaining. Due to its lower center of gravity, it tosses at twisty mountain roads with almost zero body roll. Even the steering is quick and precise. 

The Odyssey’s powerful V6 engine helps it to achieve the 0-60 MPH mark in 6.5 seconds and the quarter-mile mark in 15.1 seconds. For a 4,398-pound minivan, these stats are really good. Honda has equipped the Odyssey with an excellent braking system. The brakes fade a bit on repeated use but they are quite responsive. With the help of these strong brakes, the Odyssey managed to stop within 125 feet from 60 MPH. 

The Toyota Sienna is the odd one out here as it comes standard with a hybrid powertrain. It may not be as quick as the Odyssey but it is highly fuel-efficient. The heavy curb weight of the Chrysler Pacifica pushes it behind the Sienna. The Kia Carnival's acceleration isn't that impressive despite weighing less than the Odyssey. 

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The Odyssey has above average fuel economy- The Car Connection

The fuel economy of the Honda Odyssey is average in its class. Honda claims that the Odyssey returns 19 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on a highway, and 22 MPG combined. These figures are on par with other gas-fed rivals. Honda has equipped variable cylinder management inside the Odyssey that helps it to extract more miles per gallon for better fuel efficiency.

The Odyssey gets a decent fuel tank of 19.5 gallons, which is big enough to deliver a combined range of 429 miles. Those who spend a lot of time on the highways, get 546 miles of range while the city range is limited to 371 miles. Unlike its rivals, the Odyssey is not available with a hybrid powertrain for a better fuel economy but its efficiency isn't bad either. 

The Toyota Sienna displays mind-blowing fuel economy, all thanks to its standard hybrid powertrain. The MPG figures of the Chrysler Pacifica are identical to the Odyssey while the Kia Carnival is slightly less efficient. In short, if your main priority is fuel economy, go ahead with the Sienna. Else, among these three gas-fed competitors, the Odyssey is a good choice. 

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The 2022 Odyssey enjoys a high degree of fit and finish that transcends the typical soccer shuttle- Kelly Ble Book

The Honda Odyssey has a well-built cabin with premium materials. It is both stylish and functional, perfect for conducting the business of daily family life. Being a minivan it can easily provide space for up to eight passengers. The front seats are comfortable but the seating position is a bit low. All versions except the LX trim get a 12-way power driver's seat. When you get an Odyssey with leather seats, it includes an 8-way power passenger's seat. 

Power sliding doors are standard starting with the EX trim and adults can easily fit into the second and third-row seats. The second and third rows provide the most space in their class. Even the rear seats are well-padded for long journeys.  In all but the LX trim, the second-row seats are Honda's Magic Slide design. These outboard seats can slide together or be tilted forward according to your need. This also allows easier access to third-row seats. 

Every Odyssey for the LX trim comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display that features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The screen is on the small side and the voice recognition system doesn't respond to natural commands. A rear-seat entertainment system is standard on top trims and it includes a 10.2-inch screen, a Blu-ray disc player, and two pairs of wireless headphones. The lack of a tuning knob is a source of frustration. 

The Odyssey supplies a whole bunch of room for cargo. Power open the tailgate and behind the third-row seats, you'll find 38.6 cu-ft. You can flip and tumble the third-row seat down to reveal 92.3 cu-ft. of space. Finally, you'll get 158 cu-ft. with the second-row seats folded. From the storage drawer to the shelves on the door panels, you should have no trouble finding places to stash things. Some other interior features are:

• Power front leather seats
• Heated & ventilated front seats
• Remote engine start
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Leather & heated steering wheel
• Color-adjustable ambient lighting
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• 8-inch touchscreen w/ smartphone integration
• 11-speaker audio system
• Wireless charging

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Last year, the Honda Odyssey was fully redesigned and hence, no changes are made to the exterior this year. It received a sharper design around the edges. The front fascia has a sharper-looking black grille with a new set of LED headlights and fog lights. The designers have tried replicating the look and feel of the Civic and the Accord with sleek headlamps and a chrome strip. But while those cars look good, the Odyssey looks a little obese. 

From the side view, the design is kind of simple. Power sliding doors are available on higher trims that can be operated from a key fob. The Odyssey’s new contemporary designed tail lights give a striking appearance to its back. The wheel options for the Odyssey are 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels. These wheels keep this minivan 4.5 inches above the ground. At 205.3 inches, the Odyssey is the longest minivan in this segment. 

The Kia Carnival's ground clearance is too high for a minivan. This doesn't serve its purpose for off-road venturing. The Chrysler Pacifica has a wider wheelbase but it lacks a bit of legroom in the third row. The Toyota Sienna is the bulkiest minivan in this segment. That's because the hybrid powertrain adds some extra weight. Some of the exterior features on offer are:

• LED auto high-beam headlights
• LED fog lamps
• LED taillights
• Power-folding, auto-dimming, heated exterior mirrors
• Black grille with chrome accents
• Chrome window trim
• 18 & 19-inch alloy wheels
• Rear roofline spoiler

Honda also provides a full suite of driver-assistance technology, called Honda Sensing, as standard equipment on all Odyssey models- CarAndDriver

Despite its bulky size, the Honda Odyssey is an exceptionally safe vehicle. NHTSA gave the Odyssey an overall safety rating of five out of five stars while the IIHS gave it a Top Safety Pick + title as it received 'Good' ratings in all crash tests. It also received a 'Superior' rating for the front crash prevention but it received an 'Acceptable' rating for its headlights.

The first line of defense in the Odyssey is eight airbags to protect the occupants from serious injuries. Honda has provided a full suite of driver-assistance technology called Honda Sensing as standard in the Odyssey, which is really assuring. More safety features are added as you move up the trim ladder. Some main safety features are:

• Blind Spot Monitor
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Lane Departure Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control 
• Collision Mitigation System
• Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Lane Keep Assist
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
• Rear-Seat Reminder
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Rearview Camera

2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Kia Carnival

The Kia Carnival is all-new for this year. It is similarly priced as the Odyssey but it offers a slower acceleration. Inside, the Carnival has an upper hand in terms of design and technology on offer. It offers a lot of modern technology features as standard whereas Odyssey offers smartphone integration on higher trims. However, the Odyssey has a better third-row space and cargo space. It also offers certain important driver aids as standard while Carnival options them. 

2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Sienna outshines the Odyssey in some areas. For instance, it offers an AWD system which is not available in the Odyssey. It comes standard with a hybrid powertrain, which means it is highly fuel-efficient. The Sienna also offers a lot of tech features as standard which is available on higher trims in the Odyssey. The Odyssey's engine is a lot powerful and delivers quick acceleration. Another main highlight is a large cargo hold than the Sienna. 

2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Chrysler Pacifica

The price difference between the Chrysler Pacifica and the Odyssey is really high. The main advantages over the Odyssey are optional AWD drivetrain, more standard amenities, and Stow n Go second-row seats. Otherwise, the Odyssey is a better pick as it offers more cargo room and interior space with better cabin materials. Its driving dynamics and acceleration are also far better. In terms of safety, both minivans offer tons of safety tech. 

The 2022 Honda Odyssey is an all-rounder minivan that not only gives better performance but also has decent fuel efficiency with nice cargo capacity. On the safety front, it has been awarded Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS and has received excellent ratings from the NHTSA. If you are looking for a minivan that gives a good performance, a nice interior cabin, and decent fuel efficiency, and is also not much expensive, then the Odyssey fits the bill.