2019 Honda Odyssey

With crossover taking over the market as versatile family haulers, one might think that the humble old minivans are not relevant anymore. Yet, Honda introduced a brand new minivan last year and it seems pretty darn good even in the face of crossovers. With stylish looks, interiors full of features and technology and even good driving dynamics, the 2019 Honda Odyssey is a serious car other minivans should take note of.

Powered by a 3.5L, naturally aspirated, V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, it packs in quite a punch. The engine comes mated to either a 9-speed or a 10-speed automatic. For all the versatility that this minivan comes with, it would set you back $31,085 at its starting price. Pricier than its competitors but it is also that much better than its counterparts.

The Honda Odyssey is contested by the Chrysler Pacifica, the Kia Sedona and the Ford Flex. The real challenge for the Odyssey would be the Pacifica which has been the best-selling minivan in the segment. All cars are powered by V6 engines and produce about 280 horsepower.

The Odyssey comes in five trims – LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite. All trims are powered by the same engine, which is the 3.5L, V6 engine but there are two gearbox options. The first three trims are mated to a 9-speed automatic while the Touring and Elite trims can be with a 10-speed automatic as well. Otherwise, each higher trim just comes with added features.

Trim	LX	EX	EX-L	Touring	Elite
MSRP	$30,190	$30,190	$37,710	$44,760	$47,070
Key Features	Multi-Angle Rearview Camera	Honda Sensing	Leather-Trimmed Interior	Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate	Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate
	Power Front Seats	Magic Slide 2nd-Row Seats	Height-Adjustable Power Tailgate	CabinWatch	CabinWatch
	18-inch Alloy Wheels	Smart Entry w/Walk-Away Auto Lock	Available Navigation	Rear Entertainment System	Rear Entertainment System
	Eco-Assist System	Blind Spot Information System	Available Rear Entertainment System	Front & Rear Parking Sensors	Front & Rear Parking Sensors
	Automatic Climate Control System	8-inch Display Audio Touch-Screen	One-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature	Mobile Hotspot Capability	Mobile Hotspot Capability
	Push Button Start	Apple CarPlay Integration	Memory-Linked Side Mirrors with Reverse Gear Tilt-Down	Honda Link Subscription Services	HondaLink Subscription Services
	Bluetooth Hands Free Link	Android Auto Integration	Two-Position Memory Driver’s Seat	Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System	Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System
	USB Audio Interface	Honda Link	Available CabinTalk In-Car PA System	LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off and WiperLink	LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off and WiperLink
	One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat®	Remote Engine Start	Available 115-Volt / 150-Watt Power Outlet (front)	LED Fog Lights	LED Fog Lights
	Variable Cylinder Management	12-Way Power-Adjustable Driver's Seat		HondaVAC	HondaVAC
		Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control
		Auto High-Beam Headlights
		Cross Traffic Monitor

We’d Recommend:

We would recommend you the Touring trim and this trim is very well loaded and also makes the best value for money deal. Some fancies like the navigation and rear entertainment screen can be optioned in this car so you do not miss out on the features. It comes very well equipped otherwise.

“Fleet-footed, efficient, and polished, the Odyssey's powertrain is a sweetheart and requires zero compromises. The standard V-6 emits a sonorous burble, but only when the driver is deep in the throttle; otherwise, nary a peep enters the cabin to disturb occupants.” – Car and Driver

Models	Chrysler Pacifica L minivan	Honda Odyssey LX minivan	Ford Flex SE	Kia Sedona L minivan
MSRP	$28,340	$31,085	$30,285	$27,980
Engine	3.6L V6 Regular Unleaded	3.5L V6 Regular Unleaded	3.5L V6 Ti-VCT	3.3L V6 Gasoline Direct Injection
Transmission	9 Speed Automatic	9 Speed Automatic	6 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic
Horsepower	287 hp@ 6400rpm	280 hp@ 6000rpm	287 hp @	276 hp@ 6000rpm
Torque	262 ft-lbs@ 4000rpm	262 ft-lbs@ 4700rpm	254 lb-ft	248 ft-lbs@ 5200rpm

 

The 3.5L, naturally aspirated, V6 engine in the Odyssey produces 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine is smooth and refined and powerful enough for the car, in fact it pulls quite well indeed. The power delivery from the naturally aspirated V6 engine is smooth and linear and it is surprisingly willing to rev.

The Odyssey comes with two gearboxes – a 9-speed automatic and a 10 speed automatic. Both gearboxes are just fine. The 10-speed gearbox can be a little slow to downshift when you want quick acceleration but it’s smooth and refined otherwise. The 9-speed too is pretty good. There’s nothing really special about either gearboxes but they are pretty decent for what they do. There are steering mounted paddle shifters as well for manual control.

The Odyssey goes against the Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Flex and the Kia Sedona. All these cars are very similar on paper with near power and torque figures, all from naturally aspirated V6 engines. The Honda and Chrysler use 9-speed automatics while the Ford uses just a 6-speed and the Kia uses an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Acceleration

Models	Chrysler Pacifica L minivan	Honda Odyssey LX minivan	Ford Flex SE	Kia Sedona L minivan
0-60 MPH	7.4 sec	6.6 sec	7.0 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter mile	15.6 sec	15 sec	16.8 sec	16.1 sec
Engine	3.6L V6 Regular Unleaded	3.5L V6 Regular Unleaded	3.5L V6 Ti-VCT	3.3L V6 Gasoline Direct Injection
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	8.0	8.0	9.2	8.4

 

The Honda Odyssey accelerates from naught to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds which is pretty good for a minivan. In fact, it’s the fastest minivan in the competition. It is also quicker across the quarter mile mark than the others in the competition. All these cars are very closely matched on paper but still the Odyssey manages a considerable difference from the competition which is pretty commendable.

Braking

Model	Chrysler Pacifica L minivan	Honda Odyssey LX minivan	Ford Flex SE	Kia Sedona L minivan
Brake Front (in.)	13	12.6	12.8	12.6
Brake Rear (in.)	13	13	13.0	11.9
Curb Weight (lbs.)r	4330	4354	4637	4411
60-0 MPH (ft.)	145	N/A	125	118

 

The brakes in the Odyssey are just decent enough. The discs are smaller than most in the competition except for the Kia Sedona which has still smaller brakes and the pedal can feel a little squishy or soft at times. Although we do not have the figures, but the Honda Odyssey takes a longer distance to stop from 60 mph to a standstill than the competition. The brakes are not necessarily bad, but the competition fares just better.

Ride and Handling

This is where the Odyssey really shines. The Odyssey handles much better than other minivans. It’s a large car but it has surprisingly very good dynamics. For starters, it has very good ride quality and the cabin is very refined and silent. It soaks up undulations on the road very well and your family would be very comfortable in the Odyssey even for longer rides.

Also, the Odyssey is surprisingly well balanced. You can carry more speeds into a corner than you can imagine in a minivan and the Odyssey will do fine. Of course, there is noticeable body roll when you push it quite hard and it’s not that surprising but it’s still better than most others and very good for such a large car.

The best thing is however the steering. It’s sharp, and precise and you can place the Odyssey exactly where you want to even at higher speeds. It remains light and easy at lower speeds and you can maneuver the car around tight spaces quite easily. There’s good amount of feedback from the tires through the steering wheel as well.

Model	Chrysler Pacifica L minivan	Honda Odyssey LX minivan	Ford Flex SE	Kia Sedona L minivan
MPG (city)	18	19	16	18
MPG (highway)	28	28	23	24
MPG (combined)	22	22	19	21
Tank Capacity (gal)	19.0	19.5	18.6	21.1

The Honda Odyssey returns 22 miles to the gallon combined. It returns 19 mpg and 28 mpg in the city and highway respectively. The figures are better than those of the Ford and Kia and quite similar to those of the Chrysler. The fuel economy figures are quite respectable indeed.

“We like how the Odyssey is comfortable in all three rows of seating. Whether you've got a van full of kids on a road trip or you're just taking your friends out to dinner, the Odyssey should keep everyone happy.” - Edmunds

Design

The Honda Odyssey really impresses on the interiors. The layout is very stylish and contemporary and the build quality is impressive as well. A floating 8-ich infotainment screen takes center stage on the dashboard flanked by AC vents on either side. The center console flows down smoothly from the infotainment screen for a stack of buttons down below.

The center console features various buttons for the climate control, vehicle settings, entertainment but the coolest set of buttons have to be the buttons for the gearbox. Yes, there is no traditional gear lever but a set of buttons to put it drive, neutral, park or reverse. It’s quite cool indeed.

The rest of the interiors is quite pleasing as well with light colored materials used everywhere and fit and finish is really nice. There’s a metal finish trim on the dash board which gives a pleasant relief and the all-digital instrument cluster looks very contemporary as well. The four spoke wheel has several steering mounted controls for added convenience and there are lots of storage spaces all around the cabin which is very handy. You can also equip your car with a rear seat entertainment package and its really a worthy investment.

Seating and Comfort

Model	Chrysler Pacifica L minivan	Honda Odyssey LX minivan	Ford Flex SE	Kia Sedona L minivan
Passenger capacity	7	7	7	7
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.1/63.8/41.1	40.7/63.1/40.9	41.8/58.4/42.6	39.8/63.9/40.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.6/63.0/39.0	39.5/61.6/40.9	40.5/58.1/44.3	39.4/63.1/41.1

 

The seats again are a great thing in the Honda Odyssey. They are extremely customizable and very adaptable. For instance, you can completely remove the middle seat in the second row and slide the outer seats inward for easier access to the third row. The third row itself is quite spacious and with decent legroom and headroom. They also fold away very neatly to make for cargo space.

The seats themselves are very comfortable. The front seats have powered adjustments and are heated or cooled. The middle seat in the second row can be folded to make for an armrest. There’s plenty of space to carry 7 people or even 8 people with all seats in place. It’s the perfect van if carrying a lot of people is your priority.

Infotainment System

The infotainment system in the Honda Odyssey is pretty good as well. The 8-inch unit has good graphics and is fairly intuitive. It comes loaded with a lot of features and responds well to commands. The coolest feature of the Odyssey has to be the cabin monitoring system. There’s something called cabin talk which lets you talk to the passengers in the rear seats via a mic and there’s a fish eye camera in the ceiling form you to look at what’s happening in the rear seats. It is indeed quite cool.

Interior Features

• Automatic Climate Control System
• Programmable Power Door Locks
• Programmable Power Tailgate Locks
• Push Button Start
• Cruise Control
• One-Touch Turn Indicators
• Powered Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
• Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
• Ambient Console Lighting
• Beverage Holders (all rows)
• Rear-Seat Heater Ducts
• Cargo Area Light
• Conversation Mirror with Sunglasses Holder
• Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control and Air Filtration
• Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Driver's Seat with 12-Way Power Adjustment, including 4-Way Power Lumbar Support
• Front Passenger's Seats with 4-Way Power Adjustment
• One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat
• Magic Slide 2nd-Row Seats™ with Armrests and Walk-in Feature
• Multi-Function 2nd-Row Center Seat
• Leather-Trimmed Seats (front and outboard 2nd-row)
• Heated and Ventilated Front Seats

Cargo Capacity

Model	Chrysler Pacifica L minivan	Honda Odyssey LX minivan	Ford Flex SE	Kia Sedona L minivan
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	140.5	158.0	83.2	142.0

The Honda Odyssey has the largest cargo capacity of 158 cu.ft and that’s really a lot of space. Also the seats fold away easily and are pretty adaptable to make way for cargo. If carrying a lot of cargo is your priority then the Odyssey makes a lot of sense. You can fit everything you could ever imagine fitting inside a car.

“Honda has nearly hidden the sliding door track, tucking it right into the black trim area under the rear-side windows. This change, new in 2018, worked wonders on the Odyssey’s profile and smoothed out the lines of the vehicle overall.” – The Car Connection

Design

The Honda Odyssey is as stylish as a minivan could get. The face is distinctly Honda in that it has a large chrome band bearing the Honda badge across the grille which blends in with the very stylish LED headlamps which are quite sharp and angular in design. The nose swoops down to the front bumper which houses the fog lamps with a black garnish around them. The face is otherwise quite simple and bears a typical Honda face.

At the sides, the window line is quite uniquely shaped. There’s a nice kink to the window line after the B-pillar and it looks quite cool indeed. The sides also feature some character lines along the window lines and some more along the door which add some visual flare to the sides. The roof also gets a floating effect because of a blacked out portion in the C-pillar. The 18-inch alloy wheels have also been well designed.

It does not look quite good at the rear quarter though. The tail lamps look to bulky and are not very well designed. There’s a chrome band joining the two tail lamps on either side and there’s a spoiler as well. It looks quite plain and not very pleasing. But looks are a subjective thing and you might be able to look past it as well.

Exterior Dimensions

Model	Chrysler Pacifica L minivan	Honda Odyssey LX minivan	Ford Flex SE	Kia Sedona L minivan
Curb weight (lbs.)	4330	4354	4637	4411
Length(in)	203.8	203.2	201.8	201.4
Width(in)	79.6	78.5	75.9	78.1
Height(in)	69.9	68.3	68.0	68.5
Ground clearance (in)	5.1	4.5	6.0	6.7
Wheelbase (in)	121.6	118.1	117.9	120.5
Track width (in) F/R	68.3/68.3j	67.3/67.2	65.4/65.4	68.7/69

 

The Honda Odyssey is quite a large vehicle. It is the second longest after the Pacifica and second widest after the Pacifica as well. It has the least ground clearance and is shorter than most others in the competition. It also has one of the lesser wheelbases in the competition.

Exterior Features

• Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off
• Active Shutter Grille
• Rear Privacy Glass
• Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer
• Taillights with Integrated LED Light Bars
• Roofline Spoiler with Integrated Brake Light
• Power Sliding Doors
• LED Fog Lights
• One-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature
• Memory-Linked Side Mirrors with Reverse Gear Tilt-Down
• 18 inch alloy wheels

The Honda Odyssey is a very safe vehicle and has been rated 5 stars by NHTSA in almost every category except for the rollover crash test where it has received a respectable 4 stars. Even IIHS has rated the Honda Odyssey ‘Good’ in every category and ‘Superior’ in front crash prevention category. The Honda Odyssey comes loaded with many active and passive safety features which work really well indeed. The Honda Sensing safety pack has an entire host of active safety features which constantly monitors the surroundings to prevent any possible collision. It also comes with an elaborate safety feature list.

Safety Features

• Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Brake Assist
• Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Guidelines
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Auto High-Beam Headlights
• Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Monitor

Honda Odyssey vs Chrysler Pacifica

The Chrysler Pacifica is a very good minivan too. It looks very stylish and comes loaded with a lot of convenience and safety features. In fact, it is probably the best equipped car in the segment. However, that said, the Honda Odyssey does everything better. It’s the best driver’s car among minivans and it also has the most space inside for weather you want to carry passengers or cargo. It’s also pretty adaptable which is very handy. It does not look the best but once you look past it, it really is the better van among the two. It justifies it $3,000 premium over the Pacifica and is our pick of the two.

Honda Odyssey vs Ford Flex

The Ford Flex is a very cool looking minivan. In fact, it looks like a proper SUV, only which sits low. The interiors are really cool as well but it is sometimes inconvenient to use all touch buttons for all functions. On the performance front, the Ford Flex comes quite close to the Odyssey but the Odyssey is still the better driver’s car. The Ford Flex is pretty convenient on the practicality front as well and it is also cheaper than the Odyssey, but only by a very little margin. If you want a cool looking van, then the Ford Flex is a very good option. Being cheaper, it’s also a better value for money. But if driving is your prority, you wouldn’t want to look beyond the Odyssey.

Honda Odyssey vs Kia Sedona

Being a Kia, the Sedona really feels premium over its competitors. It’s a very stylish looking van, the interiors feel special and it comes with a lot of features for the money. The cabin is really refined and silent but performance is not so much its forte. Also, the Sedona feels unsettled over undulations. It is smaller than the competitors and hence has a little lesser space than the competitors for both cargo and passengers. That said, the Honda is still the better driver’s van and it’s also bigger with greater practicality. The Kia is a little cheaper than the Honda and if outright size and driving dynamics is not so much your concern then the Kia makes a great buy. Otherwise, the Honda Odyssey is worth the little extra money for a bigger and better driver’s van.

The Honda Odyssey is one the best minivans you can buy in the market today. It does not look all that great but once you have looked past it, it excels in a lot of areas. Most importantly and probably not so important for a van, it drives far better than its competitors and is also the fastest among the lot.

The interiors are very spacious and very adaptable to suit to carrying people or cargo. There are lots of storage places all around. The interiors are really nice and it comes well loaded with features. It is great value for its money and if you are intending to buy a van any time soon, you should strongly consider the 2019 Honda Odyssey.