2021 Honda Odyssey Review

　　

2021 Honda Odyssey Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　Your choices are relatively limited if you're in the market for a minivan. Luckily for you, the 2021 Honda Odyssey is so much better than the rest that your search can start and end here. The Odyssey does all the minivan stuff well — there's plenty of passenger and cargo room, and its V6 has plenty of sauce to move this eight-passenger vehicle with authority.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Honda Odyssey LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) 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 10A) - $31,790 MSRPEX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $35,190 MSRPEX-L 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $38,460 MSRPTouring 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $42,500 MSRPElite 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $47,820 MSRP

　　vs

　　$203/mo

　　Avg. Large Minivan

　　We're also impressed with the amount of technology present. The upper trim levels feature a vacuum cleaner hidden in the cargo area, an intercom system so you can speak to passengers without raising your voice, and an interior camera system, which is handy for keeping an eye on rowdy backseat passengers.

　　The 2021 model year brings mild upgrades to the Odyssey. Honda restyled the grille to mimic those on the Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pickup truck. The Honda Sensing suite of active safety features and driving aids is now standard on all models. The interior also reflects mild upgrades, including perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping on the Elite model. These small revisions only help cement the Odyssey's status as the preeminent minivan in the class.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Odyssey drive? The Odyssey just might be the exception where it is OK to use the words "minivan" and "fun" in the same sentence. Its V6 engine offers enough power for your merging and passing needs even when you've got the cabin full of passengers. In our testing, the Odyssey Elite accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, essentially an average time for a V6-powered minivan.

　　Precise steering and stable braking and handling give the Odyssey a confident presence both on the highway and along tighter roads. Is the Odyssey sporty? Not really. But it is well sorted and enjoyable to drive. Everything feels cohesive.

　　A smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission unobtrusively chooses the proper gear for the situation. Standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are nice if you want to shift for yourself. If we had to nitpick, it'd be that the engine stop-start system (it turns the engine off at stoplights to save fuel) is a bit unrefined, but it can be disabled.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Odyssey? The Odyssey is slightly ahead of its peers in yet another area. The front seats are great for logging miles on extended drives. The second-row seats are equally suited for kids or adults. Third-row legroom is limited, but two grown-ups can survive back there for shorter distances. Our Odyssey Elite's 19-inch wheels likely gave it a firmer ride than the smaller available wheel options (smaller wheels mean more absorbent tire sidewalls). But generally speaking, there aren't many bumps the Honda can't absorb with ease.

　　Honda deserves credit for its noise-reduction efforts, and the Odyssey is the quietest minivan in the segment by our measurements. The available cabin intercom also lets you bypass the low-level road noise. A microphone picks up your voice and broadcasts it to the rear of the van via the speakers or through the rear entertainment system's headsets. Now you can say "Stop touching your sister!" without having to turn your head around to shout it.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? A minivan should make your life easier, and the Odyssey does. Sliding rear doors will always beat the traditional doors of a crossover SUV when it comes to getting kids in and out. The height of the first two rows of seats makes them easy to slide right into. The second-row seats recline and also slide sideways with only moderate effort, allowing superior access to the third row.

　　Both the driver's seat and the steering column offer a wide range of adjustment, and finding a natural driving position is a cinch. Those with longer legs, however, might wish for extended thigh support from the lower cushion. Our biggest gripe is the mediocre visibility up front and over the shoulder. The windshield roof pillars and side mirrors are bulky. And while the rearview cameras are nice, a surround-view camera would be optimal. Honda doesn't offer one.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Honda's infotainment system has big virtual buttons and snappy responses. You can customize the layout of the screen's virtual buttons. The Garmin-based navigation graphics and menus, though, seem archaic compared to newer systems. And some operations, including voice commands, are a little hard to figure out. We preferred to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps instead during our testing.

　　The tech in the Odyssey is hit-and-miss. The rear cabin camera monitor (in lieu of the sunglass mirror) and cabin intercom are certainly useful. But some of the advanced driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, respond sluggishly and are prone to false positives. We avoided using them.

　　

Storage

9.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Few vehicles can best a minivan here. The storage well behind the third row is deep and perfect for grocery bags. The third-row seats are lifted and lowered manually, which requires a little muscle, but the strap handle system is easy enough to use. The Odyssey has a larger max capacity, at 155.8 cubic feet, than both the Sienna and the Pacifica. The second-row seats are bulky and hard to remove, yet their side-to-side adjustability is a helpful storage solution if you don't need a fully flat floor.

　　When it comes to installing car seats, the Odyssey sets the bar. Not only are the lower car-seat anchors extremely accessible, but booster-age kids will also find it easy to put on their own belts.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Odyssey Elite's fuel economy at 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is average for a minivan. On our 115-mile evaluation route, which is primarily composed of highway driving, we observed 21 mpg. This indicates the Odyssey might underperform with respect to the EPA's estimates.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Odyssey a good value? The Odyssey Elite trim level that we tested is pricey, no question. But the fundamentals of the Odyssey are available for much less if you can live without tech features such as active noise cancellation or a rear-seat vacuum cleaner. If you simply need maximum people-moving space, even the base LX captures the Odyssey's best qualities: smooth power, comfortable seating and an open, airy cabin.

　　Warranty-wise, Honda is on par with competitors — most offer three years/36,000 miles of basic and five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Roadside assistance is also typical and provided for the length of the basic warranty.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　As a kid-mobile, the versatility of a minivan is unbeatable. As road trip transport for five or six adults, the Odyssey is nearly as accommodating. And for the weekend home improvement warrior, it's a cavernous, lockable space for all your stuff. Not convinced it's cool? This one also drives like a car and has flexible seating, USB ports galore and in-cabin tech to keep everyone entertained.

　　

Which Odyssey does zzdcar recommend?

Consider going with the EX. It gets you plenty of useful features at an affordable price. Its tri-zone climate control, additional middle-row seat, blind-spot monitor and smartphone integration systems (among many other features) are well worth the extra cost over the base LX. The special features found on the Touring and Elite, such as the integrated vacuum cleaner and a rear intercom system, make family life easier, but they're certainly not essential.

　　

2021 Honda Odyssey models

The 2021 Odyssey is a family-friendly minivan available in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Elite. All are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 (280 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) powering the front wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. The LX comes with second-row captain's chairs, allowing seating for seven. All others come installed with a removable middle seat to increase capacity to eight.

　　LX

　　The base LX model starts you off with:

　　LED headlights 18-inch alloy wheels Push-button ignition Automatic climate control Power-adjustable front seats 5-inch central display screen Seven-speaker audio system Rear-seat reminder (alerts you as a reminder to check the rear seats for occupants when you park the car)Every Odyssey also comes with:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Honda and the car in front)EX

　　The EX upgrades the Odyssey with:

　　Dynamic guidelines for the rearview camera Heated mirrors Remote engine start Keyless entry Power-sliding rear doors Tri-zone automatic climate control Lumbar adjustment for the driver seat Heated front seats Second-row bench seat Second-row sunshadesThe EX also comes with:

　　8-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Satellite radio Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)EX-L

　　Upgrades on the midtier EX-L model include:

　　Sound-reducing windshield Sunroof Power liftgate Auto-dimming rearview mirror Driver-seat memory settings Leather-wrapped steering wheel Additional adjustments for front passenger seat, including lumbar Second-row USB charging portsTouring

　　The Touring model ups the feature content significantly, with additions that include:

　　19-inch wheels Ambient interior lighting Third-row sunshades Third-row USB charging port Integrated navigation system Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot Rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones In-headphone cabin intercom system CabinWatch rear-cabin camera monitoring system Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)Elite

　　The range-topping Elite is fully equipped with:

　　Automatic wipers Auto-dimming side mirrors Sound-reducing front and rear window glass Hands-free tailgate Heated steering wheel Ventilated front seats Wireless charging pad Intercom system Integrated vacuum cleaner Premium 11-speaker audio system

　　

2021 Odyssey Highlights

Trim: LXEXEX-LTouringEliteLX

　　

Base MSRP	$31,790
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