2023 Honda Odyssey: A Well-Rounded Family Van
The 2023 Honda Odyssey is one of the last minivans on the market. How does it hold up against the competition? Find out our thoughts here.
2023 Honda Odyssey – hondanews.com | Shop 2023 Honda Odyssey on Carsforsale.com
What’s new for the 2023 Honda Odyssey?
An oddly named Sport model joins the lineup along with its 19-inch wheels, red ambient interior lighting and black leather upholstery. On the other side of the coin, Honda has axed the LX trim and at the same time added a two-year or 24,000-mile complimentary maintenance package.
The Breakdown
Highly configurable
Best driver’s minivan
Spacious
Frustrating back seats
Middling fuel economy
Small infotainment screen
Refinements are due
2023 Odyssey Specs
- 280 horsepower from base engine
- 262 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 38.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 158 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Highly customizable infotainment system
- 5-star NHTSA Crash Test Rating
- 2 years free maintenance
2023 Honda Odyssey Powertrain
Back when the very first Odyssey arrived on the scene it set a new precedent as a minivan that was actually pretty impressive to drive. Now, more than a decade later it still claims the title as the most engaging of its class. The power from the 280 horsepower V6 is sent straight to the front wheels only through a 10-speed automatic transmission. As a package, it’s one of the most refined and impressive that Honda makes.
Steering feedback is sharp and communicative and pedal feedback is confidence inspiring and linear. It’s easy to place the Odyssey in exactly the spot you want to and from a standstill it’ll snap from 0-60 in just over 7.5 seconds. That’s not a combination of features that you’ll find on any other minivan.
If there’s anything that we don’t love about the driving experience it has to be the somewhat choppy way that the suspension handles really rough roads. While we don’t expect the Odyssey to work miracles we were surprised by how chattery it felt compared to rivals when the roads were really rough.
2023 Honda Odyssey Fuel Economy & MPG
The EPA estimates that the 2023 Honda Odyssey will get 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. That’s not bad considering the size and weight of this minivan but it’s nowhere near the hybrid options on the market like the Toyota Sienna or the Chrysler Pacifica.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Honda has one of the best interior spaces in the business too. Not only is it roomy but it’s highly configurable. The second row is made up of what Honda calls its magic slide seats which can slide forward, back, and side to side.
Those same seats can be completely removed but they do require a little grunt work since they’re pretty heavy. The third row folds down but the second-row Magic Slide hardware gets left on the floor when the seats are gone so it’s not perfectly flat there.
Beyond those very tiny gripes, the rest of the interior is impressive. The front and second row seats offer excellent comfort, headroom, and adjustability. Visibility is solid and the ergonomics of the driver’s seat make navigating the controls easy.
Generally speaking it’s a very quiet cabin too. Cargo space is excellent as well with a huge space behind the third row and the option of stowing those seats quickly for even more space.
Entertainment & Technology
Perhaps the only area that doesn’t feel as advanced is the 8-inch infotainment system with its display audio interface. Not only does the screen itself feel too small compared to modern rivals but the software is somewhat laggy and tough to navigate. Thankfully, Honda has included both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity across the entire Odyssey range.
Buyers who opt for the Touring trim or Elite trim will also get a rear-seat entertainment system with integrated apps. We love how configurable the driver’s information display is too. Other technology like the rear cabin camera or the cabin intercom really add a layer of practicality to the Odyssey that we appreciate.
Safety Features
The NHTSA has awarded the Odyssey five stars in crash testing but the IIHS has yet to release any safety data about the van. Despite that mixed bag we really love the inclusion of a full safety package on the Honda which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward collision mitigation and more.
2023 Honda Odyssey Trims & Pricing
EX – $38,635
The base Odyssey comes with 18-inch wheels, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated power-adjustable front seats, power-sliding rear doors, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, second-row sunshades, heated mirrors, and LED headlights. Along with the safety features mentioned above it gets blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
EX-L – $41,705
The EX-L adds a sound-reducing windshield, leather upholstery, a power liftgate, second-row USB chargers, driver’s seat memory settings, and a sunroof.
Sport – $42,505
The new Sport trim gets unique 19-inch wheels, black leather upholstery, and a black grille.
Touring – $45,745
The Touring model steps up the technology and luxury with a Wi-Fi hotspot, integrated navigation, a rear-seat infotainment system, a cabin intercom system, an in-cabin camera system, parking sensors, third-row sunshades, and a third-row USB charging point.
Elite – $50,765
At the top of the lineup, the Elite adds an 11-speaker sound system, ventilated front seats, a hands-free tailgate, automatic wipers, and a heated steering wheel.
Warranties
Every Odyssey comes with a three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty along with a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Additionally, Honda offers two years or 24,000-miles of complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2023 Honda Odyssey – hondanews.com | Shop 2023 Honda Odyssey on Carsforsale.com
There’s no question that the Honda Odyssey is a minivan you should test out if this is a segment that you’re interested in. It’s not as fuel efficient as some or as clever as others like the Kia Carnival, but it’s incredibly well rounded and full of excellent technology, good driving dynamics, and spacious dimensions.
