Honda’s Odyssey minivan includes premium features, safety technology

2022-09-09 19:06:31 By : Mr. frank xu

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The 2022 Honda Odyssey comes with a 280-horsepower V-6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Honda Odyssey minivan has room for up to eight passengers, or seven with the center middle-row seat removed to allow easier access to the third row.

After an update for 2021, the Honda Odyssey returned for 2022 with continued versatility for families and even empty nesters who like plenty of space and utility in their primary vehicles. There were no major changes for 2022, and that continues with the 2023 models -- except for the addition of a Sport model ($41,210) that slots between the EX-L ($38,960) and Touring ($44,450) models.

Also, for 2023, Honda introduces the new Honda Service Pass on the Odyssey. It’s a complimentary service plan that offers purchasers select scheduled maintenance at Honda dealerships for two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. The EX model has the lowest starting price for 2023, at $37,340. At the top of the line, again, is the Elite model ($49,470). 

Prices for the 2022 models begin at $33,040 (plus $1,295 freight) for the base LX model, which has been dropped from the lineup for 2023. Other trim levels and their prices for 2022 include the EX ($36,440), EX-L ($39.710), Touring ($43,750, and the Elite ($48,770), which we tested. Exterior updates that came with the 2021 freshening of the Odyssey carry over into 2023, and include a blackout grille with a top chrome strip, more-powerful LED headlights, a new front bumper fascia with revised fog-light housings, new gloss-black trim with a chrome strip under the rear window, and new 19-inch wheel designs for Touring and Elite models.

The second-row seats on all models can be folded nearly flat, making them easier to remove. EX and higher models got restyled seats, while EX-L, Touring and Elite models were given contrast stitching in the seats, along with power lumbar support for the front passenger seat.  Touring and Elite models additionally got piano-black trim on the dash, doors and front door handles. The Honda Rear Seat Reminder system is standard across the line. It can be integrated with the optional CabinWatch child-viewing system, which is included on Touring and Elite models.

Also, models that have the CabinWatch and CabinTalk systems can use both of those simultaneously. Among the recent safety upgrades, the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technologies now include Low-Speed Follow, Pedestrian Emergency Braking, and Traffic Sign Recognition.

The Touring models come with 19-inch wheels, and our Elite model came with the new Shark Gray 19-inch painted alloy wheels. Standard exterior colors for 2022 include Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Obsidian Blue Pearl. Premium colors ($395) include Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl and Pacific Pewter Metallic. For 2023, Sonic Gray Pearl is available for the first time on the Odyssey, including the Sport, Touring and Elite models. The Sport model comes with most of the EX-L features, but also brings darkened taillights, Berlina Black 19-inch wheels, and gloss-black exterior trim. The grille, headlight trim, fog light surrounds, door mirrors, B-pillar, C-pillar and taillight trim all feature the gloss-black finish. Inside, there is black leather with sporty red contrast stitching for the front seats and the second-row outboard seats, and the steering wheel. The roof pillars and headliner are also black, and there is red interior accent lighting on the dash, in the driver and passenger footwells, and in the front door handles and door pockets.

Besides the Sonic Gray Pearl, the Sport is available with Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl and Radiant Red Metallic exterior colors. Our Elite model came with a beige interior with perforated-leather/heated/ventilated front and middle-row seats, and contrast stitching and piping on the seats in all three rows. Elite models also have new dash trim with a metallic look, along with auto-dimming outside mirrors. With the combination of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters), the Odyssey at all trim levels boasts EPA fuel economy of 19 mpg city/28 highway/22 combined. 

The engine cranks out 280 horsepower and 262 foot-pounds of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is not offered. This engine and transmission combination provided plenty of power, even with a full load of passengers on board. With its 10 speeds, the transmission shifted smoothly and almost imperceptibly, even on uphill and downhill stretches. During our test, we averaged 23.8 mpg, according to the driving computer on the dash.

Keyless entry/exit with pushbutton start are standard, along with three-zone automatic climate control.  Also included are 12-way power driver’s seat adjustment and eight-way front passenger seat, both with four-way power lumbar support; rain-sensing wipers; auto-dimming rearview mirror; multi-view rear camera system; premium HD/satellite audio system with 11 speakers, Honda Navigation, mobile hot spot, and HondaLink with smartphone integration; heated/power/leather-wrapped tilt-telescopic steering wheel; and Homelink garage/gate opener system.

Our Elite model included the HondaVAC in-vehicle vacuum cleaner, which lets you clean up from messy beach or camping trips without having to drag a vacuum out of the house. All models come with the Honda Sensing system, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System with Pedestrian Detection, the Traffic Sign Recognition system, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System and Road Departure Mitigation. The Odyssey also has the newest Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, designed to improve frontal crash safety. The Odyssey became the first minivan to earn the highest rating – Top Safety Pick-Plus – from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While the Odyssey is configured for eight passengers, the middle seat in the second row can be removed to create a pass-through to the third row, cutting capacity to seven.

There are two bucket seats up front, separated by a removable center console with a deep storage bin that can hold a large purse. On top are a gadget tray in the middle, with two cupholders each in front and back.  Each front door has two storage pockets, a smaller one on top that also could hold a smartphone, and larger one with a bottle holder on the bottom. The sliding rear doors have storage pockets with bottle holders as well, within easy reach of the outboard passengers. Honda’s third-row “Magic Seat” has a 60/40 split and can be folded flat into the floor either in sections or together to create a larger cargo area when it isn’t needed for passengers. Rear passengers have relatively easy access from the second row by folding the middle seatbacks forward. A hands-free power tailgate is included. Even with all the seats occupied, there is 38.6 cubic feet of cargo space, some of which is made available by dropping the floor down into a deep well behind the third row. With the third row folded, still leaving room for five passengers, cargo space grows to 92 cubic feet. 

The Odyssey’s fuel tank holds 19.5 gallons of gasoline, and unleaded regular is acceptable.  Among safety features are four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control with traction control, front seat-mounted side air bags, and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags with rollover sensors for all three rows. The Elite model comes with everything that is available for the Odyssey, including leather, navigation and entertainment. The only extra on our tester was the premium paint.

Total price of our tester 2022 Elite tester was $50,460, including freight and the premium paint. Honda does not offer options; each trim level’s price is all-inclusive, with no extras available. The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III have appeared regularly in the Express-News since 2000. Contact him at chambers@auto-writer.com or on Twitter @gchambers3. His driving partner Emma Jayne Williams contributed to this report.

The package: Front-wheel-drive, five-door, eight-passenger, V-6 powered minivan. Highlights: Updated for 2021, this is Honda’s ultimate family hauler, and it comes with a variety of comfort and high-tech features that make it a virtual family room on wheels. It is roomy and comfortable, has plenty of power, and has an interior perfectly suited for everyday around-town duty or long road trips. For 2023, a new midlevel Sport trim has been added to the lineup, and the former base LX model has been dropped.  Negatives: All-wheel drive is not available. Overall length: 205.2 inches. Curb weight range: 4,398-4,603 pounds. Engine: 3.5-liter V-6. Transmission: 10-speed automatic. Power/torque: 280 HP./262 foot-pounds. Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock. Cargo volume: 38.6 cubic feet (behind third row); 92 cubic feet (behind second row, third row folded down). Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds. Electronic stability control: Standard. Side air bags: Front seat-mounted; roof-mounted side-curtain with rollover sensor, all three rows. EPA fuel economy: 19 mpg city/28 highway /22 combined. Fuel capacity/type: 19.5 gallons/unleaded regular. Main competitors: Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest, Kia Sedona. Base price range: 2022: $33,040-$48,770, plus $1,295 freight; 2023: $37,340-$49,470, plus $1,295 freight. Price as tested: $50,460, including freight and premium paint (2022 Elite model). On the Road rating: 9.2 (of a possible 10). Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail. Actual selling price may vary.