2018 Honda Odyssey Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byBrent RomansSenior Manager, Written Content

　　Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at zzdcar and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.

　　

What's new

The Honda Odyssey is fully redesigned for 2018Part of the fifth Odyssey generation introduced for 2018

　　It's the "R" word: responsibility. Once upon a time, your life was fun and carefree. You only had to worry about yourself. You could stay out late, take impromptu trips to the lake with friends or hang out at sun-drenched cafes on Sunday mornings sipping flat whites and gossiping about the friends you just went to the lake with. But that was then. Now you have kids. You look at these miracles of life you're responsible for (and the insane pile of stuff that you need to schlep along with them) and you think, "I'm gonna need a bigger and safer car." Enter the 2018 Honda Odyssey.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Honda Odyssey LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$165/mo  for Odyssey LX

　　Odyssey LX

　　LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $29,990 MSRPEX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $33,860 MSRPEX-L 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $37,360 MSRPEX-L 4dr Minivan w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A) - $39,360 MSRPTouring 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $44,510 MSRPElite 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $46,670 MSRP

　　vs

　　$203/mo

　　Avg. Large Minivan

　　Honda's been selling the Odyssey since 1995, and the fully redesigned 2018 represents the van's fifth generation. There have been a lot of evolutionary improvements along the way, but the basic functionality remains. The Odyssey has three rows of seating, sliding rear doors and more room for cargo than just about anything short of a full-size van. For 2018, the Odyssey's upgrades include improved performance and some truly useful upgrades such as the enhanced sliding of the second-row seats and the cabin-monitoring camera system. You can read more about these features in our 2018 Honda Odyssey First Drive.

　　Overall, we're fond of this Odyssey and think it's a wise choice, particularly if you're a new parent or if you're looking to own something with that same driving spirit found in other Honda automobiles. It makes that whole responsibility thing a little easier to swallow, too.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.1 / 10

　　With the fully redesigned 2018 Honda Odyssey, the van's traditional do-it-all functionality remains, and everything else from performance to convenience features is just a little bit better. For new parents or repeat Honda owners, we think it's a wise choice.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our First Drive of the 2018 Honda Odyssey Elite (3.5L V6 | 10-speed automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.1 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.5
Utility	9.0
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

8.0

　　The 2018 Honda Odyssey is the driver's choice in the minivan class. A strong V6 gives you plenty of power for passing while the van's precise steering and stable handling instill confidence. It's still a box on wheels, yes, but it rarely feels that way from the driver's seat.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　There's a lot of parity in the minivan class, but the Odyssey's V6 stands out with its smoothness and willingness to rev. Even with a few passengers aboard, the Odyssey's 3.5-liter V6 makes quick work of accelerating up to highway speeds or passing slow-going traffic.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　In routine driving, the brake pedal is easy to modulate and has solid stopping power. We have yet to perform our emergency panic-stop testing, but we don't expect any surprises.

　　

Steering

8.0

　　The Odyssey has precise and relatively quick steering. It gives you confidence when you're going around turns because you know how the van's going to react. It also tracks straight and true on the highway and is light enough for easy maneuvering in parking lots.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　Ten speeds might be overkill, but the transmission's shifting is quick and unobtrusive and will pick the best gear for your needs. Paddle shifters are standard, which is an unusual but welcome minivan feature. The V6's auto stop-start engagement is a little rough at times, though.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　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 friends out to dinner, the Odyssey should keep everyone happy.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The driver's seat is wide, comfortable and supportive. You can drive for hours at a time without getting stiff or sore. The second row's outboard seats are similarly comfy and have soft padding and folding armrests. In the third row, adults should be fine on short trips.

　　

Ride comfort

7.0

　　In general, the Odyssey rides smoothly over bumps. The suspension tuning is a little firmer than the norm, however, and that stiffness, along with the Elite's 19-inch wheels, means it can get a little jittery over rough pavement.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　In Elite trim, the Odyssey is superbly quiet at highway speeds. Credit goes to the active noise cancellation system and the new noise-reducing body and windshield and windows. The 10-speed auto keeps engine rpm low at cruising speed, too.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　Automatic triple-zone climate is standard on most Odysseys, as are heated front seats. The front air vents blow hard if you crank up the fan speed. The second row's air vents are mounted in the door pillar rather than overhead, but they are still effective.

　　

Interior

8.5

　　A minivan should make your life easier, and the Odyssey comes through in stellar fashion. It's easy to get in and out, particularly because of the new inward and outward sliding function for the second-row seats. Mediocre outward visibility is the only downside.

　　

Ease of use

9.0

　　All main controls that you frequently use are physical buttons, and the layout is logical. The gauge cluster is almost all digital, and it presents information in a clear manner.

　　

Getting in/getting out

9.5

　　Sliding rear doors are better than a crossover's traditional doors every time. Up front, stepping in and out is easy; just put your butt in and twist your legs in. The front doors, however, need a good tug to close. The multi-sliding second-row seat gives superb access to the third-row seat.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The driver's seat has a lot of adjustment range vertically and horizontally. Just about any driver should be able to find a seating position he or she likes. At times, the driving experience is surprisingly sedanlike. A somewhat narrow footwell is our only complaint.

　　

Roominess

9.0

　　It's one of the most effective people movers you can get. Room for adults in all three rows. The second-row seats slide and recline. Headroom and legroom are plentiful in the second row. Even adults can sit in the third row with the second row moved all the way back.

　　

Visibility

6.0

　　It's hard to see the end of the hood through the windshield, and your view over the shoulder can be blocked by the second-row headrests. The front roof pillars and side mirrors are average in size. Honda doesn't offer a top-down camera system. Overall, the Odyssey doesn't rise above adequate.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　Overall, the Odyssey looks modern and upscale inside, and most surfaces that you come in contact with are soft to the touch. Everything is solidly put together.

　　

Utility

9.0

　　The newest Odyssey is still great at being a minivan. It seats up to eight passengers and has plenty of room for your personal items and bigger and bulkier cargo. Second-row seats have to be removed manually for maximum cargo space.

　　

Small-item storage

9.0

　　There's plenty. Up front, there's a spot below the center stack for handbags, and the center storage bin is huge. Thirsty? You've got cupholders everywhere for all the rows.

　　

Cargo space

9.0

　　Few vehicles can best a minivan here. The storage well behind the third row is useful for grocery bags. The third-row seats aren't power-operated, but the strap and handle system is easy enough to use. Max capacity is above average at 155.8 cubic feet. Second-row seats are bulky and hard to remove.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

9.0

　　LATCH anchor points are easily accessible for the second- and third-row outboard seats. We've yet to test the Odyssey with the second-row middle seat installed. The sliding second-row seat feature is super helpful. Seat contouring is flat, and there's plenty of room for rear-facing safety seats.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　Up front is a singular 8-inch center touchscreen display that runs on a new software system. It boasts modern graphics and is impressively quick to respond to your finger touches and slides. Modern features such as the rear-cabin camera are useful.

　　

Audio & navigation

9.0

　　Honda's new infotainment system has big virtual buttons and quick responses. Organization is customizable, with smaller button shortcuts. Some of the navigation operations are a little hard to figure out, though. The rear-cabin camera monitor is neat, as is the intercom feature.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.5

　　Pairing phones is easy, and the Odyssey comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We noticed some intermittent drops of Bluetooth audio streaming during our testing.

　　

Which Odyssey does zzdcar recommend?

　　Picking an Odyssey largely comes down to knowing which features you want. But from our standpoint, there are two trim levels to focus on. The EX is the way to go if you've got a limited budget. Yes, there's the cheaper LX , but the EX has the features you're really going to want on a minivan. If you've got more to spend, skip all the way to the Touring. This Odyssey has the feature equipment you get on the intervening trims plus the desirable 10-speed automatic and two cool features: the integrated vacuum and the rear-cabin camera monitoring system.

　　

2018 Honda Odyssey models

　　The 2018 Odyssey comes in six trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, EX-L with Navi and RES, Touring and Elite. In typical Honda fashion, there aren't any packages or stand-alone options offered so finding the Odyssey you want largely comes down to picking a trim that matches your desired features and budget. All Odysseys come with a 3.5-liter V6 (280 horsepower, 262 pound-feet of torque) and front-wheel drive. The first four trim levels come with a nine-speed automatic and the Touring and Elite have a 10-speed automatic. There's seating for seven passengers in the LX and eight passengers in everything else.

　　The Odyssey LX starts you off with features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, automatic climate control, power front seats, a 60/40-split folding third-row seat, a 5-inch central display screen, Bluetooth, a USB charging port, and a seven-speaker sound system with a USB interface.

　　Next up is the EX, and it's here that you get features that really start to make your life easier. These include power-sliding rear doors, keyless ignition and entry, remote engine start, three-zone automatic climate control, driver-seat power lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, enhanced sliding functionality for the second-row outboard seats, a removable center seat and second-row window sunshades. The EX also has more modern tech with its 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and satellite and HD radio. But, wait, there's more! Honda also fits this trim level with extra driver safety aids that include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and mitigation, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning and intervention.

　　Honda starts to crank up the luxury with the EX-L. You get a sunroof, a noise-reducing windshield, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power liftgate, leather upholstery, driver-seat memory settings and two charging USB ports for the second row.

　　The EX-L with Navigation and Rear Entertainment System is similar but adds, as its name implies, a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system. The latter includes a 10.2-inch overhead display, a Blu-ray player and an HDMI input. This version of the EX-L also has a 110-volt power outlet and a cabin intercom system (broadcasts the driver's/front passenger's voice to the rear seating areas).

　　Moving up to the Odyssey Touring gets you the above plus front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, automatic engine stop-start, a hands-free liftgate, an integrated vacuum cleaner, a rear cabin camera monitoring system and an onboard 4G LTE connection with a Wi-Fi hotspot and HondaLink services.

　　Finally, the Elite tops off the Odyssey range with 19-inch wheels, power-folding mirrors, noise-reducing glass for the front and rear windows, ventilated front seats, an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless phone charger.

　　

2018 Odyssey Highlights

Trim: LXEXEX-LTouringEliteLX

　　

Base MSRP	$29,990
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$165/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	38.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles