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Tesla’s Wild Ride Continues2021 Honda Odyssey Review
The 2021 Honda Odyssey remains one of the most competitive vans available thanks to exceptional balance and great new features.
What’s New for the 2021 Honda Odyssey?
It’s impossible to ignore the impact that the Honda Odyssey has had on the minivan market. It singlehandedly proved that, despite being the size of a small whale, vehicles like this can be engaging behind the wheel. For 2021, the Odyssey sees an update to an already outstanding package. It might just be the best minivan on sale today.
Introduced in 2018, this generation of the Odyssey gets its first refresh for 2021 and that means lots of small improvements. The entire exterior has seen nips and tucks to provide a more foreboding presence including new headlights. Some upper trim levels get minor interior upgrades like contrast piping on the upholstery. Safety gets a boost too with the full range of Odysseys getting HondaSensing standard.
2021 Honda Odyssey – hondanews.com | Shop 2021 Honda Odyssey on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Excellent driving dynamics
Safety features are plentiful
Attractive value proposition
Rivals offer AWD
No hybrid
No 360 camera system available
2021 Odyssey Specs
- 280 horsepower from base engine
- 262 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 38 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 144 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Fast infotainment system
- Great advanced safety suite
- Warranty coverage is average
2021 Honda Odyssey Powertrain
Considering that this is ultimately a people mover, it’s hard to complain about the single drivetrain featured in the 2021 Honda Odyssey. The V6 is more than powerful enough to make this the best driving minivan on the market today. The suspension and transmission are excellent complements as well. If there’s any blemish it’s the sluggish response from the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Of course, this is a minivan and it shifts smoothly on its own so the need for paddles is negligible.
Beyond that, everything about the way the Odyssey drives and handles is impressive. It’s happy to change direction fairly quickly, it brakes effectively with good linear pedal feel, and it’s happy to overtake other vehicles when called upon. It’s so fast in fact that it’s as quick to 60 mph from a standstill (7.4 seconds) as some sedans like the Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE.
2021 Honda Odyssey Fuel Economy & MPG
Of course, the penalty for such a speedy vehicle is economy, and the 2021 Honda Odyssey isn’t particularly competitive. With a combined rating of just 22 miles per gallon, it’s not going to win any efficiency awards. At the same time, for buyers who spend most of their time on the highway, it does achieve a rating there of 28 mpg and in the past, we’ve seen real-world tests beat that figure.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The 2021 Honda Odyssey is perhaps the vehicle that fits Honda’s personality as a brand better than any other vehicle they offer. It provides tons of storage space and uses clever packaging to ensure that it’s unobtrusive. Both the second and third-row fold down nearly flat and ultimately provide more than 140 cubic feet of cargo space when put away. When they’re up there’s still nearly 40 cubic feet of space for gear that won’t be in the way of up to eight passengers.
Legroom is outstanding throughout with 38 inches available in the third row and even more in the two ahead. Seating is comfortable throughout though we wish the front seats had a bit better support considering how well this van handles corners. Over longer drives, the Odyssey settles in and proves a very comfortable cruiser. Poor road conditions do little to change that. If possible we do suggest opting for the thicker window glass as, without it, noticeable road noise will seep in. The climate control system is another strong feature and it reacts quickly and effectively.
2021 Honda Odyssey Entertainment & Technology
If the 2021 Honda Odyssey has a downside, it might be that the infotainment system within is largely unchanged since the generation was introduced in 2018. Four years might not sound like much but technology has never moved as quickly as it does now and Honda would do well to update it further. The base 5-inch screen really feels dated but the larger 8-inch option that’s standard on the EX and above is much better. It’s quicker to respond and much easier to use each day. Both the seven-speaker and 11-speaker audio systems sound very good with crisp clear sound and great overall range. For those that select the Elite model, the large rear entertainment screen is outstanding and will surely soothe many passengers.
Safety Features
The Odyssey is among the safest vans on sale today. Not only does it come with advanced safety features like adaptive cruise and frontal collision mitigation, but it’s also a Top Safety Pick + according to the IIHS. It also scored a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA.
2021 Honda Odyssey Trims & Pricing
LX – $33,015
Every 2021 Honda Odyssey comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 280 horsepower and then feeds it to the front wheels through a 10-speed automatic. In addition, all Odyssey owners will get adaptive cruise control, lane departure mitigation, and forward collision mitigation. Finally, the base model comes with 18-inch wheels, automatic climate control, push-button ignition, LED headlights, and a 5-inch infotainment screen with seven speakers.
EX – $36,415
The EX adds a few really nice upgrades like power-sliding rear doors, heated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, remote start, a second-row bench seat, and second-row sunshades.
EX-L – $39,685
As the first real luxury trim, the EX-L adds a sunroof, second-row USB charging ports, driver-seat memory settings, a power liftgate, and a sound-reducing windshield.
Touring – $43,725
The largest jump from one trim level to the next happens at the Touring level where buyers will get onboard wifi, integrated Garmin navigation, front and rear parking sensors, ambient interior lighting, 19-inch wheels, a rear-seat entertainment system featuring a 10.2-inch screen, and a host of third-row goodies. These include USB charging ports, sunshades, an integrated vacuum, and an intercom system.
Elite – $49,045
Nearing the $50,000 mark, the Odyssey Elite gets a full suite of luxury equipment including ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic wipers, a hands-free liftgate, sound-reducing glass, and an 11-speaker premium audio system.
Warranties
Honda offers comparable warranty coverage to most other companies. Limited Warranty coverage continues for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles and powertrain coverage is included for 5 years or 60,000 miles. There is no complimentary maintenance offered which falls short of rivals from Toyota and Hyundai.
What we think
2021 Honda Odyssey – hondanews.com | Shop 2021 Honda Odyssey on Carsforsale.com
The 2021 Honda Odyssey simply continues to be one of the best possible ways to transport people in safety and comfort. While it might not be the most efficient or the most luxurious van in the segment, it’s the best driver and is competitive in nearly every other facet.
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