See Full Image Gallery >>
Pros: ‘Magic’ middle row great for parents with small kids; plush ride; Honda reliability reputation
Cons: It’s not a cheaper model and is difficult to drive, even in a minivan.
The 2023 Honda Odyssey isn’t so much an automobile as it is the ultimate piece of parenting gear. From novel features like its “Magic” sliding second-row seats and available onboard vacuum to common-but-indispensable traits like remotely opening doors and gargantuan cargo space, it’s far more akin to a BOB Rambler, Britax Boulevard or MamaRoo – cleverly engineered items specifically designed to make parents’ lives easier. Although it might be obvious that minivans are oriented towards parents and children, the Odyssey is unabashedly focused on this goal.
Odyssey stands out from the rest of the van crowd, while competitors hide their vanness. The Odyssey did not attempt to make the exterior look sportier or more SUV-like, but the interior has the same visual appeal as an ATM. Similar to the Odysseys, they have a more relaxed driving experience with loose steering and a soft ride. The kids are the main focus here. They don’t care whether you get feedback from the wheel, or they treat your eyes to interesting-looking dashes.
They also probably don’t care about fuel economy, but that’s one of the few objective areas where the Odyssey trails its competitors. While its V6 engine is perfectly fine relative similarly powered vans, the Chrysler Pacifica offers an exceptional plug-in hybrid model while the Toyota Sienna is only offered as a hybrid that gets an estimated 36 mpg combined. While the Odyssey achieves 22 mpg and is much more powerful, we think it will still be worth trading off some acceleration for an approximate $1,000 per-year in gas savings.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
How it feels to be a driver | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What is new in 2023?
LX base is no longer available. The EX base trim will replace it. This makes the EX base trim significantly more expensive. New Odyssey Sport will also be available. It basically takes the EX-L trim and adds a black grille, wheels and exterior trim, plus red contrast stitching to the interior’s black leather. Red is used for interior ambient lighting. Honda Service Pass 2023 Odyssey, the Honda’s first Honda model to provide scheduled maintenance for 24,000-miles or two years.
See Full Image Gallery >>
What is Odyssey’s interior like and what technology does it have?
You might find the Odyssey cabin a little dull after you test driven a Kia Carnival, Chrysler Pacifica, or Toyota Sienna. While the quality of materials is good and Honda is able to put things together well, the overall aesthetic is purely functional. All of its competitors have made strides toward cabins that feel less van-like when behind the wheel – the Odyssey leans hard into its vandom.
However, the design is extremely functional. The walled gutter that runs between the seats allows you to securely place your purse. You can partition the hidden drawer to stop things from sliding about. Additionally, there is a bin beneath the console’s roll door that you can use as a storage area. Cup and bottle holders are available in both the console’s doors and in the console. There is also a place for you to store your phones in the doors or seatbacks. The highest trims even include a vacuum.
The touch-screen infotainment system, which is available on every trim except the base trim, is simple to read and use. It has intuitive menus with clear graphics as well configurable tiles, which allows you to put functions wherever you like. We’ve had some freezing when using the standard Apple CarPlay, however, especially when also trying to use the car’s native navigation system (which is also a disappointingly sparse affair). We also generally prefer the interfaces of the Carnival and Pacifica, plus the Sienna’s available widescreen system.
Top trim levels have a variety of useful, innovative and surprising features. The in-car vacuum is also available by Toyota and Chrysler. CabinWatch also offers a wide-angle lens that is placed above the second row. This allows you to view what’s happening in the individual seats. The Pacifica even has something similar. The CabinTalk system pairs it with this system, which allows you to project your voice via the rear speakers or rear-seat entertainment system’s headphones. (The Sienna has something similar). Warnings about “Don’t stop me!” They will never again be forgotten.
Is the Odyssey really that big?
Although it is smaller than the Sienna and Pacifica in size, the Odyssey outside looks almost identical to them. They have such huge interiors that they are virtually indistinguishable. That includes the amount of space behind their third-row seats, which we found to be even more immense than expected in the Odyssey. You can fit more back there than in the cargo areas of most compact and midsize crossovers (and exponentially more than you can behind the third rows of large crossovers).
The functionality of the second row seats is what makes vans different. All three vans have different designs that can be tailored to individual owner preferences and needs. The Odyssey’s second-row “Magic Slide” seats are a different design. We go into those in depth in this Odyssey Driveway Test, along with their excellent ability to accommodate infant car seats, but in short, it’s a brilliant idea and well suited to parents of young children (although the Carnival’s own unique eight-passenger configuration comes close). Older kids would probably appreciate the far-sliding captain’s chairs in the seven-passenger Carnival and Sienna that provide far more sprawl-out space (the Odyssey’s limited fore-aft adjustment also results in a smaller gap between the seat and pillar for third-row access). Should you be prioritizing cargo versatility, the best bet is unequivocally the non-hybrid Pacifica’s fold away Stow ‘N Go seats.
Which specs and fuel economy are available for the Odyssey?
Each Odyssey has the same engine and drivetrain. A 3.5-liter V6 that produces 280 horsepower, 262 pound-feet torque and is paired with both a 10-speed auto and front-wheel-drive. Honda doesn’t offer an option for hybrid or all-wheel drive, unlike the Sienna/Pacifica. To save fuel, the engine will shut off a number of cylinders and then restart when it comes to an abrupt halt. Its fuel economy is still inferior to hybrids, which average 19 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway, and 22 combined. The EPA says you’ll spend $1,000 more on a gas per year compared with the Sienna and possibly more compared with the Pacifica Hybrid.
How does the Odyssey drive?
It is surprising that the Odyssey’s steering wheel, which was a Honda, feels loose and sloppy for such a large vehicle. The Odyssey’s steering required more care and adjustments when we were driving along rural roads than we would prefer. We also found the lane-keeping system to be less helpful. It doesn’t inspire confidence or engagement. Odysseys once drove like large Accords. The new Odyssey is not like that, so we enjoy driving it more.
Despite that caveat, the 2023 Odyssey remains incredibly comfortable and quiet. You and your passengers will feel completely at ease, contented, and unaffected by whatever is playing on their phones. It’s easy to park thanks to the large visibility and narrow front end. The steering is also loosely goosey. It has plenty of power. You can spin the rubber at a slow stop even with a heavy foot. It also has enough horsepower to pull you onto narrow roads or merge with other highway traffic. You’ll feel proud to drive your family hauler occasionally, even though it sounds a little too macho. The standard 10-speed auto transmission keeps the revs under control for calm driving. Standard paddle shifters are also available. free to ignore unless you’re traversing steep hills or towing something behind you.
Are there any other Honda Odyssey reviews?
Test Driveway Test Honda Odyssey Infant Car Seat
Let’s take a deeper look at the Magic Slide second rows seats to see how an infant car chair works with the Odyssey.
Honda Odyssey Luggage Test – How big is the luggage space in front of the third row?
Were we aware that all of our bags would fit in the third row? Ah yes. Did we not find it surprising how much room was still available? It is also true.
2021 Honda Odyssey First Drive Review
The current Odyssey 2021 model has undergone significant improvements. These changes are described and our initial impressions of whether or not they were significant.
How much is 2023 Odyssey worth?
The base LX Odyssey trim level is no longer offered by the Odyssey. Therefore, the EX entry-level 2023 Odyssey costs $38,635 plus the $1,295 destination fee. It is the least expensive minivan you can get in, especially when compared to the Kia Carnival. Things start to even out from there, but we will say that the Odyssey’s rather utilitarian interior makes the $50,765 Elite trim seem like poor value in the face of the high-lux range-topping rival trim levels. Therefore, Odysseys at lower trim levels are less competitive.
The $1,295 charge for destination is included in all prices.
EX: $38,635
EX-L: $41,705
Sport: $42,505
Touring: $44,450
Elite: $50,765
Which safety features are available on the Odyssey?
All Odysseys come standard with forward collision alert with automatic emergencybraking and pedestrian detection.
NHTSA gave the Odyssey five out of five stars for its overall, frontal, and side collision protection. It also received the highest possible Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for all its top scores in each category except one, headlights. This was where it earned an “Acceptable”. Even its LATCH anchors were given the best-possible rating of Good+ for their ease of use – something we can definitely confirm.
Similar video:
Also, you might like
