2023 Honda Odyssey

　　

2023 Honda Odyssey Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　, rating written byTravis LangnessSenior Manager, Vehicle Testing Operations

　　Mike Schmidt has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. He has written nearly a thousand car-related articles and has been responsible for the upkeep of countless test fleet vehicles over the course of his career. Mike is a senior manager of vehicle testing operations at zzdcar and got his start working behind the scenes on the car manufacturer side of the business. Mike spent many a weekend working on the family car with his dad and was promoted from flashlight holder to tool gopher at a young age. He's had an appreciation of cars ever since.

　　Odds are, if you're thinking about buying a minivan, you're considering the Honda Odyssey. The Odyssey has been around for almost 30 years now, and the 2023 model does everything we expect from a modern minivan, and more. There's plenty of configurable passenger and cargo room, and its V6 has plenty of power to move this eight-passenger vehicle with authority. The Odyssey comes standard with many advanced driver aids to help improve safety. It also offers some neat optional extras, such as an interior camera system that's handy for keeping an eye on rowdy backseat passengers.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Honda Odyssey EX 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$166/mo  for Odyssey EX

　　Odyssey EX

　　EX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $37,490 MSRPEX-L 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $40,560 MSRPSport 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $41,360 MSRPTouring 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $44,600 MSRPElite 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) - $49,620 MSRP

　　vs

　　$204/mo

　　Avg. Large Minivan

　　The 2023 Honda Odyssey is pretty much unchanged. Honda did eliminate the LX trim, making the EX the new base trim. It costs more than the old LX but has more standard features as compensation. Then, right in the middle of the lineup, Honda has added a Sport trim with black exterior accents and distinctive interior upholstery.

　　There isn't much minivan competition these days, but those that remain include the Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica and the Kia Carnival. The Sienna and the Pacifica both offer a hybrid model, which greatly improves the fuel economy. You can get them with all-wheel drive, too, which is something Honda doesn't offer. Meanwhile, the Kia Carnival offers a compelling value and a longer warranty than the Odyssey. But on the whole, we think the Odyssey is a great pick for a family hauler. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below for our complete evaluation.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Our editors spent a year and 20,000 miles with a Honda Odyssey and learned everything that's great, and not so great, about Odyssey ownership. This was a 2018 Odyssey, but the 2023 model is part of the same generation, so most of our observations still apply.

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below