2024 Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is one of the oldest and most trusted names in the minivan class, and it’s still one of the best. It comes in a close second on our Best Minivans list, right behind the more efficient, hybrid-powered Toyota Sienna. The Odyssey has a well-earned reputation for its excellent safety and reliability ratings, roomy interior, and innovative, family-friendly features like second-row captain’s chairs that slide sideways. Affordable in the lower trims and downright luxurious in the upper trims, the Honda Odyssey lineup has something for everyone who needs a living room on wheels. The Odyssey is in a competitive class of minivans, including the Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival, and hybrid-only Toyota Sienna.

There are no notable changes to the Honda Odyssey for 2024. The 2023 model year saw the discontinuation of the LX trim and the introduction of the Sport model.

Before buying an Odyssey, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Honda Odyssey resale value is bested only by the Toyota Sienna.

The 2024 Honda Odyssey is powered by a 280-horsepower V6 engine matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This engine is a perfect match to the Odyssey, giving it the right amount of muscle to confidently haul a van full of passengers and cargo. Its performance is on par with the Kia Carnival and non-hybrid Chrysler Pacifica, while its hybrid rivals (Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid) are notably slower.

The Honda Odyssey has agreeable driving manners in the city and on the highway. We’ve found the ride smooth and comfortable and the steering precise. It adds up to a family car that’s almost effortless to drive, especially thanks to the standard Honda Sensing driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of minivans, including the Honda Odyssey.

Fuel Economy

The Honda Odyssey has a combined fuel economy rating of 22 mpg. That’s identical to the Kia Carnival and the non-hybrid, front-wheel-drive version of the Chrysler Pacifica.

The hybrid Toyota Sienna is much more efficient at 36 mpg, and the plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica can travel up to 32 miles on electricity alone and then gets 30 mpg in hybrid mode.

More Odyssey fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

The interior of the Honda Odyssey is its biggest strength. This vast 3-row interior has seating for up to eight. The seats in all three rows are roomy and comfortable for daily errand running and long-distance road trips.

A unique feature of the Odyssey is the Magic Slide second-row seats. With the second-row middle seat removed, the captain’s chairs can slide sideways. We’ve tested this system with real-life children in all three rows, and it’s the easiest and most convenient way to load up a car with kids, especially if you have rear-facing car seats in the second row. Many 3-row vehicles have little tricks and gimmicks to make the third row easier to get in and out of, but Honda’s Magic Slide is simply the best system of its kind that we’ve tested.

There isn’t a bad seat inside the Honda Odyssey, even for adults. This minivan has 40.9 inches of second-row legroom and 38.1 inches of third-row legroom. That’s class-leading second-row legroom and above-average third-row legroom. If you’re also considering the Honda Pilot SUV, it has a similar second row and significantly less roomy third row with 32.5 inches of legroom.

The total cargo space with the third row folded down and the second row removed is 144.9 cubic feet. That’s just a hair behind the class-leading Kia Carnival with 145.1 cubic feet of total cargo room. When the third row effortlessly folds flat into the floor, the Odyssey boasts best-in-class cargo room behind the second row with 89.2 cubic feet of room, and there’s 32.8 cubic feet of space behind the third row.

The similarly priced Honda Pilot midsize SUV only has 87 cubic feet of maximum cargo space and 18.6 cubic feet of room behind the third row.

Although minivans aren’t known for daring styling, the Honda Odyssey has a unique aesthetic with stylish body lines and interesting wheel designs. Standard power sliding doors and a wide opening for the cargo hold make it a breeze to load and unload.

Power sliding doors
Yes, every minivan has sliding doors, but this is one of the most significant benefits of a minivan. Once you’ve lived with them, the standard power sliding doors on the Odyssey will make you forget all about SUVs.

Honda Sensing
The standard Honda Sensing safety tech suite bundles driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Magic Slide seats
The second-row captain’s chairs in the Odyssey can slide sideways when the middle seat is removed, giving the Odyssey the most easily accessible third row we’ve tested. It also gives you the choice of having seven seats or eight.

Rear entertainment system
This feature is becoming a rarity, and it’s great for families who don’t do tablets. The Blu-ray player is up front, so Mom and Dad are in control of what’s on the screen.

CabinWatch and CabinTalk
These interior camera and intercom systems make it simple to keep an eye on your passengers and communicate with the whole crew without having to shout.

Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
Most rivals of the Odyssey have bigger touchscreens, but Honda’s infotainment system has a user-friendly interface and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity features.

Every Honda Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine delivers a healthy 280 horsepower, giving it performance that’s about average for a non-hybrid minivan, and the transmission shifts quickly and smoothly.

All-wheel drive isn’t available for the Odyssey, which might make the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica more appealing to drivers in snowy climates. However, the Odyssey does have a Snow mode that recalibrates the transmission and traction control system for optimal traction on snowy roads.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Honda Odyssey is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. You also get two years/24,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance. This coverage is about average for a minivan.

Safety

The Honda Odyssey’s trophy case includes the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and a 5-Star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Its excellent safety ratings come from favorable crash test results and the standard Honda Sensing safety tech suite with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.