2020 Honda Odyssey
Starting at $31,965
Select a year
- Highs Comfy and versatile family transport, surprisingly engaging to drive, several inventive features.
- Lows Awkward back-seat-adjustment mechanisms, limited interior power points, largest wheels diminish ride quality.
- Verdict The Odyssey checks all the boxes you'd expect of a contemporary and versatile minivan.
Overview
The 2020 Odyssey may not seem very cool, but the Honda minivan is the perfect tool for the modern family. With a cavernous and comfortable cabin, the Odyssey can shuttle up to eight people. It's available with a roster of innovative features that includes a rear-seat video feed to monitor the kids and an in-cabin PA system to make sure third-row passengers can clearly hear the driver. Despite its lackluster body style, the 2020 Odyssey is actually enjoyable to drive, with speedy acceleration and agile handling. Those traits are supplemented by solid fuel economy and desirable infotainment features. Unfortunately, the Honda has fewer power points than minivan rivals and rides worse with the largest available wheels. Still, the Odyssey ranks among the best minivans on the market, with more room inside than any crossover or SUV.
What's New for 2020?
The 2020 Odyssey no longer offers the nine-speed automatic transmission. Instead, every model now comes with the 10-speed automatic that includes automatic stop-start operation and push-button start. The other big news for 2020 is the new 25thAnniversary package, which primarily brings more chrome exterior bits and the larger 19-inch wheels. Honda has also raised the Odyssey's price between $400 and $730, depending on the trim level.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We'd recommend the mid-level EX-L model, which now comes with the standard 10-speed automatic. Highlights include leather seats, two rear-mounted USB ports, and a power-operated rear gate with programmable heights. Likewise, the EX-L inherits the EX's standard equipment, such as heated front seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, multi-function second-row seats (called Magic Slide), power-operated side doors, and a suite of driver-assistance features. The latter includes automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more. We'd skip the optional 19-inch wheels because they yield a harsher ride than the standard 18-inchers.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Fleet-footed, efficient, and polished, the Odyssey's powertrain is a sweetheart that requires zero compromises. The Odyssey changes direction crisply, and from behind the wheel it's easy to forget you're piloting a three-row van. The steering is direct and the effort is light, but more feedback from the road would be welcome. Driving enthusiasts won't rave—it's still a minivan, after all—but the Odyssey is the best-driving minivan, and its nimbleness makes it competent in corners and easy to drive on narrow roads. Our Elite test van's ride wasn't as compliant as that of our long-term Pacifica, but its standard 19-inch wheels could be partly to blame. Our EX-L test vehicle wore 18-inch wheels and seemed better-suited to pockmarked Michigan roads. Over most road surfaces, the Odyssey displays a comfortable ride, and few passengers will complain.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The 2020 Odyssey is rated at 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, according to the EPA. In our real-world testing, our test vehicle outperformed its EPA estimation, delivering 30 mpg highway. For comparison, the all-wheel-drive Toyota Sienna delivered 27 mpg and our long-term Pacifica managed 33 mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Hauling people and things to places near and far is a minivan's primary mission, and the Odyssey completes said mission with aplomb. Its second and third rows are among the roomiest in the class, and its second-row seats are far more comfortable than the Pacifica's. Honda's inventive second-row Magic Slide seats (standard on EX trims and up) slide both side to side and fore and aft, allowing for multiple configurations. Throw in some fun tech features, a sprinkle of ingenuities, and a quietest-in-class cabin, and the Odyssey is a hauler that is fit for the modern family. The Odyssey may be highly styled, but it's still a big box on wheels. Its square shape and low load floor mean there is a lot of space for hauling cargo, but some rivals do it better and with less hassle. Removing those second-row seats requires muscle, as the two outboard seats weigh in at 68 pounds each. Once removed, the optional Magic Slide seat mechanism remains in the floor, creating an obstacle for loading cargo. With its third row of seats stowed and its second row removed, our testing revealed that the Odyssey hauled five fewer carry-on suitcases than the Sienna.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Except for the base LX trim, all Odysseys get an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Display Audio. The software allows for customization of the menu layout and smartphone connectivity not only via Bluetooth, but also via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Optional on EX-L models and standard on both the Touring and Elite is a rear-seat entertainment system with built-in streaming apps.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
The 2020 Odyssey sailed through its crash testing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), earning a five-star safety rating. While the 2020 model hasn't been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2019 Odyssey was named a Top Safety Pick+ award. Honda also saw fit to provide a full suite of driver-assistance technology as standard equipment on EX trims and above. Key safety features include:
- Available automated emergency braking
- Available adaptive cruise control
- Available lane-keeping assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Honda's standard warranty package on the Odyssey mirrors that of most of its rivals and offers nothing that stands out in the crowd. The Kia Sedona is the warranty winner here, with a 10-year policy for its powertrain and a limited warranty that lasts two years longer than any of its rivals.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
