While investment dollars shift toward electrification, automakers are extending the lives of some of their gas-powered models with multiple mid-cycle refreshes rather than complete redesigns. Case-in-point: The Honda Odyssey minivan is getting the second refresh in its fifth generation for the 2025 model year.
However, the Honda Odyssey is such a good minivan that it’s hard for us to complain about its advancing age, especially since Honda is taking steps to keep it fresh. Let’s look at how one of our favorite family haulers is getting even better.
Updated Tech
You guessed it: new screen. The old 8-inch screen has grown into a 9-inch screen. It gets a faster processor for what Honda calls “lag-free performance.” At long last, the Odyssey has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, if you do want to plug in, there are more USB-C ports throughout the expansive, 8-seat cabin.
The outgoing Odyssey had a gauge cluster that was part analog and part digital. Its unique aesthetic looked high-tech when the Odyssey was all-new in 2018, but lately the setup was starting to look dated. It’s still not completely digital, but it does look more modern now. There’s an analog speedometer on the right, and about two-thirds of the gauge cluster is now a 7-inch digital display with user-selectable functions.
Being a minivan, the updated Odyssey has also improved the quality of life for the rear passengers. The rear entertainment system (standard in the Touring and Elite trims) now has a higher-resolution 12.8-inch screen, replacing the old 10.2-inch screen. It no longer has a Blu-ray player. The HDMI plug for the rear entertainment system is relocated to the inside of the front center console with a dedicated bin for streaming device storage.
Revised Styling
The 2025 Odyssey retains much of its unique aesthetic, which has long been characterized by its “lightning bolt” body lines along the sides. Exterior tweaks are limited to reshaped front and rear fascias, a bold new grille, and a more liberal use of black trim in lieu of chrome. It gets new wheel designs across the model range. Two new paint options appear: Solar Silver Metallic and Smoke Blue Pearl.
Other than the aforementioned tech upgrades, the Odyssey’s family friendly interior is largely unchanged. It ain’t broke, so Honda didn’t fix it. One welcome update is stylish two-tone black-and-white perforated leather seats in the top Elite trim.
No Hybrid or AWD Options
What’s unchanged about the Honda Odyssey is almost as big of a story as what’s changed. The same 3.5-liter V6 engine rated at 280 horsepower has been under the hood of the Odyssey since 2018. The same trusty engine remains. Fuel economy is identical to the 2024 model: 19 city/28 highway/22 combined mpg.
Speaking of fuel economy, the Odyssey is now notable for being the only minivan in the U.S. that you can’t get as a hybrid. The Chrysler Pacifica has had a plug-in hybrid option since 2017. The Toyota Sienna has been hybrid-only since 2021, and 2025 marks the introduction of the Kia Carnival hybrid.
The updated Odyssey also doesn’t bring an all-wheel-drive (AWD) option, which is available in the Pacifica and Sienna but not the Carnival. Front-wheel-drive Odyssey minivans have faithfully served families in all climates for 30 years, so it’s not a glaring omission, but available AWD is a noteworthy competitive edge in some of its rivals.
2025 Honda Odyssey Pricing:
If the 2025 Honda Odyssey’s $43,315 (including destination charge) starting price seems a little steep, that’s because it no longer offers what used to be the base EX trim. EX-L is the new base trim, which means every 2025 Odyssey comes standard with upscale features like leather seats (heated in front), a power moonroof, and a power liftgate. Although it lacks a sub-$40K base trim, the Odyssey remains similarly priced to similarly equipped minivan rivals.
Honda says the 2025 Odyssey will arrive in U.S. dealerships this month. All prices below include a mandatory $1,395 destination charge.
| Model | Price |
| EX-L | $43,315 |
| Sport-L | $44,465 |
| Touring | $48,005 |
| Elite | $52,275 |
