Yahoo Autos 2021 Honda Odyssey Review | The ultimate baby gadget
It's best to think of the 2021 Honda Odyssey as the ultimate piece of parenting gear rather than a car. 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, Chicco KeyFit30 or MamaRoo – cleverly engineered items specifically designed to make parents' lives easier. While being oriented towards kids and parents might seem obvious for a minivan, none are so unabashedly centered on that goal than the Odyssey.
While competitors attempt to hide their van-ness, the Odyssey lets its van flag fly. There was no attempt to add sporty or SUV-like flourishes outside, while inside, the dash has all the visual appeal of a washing machine. The driving experience is similarly indifferent, characterized by loose steering and a pillowy ride (unlike earlier Accord-like Odysseys). It's all about the kids here, and they don't care if you're getting feedback through the wheel or your eyes are treated to an interesting-looking dash. 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 all-new 2021 Toyota Sienna is only offered as a hybrid that gets an estimated 36 mpg combined. The Odyssey gets 22, and while it's more powerful, we're guessing acceleration is hardly a priority for those buying what is basically the ultimate stroller.
What's new for 2021?
The Odyssey gets a multitude of updates for 2021. The restyled grille and front fascia are more streamlined and attractive. The interior looks the same, but upgrades include second-row seats that fold flatter, grocery bag hooks mounted to the back of the third-row seat, an updated center console with a cord management system, and extra seatback storage pockets for the EX-L and higher trims. New tech features include a third-row USB port on the Touring and Elite trims, and a rear seat reminder system on all trim levels. The forward collision warning system has also been enhanced to detect pedestrians, while the adaptive cruise control system can work in stop-and-go traffic.
What's the Odyssey interior and in-car technology like?
If you've just test driven a Chrysler Pacifica, 2021 Toyota Sienna or even the Kia Sedona, the Odyssey cabin is bound to seem a bit dull. Materials quality is acceptable, and there's no faulting Honda's ability to screw things together, but the aesthetic is one of pure functionality.
To that end, though, it's incredibly functional. There's a walled gutter between the front seats that lets you securely plop down your purse. There's a hidden drawer that can be partitioned to keep things from sliding about, plus another bin under the console's roller door and a wireless charging pad on top trim levels. There are highly functional holders for cups and bottles alike in the console and doors, while you'll find dedicated places to stash your devices in the doors and seatbacks. Top trim levels even come with a built-in vacuum (though so does the Sienna now).
The touchscreen infotainment system found on all but the base trim is easy to see and reach, and generally straightforward to use. We like the crisp graphics, intuitive menus and configurable tiles that let you put functions where you want them. 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 Pacifica's Uconnect touchscreen along with the Sienna's available widescreen interface.
There are other novel and surprisingly useful features available on top trim levels. There's the in-car vacuum, which is now offered by both Toyota and Chrysler for 2021. There's also CabinWatch, which uses a wide-angle lens above the second row to let you see what's going on in each of the seats, including into a rear-facing child seat (the '21 Pacifica now offers something similar). It's paired with the CabinTalk system that lets you project your voice through the rear speakers and/or rear seat entertainment system's headphones (the '21 Sienna offers something similar to this). Threats of "don't make me stop this car!" shall never be missed again.
How big is the Odyssey?
On the outside, the Odyssey is effectively the same size as the Pacifica and Sienna (though it does weigh less). Their interiors are also so enormous that differences are basically moot points. 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).
Really, the differences between vans comes down to the functionality of their second-row seats. They all utilize different concepts, which cater to different owner needs and preferences. The Odyssey differs with its "Magic Slide" second-row seats found on all but the base LX. We go into it 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. Older kids would probably appreciate the Sienna's "Super Long Slide" seats 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), while those in need of cargo versatility should look to the Pacifica's fold away Stow 'N Go seats.
What are the Odyssey's performance and fuel economy?
Every Odyssey gets the same powertrain combination: a 3.5-liter V6 that sends 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine has the ability to shut down a bank of cylinders to save fuel as well as automatically stop and start when the van comes to a stop. It achieves an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
What's the Odyssey like to drive?
The Odyssey's steering is surprisingly loose on center for a Honda and lacks precision. It required more attention and corrections when driving on a winding rural highway than we'd prefer (the lane-keeping assist system rears its head an awful lot), and doesn't instill a great deal of confidence, let along engagement. Odysseys were once described as driving like big Accords. That's not the case with the new one, and we prefer driving the Pacifica, Sienna and Kia Sedona more.
