2020 Honda Odyssey

Honda offers the 2020 Odyssey in a wide five trims. It starts with the base at $30690 and goes all the way up to a pricey $47320. All trims are powered by the same 3.5L V6 which pumps out 280 horses and 262 pound-feet of torque. The 9-speed automatic transmission has been dumped and is now replaced by a new 10-speed automatic. 

All the trims have increasing feature list with “Elite” being the most equipped one. The LX trim is barebone and gets only the basic features as compared to its higher trims.

Trims	LX	EX	EX-L	Touring	Elite
MSRP	$30690	$34690	$37960	$44960	$47320
Engine	3.5L V6	3.5L V6	3.5L V6	3.5L V6	3.5L V6
Features	Multi-angle rearview camera	All the features in LX trim added/replaced and	All the features in EX trim added/replaced and	All the features in EX-L trim added/replaced and	All the features in Touring trim added/replaced and
	Vehicle Stability Assist	Remote Engine Start	Hands-free power tailgate	Rear Entertainment System with 10.2-inch HF Screen	Blue Ambient LED Lighting
	Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)	Honda Sensing Safety and Driver Assistive Technologies	Blind Spot Information System	CabinWatch/ CabinTalk	Heated and ventilated Front Seats
	5-inch color LCD Screen	8-inch HD(720p) touch-screen	Memory Linked Side Mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down	Wi-Fi Hotspot Capability	550-W Premium Audio system with 11 speakers, including Subwoofer
	Multi Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off	Multi-reflector halogen headlights with Auto On/Off	Automatic Dimming Rear View Mirror	LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off	Wireless Phone Charger
	Automatic Climate Control	Tri zone Automatic Climate Control	Leather Trimmed Seats	Honda Link Subscription services
	8-way power-adjustable driver seat	Power Sliding Doors	HomeLink Remote System	Built-in vacuum cleaner
	Rear Privacy Glass	Fog Lights
	Variable intermittent Windshield Wipers	Heated Front Seats
	Eco Assist system
	Cruise Control

Unlike others, Honda is kind enough to not pitch in add-on packages that shoot up the price.

Which trim should you go for?

The Odyssey EX is our pick of the lot as it has most of the safety features bundled with an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. It has three-zone climate control, sliding second-row seats, power sliding rear doors, heated front seats, and an eye-catchy 18-inch wheels for under $36000. It helps to still stay in the budget. But if you crave for more, then the “Touring” trim would make a better choice with its built-in vacuum and a second-row infotainment system. 

Honda has not fiddled with the engine in the Odyssey but has bought changes where needed. The upgraded transmission setup has been a welcome change for the minivan which bumps up it's driving characteristics.

The Odyssey is powered by a sweet-sounding and efficient 3.5L V6 which pumps out 280 horses and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine and the new 10-Speed Automatic gearbox together creates wonders. The V6 is polished and fools you into forgetting that it’s a van! 

The power delivery is smooth and linear with zero compromises from the powertrain. It helps eliminate the slow speed jolts which were prominent in the 9-Speed unit. Now city driving is a breeze in the Honda Odyssey. It is also equipped with paddle shifters for ease of usage.

Models	Honda Odyssey LX	Chrysler Pacifica Touring	Toyota Sienna L	Kia Sedona L
MSRP	$30690	$33495	$31415	$27400
Engine	3.5L V6	3.6L V6	3.5L V6	3.3L V6
Transmission	10-Speed Automatic	9-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
Horsepower	280 hp @6000 rpm	287 hp @6400 rpm	296 hp @6600 rpm	276 hp @6000 rpm
Torque	262 lb-ft @4700 rpm	262 lb-ft @4000 rpm	263 lb-ft @4700 rpm	248 lb-ft @5200 rpm

The Toyota Sienna is a tiny bit more powerful than the Odyssey, with a bump in power but similar torque figures. The 8-Speed transmission is not as fun to drive as the 10-Speed unit on the Honda. Kia Sedona comes in at the bottom of the list.

How quickly can a soccer mom haul the Odyssey?

This MINIVAN can pull hard. The Odyssey is capable of propelling itself in an impressive 6.5 seconds with full passenger and cargo capacity. This type of acceleration is unheard of in the minivan world with none of its competitors coming close to it. It can get you and the whole family across, really really fast!

Models	Honda Odyssey LX	Chrysler Pacifica Touring	Toyota Sienna L	Kia Sedona L
0-60 MPH	6.5 s(est.)	7.4 s	7.8 s(est.)	7.9 s
Quarter mile	14.5 s(est.)	15.6 s	N/A	16.1 s
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	8.0 (est.)	8.0	N/A	8.4

All of the minivans produce emissions in the range of 8-plus tonnes which is well within the limits. The Chrysler Pacifica comes a close second in terms of acceleration with 7.4 seconds. It is followed by the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona. 

How well does the Honda handle?

The Honda van defies itself with an exceptional level of handling and body control. Once behind the wheel, you would forget that it’s a van! That’s how good it is. It is acres better than other minivans in the category. The sheer dimensions also don’t hamper its feasibility to handle. The suspension is well-tuned to minimize body roll and keep the cabin comfortable.

Odyssey is surprisingly planted in corners with less body roll and a balanced chassis. It is a nimble ride which corners. Now that’s unexpected from a minivan. The electric power steering is quick and controlled which makes it more of a nimble cross than a minivan.

How good is Odyssey's braking?

Braking is decent on the Honda Odyssey. The 12.6-inch front disc and 13 inch rear disc do a pretty good job at stopping the 4354 pound Honda with ease. Electronic brake distribution and anti-lock braking systems always keep the vehicle under control. The front brake is power-assisted to assist the driver in complications. 

Models	Honda Odyssey LX	Chrysler Pacifica Touring	Toyota Sienna L	Kia Sedona L
Brake Front (in.)	12.6	13	12.9	12.6
Brake Rear (in.)	13	13	12.2	11.9
60-0 MPH (ft)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Chrysler Pacifica has the largest brakes of the lot but that doesn’t necessarily translate to better braking performance. Kia Sedona has the smallest set of the lot. 

The new 10-Speed transmission has improved the efficiency and helped Honda get back in the game. It now returns a combined total of 22 MPG which is formidable in the minivan segment. Real-world testing might even surprise you by outperforming the stats. 

Models	Honda Odyssey LX	Chrysler Pacifica Touring	Toyota Sienna L	Kia Sedona L
MPG (city)	19	19	19	18
MPG (highway)	28	28	26	24
MPG (combined)	22	22	21	21

All of the minivans are on the same thread in terms of fuel efficiency which is respectable given the performance figures. Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica top the list with better performance to efficiency ratio.

A minivan is primarily built to haul lots of people and things to places near and far with comfort. The Odyssey achieves this with ease. The second and third-row seats are spacious and the best in this class. The higher trims get Honda’s inventive second-row magic slide seats which slide both front-back and sideways. This allows for multiple configurations for the rear. There are plentiful interior cubby holes for all the storage you need.

All three rows are utterly comfortable and even the third row doesn’t disappoint. The cabin is silent and the sound damping is done well for a minivan. It is a modern family hauler that is high on creature comfort as well.

Honda might have styled it well but it’s still a box on wheels. The square shape and low flat floor means there is a lot of space to relax out and to haul a whole lot of cargo. The seats are finished in quality materials which is soft to touch and is durable for toddlers most probably. That said this is one of the best minivans which score high on comfort.

Models	Honda Odyssey LX	Chrysler Pacifica Touring	Toyota Sienna L	Kia Sedona L
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.7/63.1/40.9	40.1/63.8/41.1	41.0/65.0/40.5	39.8/63.9/40.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.5/61.6/40.9	39.6/63.0/39.0	39.7/64.6/37.6	39.4/63.1/41.1

The first row is the comfiest for all the vans both things start to change from the second row on. Chrysler has done a good job of providing us with the most spacious and comfortable second-row seats in this category. The Pacifica has foldable seats that completely vanish when folded, unlike the bulged out ones in the Honda. Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona stay at the end of the list with the minimum flexible interior space and comfort of the lot.

How is the infotainment system in the Honda?

The base LX trim is devoid of any interesting modern features in terms of entertainment as it is equipped with a basic set. But as well go up the trim things get interesting. The trims apart from LX get an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Support. And standard on the Touring and Elite trims is a rear-seat entertainment system with built-in streaming applications.

Infotainment Features

• 5-inch Color LCD screen
• USB Audio Interface(1port)
• 160 W Audio system with 7 speakers
• Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and Audio streaming

Interior Features

The interior is laden with creature comforts and plenty of features to make traveling in the Odyssey a breeze.

• Automatic Climate Control System
• Push Button Start
• Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
• Lockable Glove compartment 
• Ambient Console Lighting
• Rear seat heater ducts
• Illuminated Steering wheel mounted controls
• Driver seat with 8-way Power Adjustment 
• Front Passenger Seat with 4-Way Power Adjustment
• Head Restraints at all seating positions

How much cargo can it haul?

Cargo space is plentiful in the Odyssey with 38.6 cubic feet volume. If that’s not enough then you even have an option to remove the second-row seats of the car which gives you a flat floor cargo space. But this isn’t practical as compared to the seamlessly foldable rear seats of the Chrysler Pacifica which folds flat into the floor. Nevertheless, the volume is still impressive which is almost double that of a regular-sized sedan.

Models	Honda Odyssey LX	Chrysler Pacifica Touring	Toyota Sienna L	Kia Sedona L
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	38.6	32.3	39.1	33.9

Toyota tops the list with 39.1 cubic feet of cargo space. And ironically the Pacifica comes in at the end of the list.

Minivan and styling don’t reciprocate well. But that’s not the case with the 2020 Honda Odyssey. The updates in 2018 has given it a new lease of life. It shares much of the styling cues with the Honda Pilot band Ridgeline as all three share similar platforms.

The sleek design and hidden sliding door track make it stray away from being called a Minivan. The chrome grille up front flaunting the honda logo seamlessly blends with the headlights. The sloping window line after the B-pillar gives it a very distinctive look. A chrome bar design at the rear matches that of the front and is bordered by the tail lamps.

The roof gets a floating effect because of the blacked-out portion of the C-pillar. The 18-inch alloys truly adds to the charisma of the whole vehicle. The design is subjective as we feel that Honda has overdone it with the thick chrome bits on the grille at the front and in between the taillights at the rear. It even has a spoiler, aesthetics of course. The van as a whole looks plain and not as pleasing as its competitors.

Models	Honda Odyssey LX	Chrysler Pacifica Touring	Toyota Sienna L	Kia Sedona L
Length (in)	203.2	203.8	200.6	201.4
Width (in)	78.5	79.6	78.1	78.1
Height (in)	68.3	69.9	68.9	68.5
Ground clearance (in)	N/A	5.1	6.5	6.7
Wheelbase (in)	118.1	121.6	119.3	120.5
Track width (in) F/R	67.3/67.2	68.3/68.3	67.7/67.7	68.7/69.0
Curb weight (lbs)	4354	4330	4430	4411

Chrysler Pacifica is much more handsome than the Honda. It is longer, wider and taller than the Honda and even weighs 24 pounds less. Toyota Sienna is the cramped up of the lot and shockingly the heaviest as well. Kia Sedona slots itself in the dead center of the lot.

Exterior Features

• Halogen Headlights with auto-off 
• Active Shutter Grille
• Rear Privacy glass
• Taillights with Integrated LED light bars
• Roofline Spoiler with Integrated brake light
• Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers
• 18-inch silver painted alloy wheels
• All season tires

Safety is not a compromise for the Odyssey, at least for the higher trims. Honda has not given due importance for the base LX trim which loses out on many life-saving features like automatic braking and automatic high beams. These features should have been standard on all trims. 

Federal testers gave the van a 5-star overall score for crashworthiness in 2019 as most of the body structure remains unchanged we believe it to be the same for 2020.

It would have made it a deal-breaker if Honda made all the important safety features standard from the base up.

Safety Features

• Vehicle Stability Assist(VSA)
• Anti-Lock braking System(ABS)
• Electronic Brake Distribution(EBD)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)
• Daytime Running Lights(DRL)
• 3-point seat belts at all seats
• Front 3-point seat belts with Automatic Tensioning System

Chrysler Pacifica

The Chrysler Pacifica is undoubtedly the best looking minivan of the lot.nIt comes loaded with a lot of convenience and safety features. We can also argue that its the best-equipped car of the lot. That being said, Honda impresses us with its utter reliability and spacious interior. The driving dynamics are far better and even with the huge footprint, it's easy to maneuver in tight spots. If you look past the looks then the Odyssey truly deserves the crown and the base trim is about $3000 cheaper.

 

Toyota Sienna

Toyota Sienna is the smallest minivan of the lot. This helps in handling and maneuverability but suffers a lot in its primary usage, Hauling people and cargo. It has the most cramped up interior of the lot and with a higher price tag, it doesn’t impress. It is high on performance and also has a good feature list. But it fails to provide the delicate balance which honda has achieved with the Odyssey. 

Kia Sedona

Sedona is the funkiest of the lot. It's no surprise as a Kia always is so. It feels much more premium than the competition. It is also the cheapest of the lot but that comes with downsides. Performance is lackluster and is more cramped than the competition. The handling and stability is nowhere near Honda. It has a smaller footprint which makes it much more driving friendly. But looks and low price tag doesn’t actually impress us as much as the all-rounded Honda. Odyssey is the better choice of the lot. 

 

The Odyssey impresses us and is at the top of its class with an array of features that makes life a whole lot easier. The smooth and versatile V6 engine provides enough power to make you forget that it's a minivan! The new 10-speed automatic gearbox helps in making the ride smooth and relaxed along with bumping up the fuel efficiency.

All of these characteristics, make the car react more like a sedan than a minivan. Quirky and feature-rich interior is focused on the whole family, keeping all the occupants in mind. The new Honda Odyssey kicks up the minivan game and keeps this category alive and lively. It is by no doubt the best overall minivan of the lot which gives the most value for the investment and pitches itself as a role model for the competition.