2021 Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is powered by a powerful 280-horsepower V6 engine that pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It can tow up to 3,500 pounds, however, now the competition has drifted ahead with smaller powertrain options. Nevertheless, the Odyssey excels where it matters the most, offering all the wondrous perks and features that make a family settle for a minivan in the first place. The Odyssey faces stiff competition from the likes of the Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica, and the Kia Sedona minivans. Can the 2021 Honda Odyssey establish itself as the best family hauler? Let’s find out. 

The 2021 trim lineup remains the same with 5 trims on offer- LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. As you move up the trim level, more technology features and driver assistance tech get added. The Odyssey offers features such as an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a four-way power-adjustable passenger seat, LED headlights, an infotainment system with a 5-inch audio display screen, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and traffic sign recognition as standard. Thus, it is certainly quite a loaded minivan. Here is an overview of all the trims and features. 

Which Trim should you buy?

The mid-level EX-L trim should be the best option for families on a budget. This trim totally revamps the interiors with its leather upholstered seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The EX-L variant also gets a power tailgate and a one-touch power moonroof for extra convenience points. For us, the EX-L trim with a price tag of $38,460 would be the best value for money proposition in the lineup.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey features no changes in the powertrain from the outgoing model. The standard engine for the Odyssey lineup is a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6, which offers a power of 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. This refined powertrain is paired to a 10-speed automatic which grants the minivan a smooth gear shift at the flick of a gear. This transmission sends power to the front wheels as standard. Unfortunately, the Odyssey is at a disadvantage in slippery conditions like rain or snow as all-wheel drive isn’t yet available for the minivan. The powertrain is adequate to handle slow city traffic and also long-distance highway cruising. Even with a full house, the Odyssey does not feel underpowered and can tow up to 3,500 pounds. 

The Honda Odyssey is a bit behind in terms of horsepower compared to the Chrysler Pacifica. However, in the speed charts, the Odyssey leads the way with its breezy 0-60 mph and quarter-mile runs in 6.5 and 14.5 seconds, respectively. The Toyota Sienna is the least powerful in this comparison which also shows in its zero to 60 mph run. When comparing the price range, Chrysler Pacifica is the most expensive option in the segment.

How well does the 2021 Honda Odyssey handle?

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offers a light-weighted steering feel, maintaining a straight line while cruising on highway lanes without putting in any strenuous effort. The turning feels butter-smooth with no signs of resistance. The Odyssey almost feels like a normal car rather than a minivan, thanks to its lightweight driving dynamics. 

The moderately stiff suspension performs a great job of absorbing all the road undulations. The steering feedback is very precise and direct, which gives the driver a confident feeling whenever he maneuvers through tight city streets. The Odyssey isn’t exactly a sporty vehicle by any means, but all of its driving mechanics function cohesively like a well-oiled machine.

Braking Performance

In terms of braking, the Honda Odyssey is a stellar performer as well. The minivan maintains great discipline even while braking under heavy pressure. The brake pedal feels firm and composed even under panic braking situations. Features like ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution further enhance the braking quotient. The Odyssey comes to a halt from a speed of 60 mph within a stopping distance of 125 feet, which is a pretty impressive feat for a minivan.

The Honda Odyssey proves to be the best braking minivan in its segment with its top-draw 60-0 mph stat. This figure is on par with some established SUVs and sedans. Its lighter curb weight helps the braking system to stop the minivan earlier than its rivals. When comparing the curb weight of the minivans in the competition, Toyota Sienna is the heaviest option and takes more distance than Honda to achieve the 0-60 mph feat.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey can spin around the city for an economical MPG figure of 19. The minivan provides a stellar MPG of 28 while cruising on the highway. This leads to an above-average combined MPG of 22 by minivan standards. Thus, the Odyssey’s 19.5-gallon fuel tank capacity lends out an equivalent city range of 371 miles and highway range of 546 miles.

With fuel-saving measures like variable cylinder management, the Odyssey saves a few MPG digits on the trot. The Odyssey also returns better MPG figures when you turn on the transmission into ECON driving mode. This makes the minivan a dependable daily ride that won’t waste much of your precious money on fuel. The Odyssey gulps less fuel than most other minivans, which means fewer gas stops and more quality time with your family.

The Sienna takes advantage of its hybrid status to lead the way in terms of fuel economy. The Odyssey is still one of the more fuel-efficient gasoline-chugging minivans, making it a decent enough proposition for cash-conscious families. Despite offering the least mileage in the competition at 21 mpg combined, Kia Sedona manages to offer a better combined range than Honda due to its bigger 21.1 gallons of fuel tank capacity.

The Odyssey is a classic 8-seater minivan with incredible cargo versatility and interior space for a big family. The Base variant features a black and beige color combo for the interiors. The higher trims enjoy a sleek leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and piano black trim across the wing-shaped dash and door panels. The Odyssey’s biggest plus point is its stellar interior passenger space, which makes it the comfiest minivan in its segment. The front seats are supportive and comfortable and can also be adjusted with power adjustability. Passengers will be at home inside the spacious minivan, with even the 3rd-row of seats offering enough space to fit in tall adults with ease.

The EX trim and above also get Honda’s exclusive ‘Magic Sliding Seat’. These exclusive second-row seats slide both front-back and sideways, which enables multiple numbers of seating configurations, either to increase passenger space or cargo storage. With all the seats in place, the Odyssey offers 33 cubes of space. The 3rd-row Magic Seat can be folded in a 60/40 split to open up to 88.6 cubic feet of space. With the 2nd-row seats swept aside as well, the Odyssey offers a mind-boggling maximum cargo capacity of 144.9 cubic feet, which is on par with some trucks.

The Odyssey offers exquisite levels of comfort with its roomy interior dimensions and upscale material quality. The Odyssey also offers the most cargo space in its segment, making it the most versatile and practical minivan in its segment. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offers the least cargo space in the competition at 32.3 cubic feet. The best interior bits of the 2021 Honda Odyssey are:

• Magic Sliding 2nd-row Seats
• 3rd-row Magic Seat
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Optional leather upholstery

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The base Honda Odyssey features only a 5-inch touchscreen as its standard infotainment gadget with radio features and Bluetooth connectivity. The EX and higher trims replace the disappointing base LCD screen with a larger 8-inch infotainment display. This touchscreen is connected with the latest iterations of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Other standard features include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, SiriusXM satellite radio, and WiFi hotspot. Honda has integrated large buttons alongside the infotainment interface for more driver convenience.

The Garmin-powered navigation graphics and menus still feel outdated compared to other high-tech infotainment setups. Family goodies like navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and built-in streaming applications only get unlocked through the higher trims. To entice audiophiles, the top-draw Elite trim gets an industry-leading 11-speaker audio system with a subwoofer. The tech suite of the 2021 Honda Odyssey includes:

• 8-inch touchscreen
• WiFi hotspot
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility
• 7-speaker audio system
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Rear seat entertainment system
• Navigation
• Optional 11-speaker audio system with subwoofer

The Honda Odyssey is a rare style icon in the rather drab minivan segment, thanks to its unique styling cues. The 2021 variant brings forth a multitude of subtle changes like an updated front view with revamped automatic LED headlights, integrated LED DRLs, a revised front grille, and a macho bumper with air dams. The Odyssey picks up many styling cues from its siblings, the Pilot SUV and the Ridgeline pickup. It retains its unique exterior elements like a hidden sliding door track and a sleek side profile. The chrome grille in the front has been stretched wider. 

The rear end also gets some minor changes to its rear tailgate and rear bumper. The higher trims now boast of a new 19-inch alloy wheel design. The sculpted doors add another layer of intricate detailing to the Odyssey’s sheet metal body. It has a weight advantage compared to its rivals, thanks to its lighter curb weight. This grants it more freedom while cruising around the corners, thus giving it a more composed ride quality. Other standout exterior features of the 2021 Honda Odyssey are:

• LED headlights
• LED DRLs and taillights
• Heated power side mirrors with integrated turn indicators
• Fog lights
• One-touch power moonroof
• Optional 19-inch wheels

The 2021 Honda Odyssey goes through a renaissance in the safety sector, with more standard safety features across the board. The Honda Sensing suite of active safety features is now a standard asset on all trim levels. The Odyssey also sports excellent outward visibility in the front, but the minivan encounters several blind spots on its sides owing to its long and wide body. To tackle that vulnerability, Honda offers Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert as standard equipment starting from the EX trim.

Thankfully, with all the multitude of family-saving safety features onboard, the Odyssey aces both the NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings. In the NHTSA tests, it won a perfect 5-star safety rating, while in the IIHS tests, the minivan ended up with the Top Safety Pick+ award. Few salient safety features include:

• Automatic emergency braking with Pedestrian detection
• Active lane control
• Automatic high beams
• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic sign recognition
• A rear-seat reminder

2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Toyota Sienna

The Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna are familiar foes competing for a top spot in the minivan segment over the years. The Sienna went bold this year though with an all-hybrid lineup and a funky styling philosophy. The Honda gets all the basic traits of a minivan on point, thanks to its spaciousness, fantastic packaging, and stellar comfort. We still think the Honda Odyssey is a cut above its established rival, the Toyota Sienna, in terms of overall value-for-money.

2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The Chrysler Pacifica is a standalone minivan in its segment that offers the privilege of a plug-in hybrid option. It is also a trendsetter in the minivan segment with its classy styling, although the Odyssey isn’t far behind in terms of style either. The Odyssey does miss out on AWD, but the minivan makes up for it with its solid resale value and a plethora of family-friendly features. The Odyssey offers all these privileges at a lower base price than the Pacifica, making the former a better budget-friendly option for families.

2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Kia Sedona

The Kia Sedona is an elongated minivan variant of the Kia Sorento SUV at a much cheaper base price than any of the minivans mentioned above. While its elegant styling may convince you to go for it, we think that the Odyssey is a much better minivan despite a higher MSRP. The Odyssey is a well-rounded minivan with a refined powertrain and handling dynamics as well as class-leading interior space. The Sedona lags far behind its rivals in the speed and power charts. Overall, the Honda Odyssey is the clear winner in this duel.

The Odyssey is still a top-draw family minivan despite lacking the technologically advanced powertrains of its rivals. Its trusty old V-6 is still the top dog in terms of refinement and fuel economy. Its nimble handling and confident driving manners make it one of the best minivans to chauffeur your family. The interiors are also very well-appointed with a lot of space and creature comforts to entice your kids. Overall, the 2021 Honda Odyssey fulfills all the ideals of a perfect minivan and is one of the best choices with its awesome resale value and reliability.