Overview & Reviews

For most of its lifespan, the Honda Odyssey has been a favored pick among minivans. Although the vehicle had a rather humble debut, it quickly hit its stride once Honda came out with the second-generation model, which featured a spacious cabin and an innovative third-row seat that folds into the floor. Now in its fourth generation, the Odyssey is one of the top minivans currently available.

The Honda Odyssey has made a strong showing, usually earning top honors in every minivan comparison test we've held. There are other minivans that rival the Odyssey's family-friendly features, but the Honda combines those attributes with confident driving dynamics and a long-standing record of reliability, making it an all-around family favorite.

Current Honda Odyssey
The fittingly popular Honda Odyssey comes in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite. All Honda Odysseys are powered by a 248-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The entry-level LX's standard features include a power driver seat, a 60/40-split-folding third-row seat, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a rearview camera, Pandora interface and a USB/iPod interface. The EX's additional highlights include power-sliding side doors, keyless ignition and entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, a multifunction second-row seat and an upgraded audio system. The EX-L's enhancements include a power liftgate, a sunroof, leather upholstery and heated seats. The Touring adds front and rear parking sensors, navigation and a rear-seat entertainment system. The Touring Elite's added highlights include xenon headlights, an integrated vacuum cleaner and upgraded audio and video entertainment systems.

On the road, the Odyssey impresses thanks to its smooth V6 and relatively agile handling. Inside, Honda's minivan boasts tight build quality and spacious, comfortable seating areas. Compared to previous Odyssey generations, the current model is significantly quieter on the road, but the button-heavy cockpit remains. All things considered, the Odyssey remains a favorite of Edmunds editors.

Used Honda Odyssey Models
The fourth and latest generation of the Honda Odyssey debuted for 2011. Completely redesigned and compared to the previous generation, it has sleeker styling, a roomier interior, improved fuel economy and new features. For 2013, the LX standard features list grew with the addition of a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity and a USB/iPod interface. Note that these Odysseys lack the current version's updated exterior and interior styling, six-speed automatic on LX, EX and EX-L models (they previously had a five-speed automatic) and availability of a Pandora interface, HD radio and an in-vehicle vacuum cleaner.

The previous (third-generation) Honda Odyssey was produced from 2005-'10. Trim levels included the LX, EX, EX-L and Touring. Motivation was supplied by a 244-hp 3.5-liter V6 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The V6 found in the EX-L and Touring trim levels had a variable cylinder management system to improve fuel economy.

The LX featured full power accessories, cruise control, side curtain airbags, stability control and a CD player. The EX added alloy wheels, eight-passenger seating, power-sliding doors, a power driver seat, a six-disc CD changer, in-floor storage with a "lazy Susan" and second-row sunshades. The EX-L brought leather seating, heated seats, a power tailgate and a sunroof. The Touring added triple-zone climate control, power-adjustable pedals, foglights, parking sensors, a removable second-row center console and run-flat tires. A rear entertainment system and a navigation system with Bluetooth were optional on the EX-L and Touring.

In reviews, we found this Odyssey to be a top minivan thanks to its smooth V6, responsive steering and secure handling. Inside, Honda's minivan boasted tight build quality and spacious, comfortable seating areas. At the time, downsides included elevated road noise and, as the years went on, a somewhat dated interior.

There were only minor changes for the third-generation Odyssey, with 2008 bringing minor exterior styling updates and new convenience features, and 2009 seeing a standard power liftgate debut for the EX-L as well as integrated Bluetooth for the optional navigation system.

The second-generation Honda Odyssey was available from 1999-2004. It was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 initially rated at 210 hp (from 1999-2001) and later cranked up to 240 hp (2002-'04). The transmission was a four-speed automatic until '02, when a five-speed automatic debuted. This Odyssey boasted dual sliding rear doors in place of the first generation's swinging doors, and it was considerably larger overall, but it retained the original model's trick fold-flat third-row seat. In the all-important safety department, antilock brakes were standard from the get-go, though rear disc brakes only became standard across the lineup in 2002. Side curtain airbags arrived for '02 as well.

Two trim levels were available, each with seven-passenger seating: LX and EX. The LX came standard with air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, full power accessories and an AM/FM/CD stereo (earlier models had only a tape deck). The EX added traction control (not provided for the LX until '01) as well as luxuries like alloy wheels, power-sliding rear doors, automatic climate control and a multifunction steering wheel. EX options included a navigation system (not available in 1999), a rear-seat entertainment system (from '02 onward) and leather upholstery.

In reviews, our editors remarked on the second-generation Odyssey's best-in-class performance, which came courtesy of a powerful V6 and a capable all-independent suspension. We also lauded the Odyssey's large cabin, available power-sliding doors and that slick hide-away third-row seat. Throughout its six-year run, Honda's second-generation Odyssey was quite simply the one to get. It won the Editors' Most Wanted award every year from 1999-2003 for the minivan category.

The first-generation Honda Odyssey, which debuted in 1995, had a few features that, for better or worse, made it unique. Instead of sliding doors on the sides, the Odyssey had four conventional swing-open doors with roll-down windows. And although the competition offered V6 engines, the Honda didn't. An inline-4 borrowed from the Accord EX powered the Odyssey. With VTEC variable valve timing and lift, it made a respectable 140 hp. But good as it was, 140 wasn't enough power when the Odyssey was loaded up with kids or cargo. The van did, however, offer a highly functional fold-flat third-row seat. This feature has proven invaluable to -- and highly popular with -- minivan buyers over the past decade.

User Reviews:

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  I Love this mini-van! - 2002 Honda Odyssey
  By Odyssey, FL - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Compare the Odyssey to the latest mini- vans in the market and it is still the most beautiful and most reliable. I would get another one when I could.

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  Frozen Doors - 2001 Honda Odyssey
  By Odysseus - March 31 - 2:00 am

  Good first year. The car has not aged well since. Sliding doors freeze shut in the winter and electric motors burn out (both sides). Drivers side sliding door rattles, dealer can/will not fix. Passenger sliding door needs a push when cold. Transmission shifts roughly when cold (high RPMs too), told this was a "feature" by the dealer (yeah, right). OEM tires very noisy. Door speakers rattle, work intermittantly. Brakes grind stopping from low speeds. Good concept, rotten execution. Never again

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  MY ODYSSEY - 2001 Honda Odyssey
  By MARK EDINGER - March 30 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST MINIVAN IN THE MARKET. MOST OPTIONS AND FEATURES FOR THE MONEY, BEST CRASH TEST RATINGS, AND YOU DONT HAVE TO LEAVE THE 3RD ROW SEAT AT HOME TO GET MORE CARGO SPACE.

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  Very disappointed! 2nd time owner - 2018 Honda Odyssey
  By April P - March 28 - 8:51 pm

  This is my 2nd Odyssey purchase of a brand new vehicle. I owned a 2012 from new until this year without a single problem. We decided to switch to the 2018 this year after seeing all of the fun new features. I regret that every time I drive this van! 1- the blu ray does not play blu ray movies. It will play previews and gets stuck on the main menu and never start the movie. Regular dvds also glitch. The player will get stuck on the main screen with a regular disc and wont play the movie until we push stop then play again. There are times it wont work at all and we have had to pull off the highway to stop the van and restart it multiple times before the dvd player would even work. 2- The auto stop feature hasnt worked 90% of the 7 months weve owned this van. It worked after we made a trip last month, but stopped again and hasnt worked since. 3- The foot to open the tailgate hasnt worked the last several times Ive tried to use it. It hardly works. 4- The camera for the back seats keeps freezing, and sometimes it doesnt work. 5- The gps is great when the features work. The "traffic ahead" feature has only worked a couple of times. 6- The internet is through AT&T, and we hardly used it during the trial period, but they claimed we used up the data allotted. We watched one hour long show that whole time. GMC has it straight using OnStar internet! 7- The object detection has almost caused me to crash a couple of times. It slammed my brakes to a grind in the middle of a busy intersection because the car in front of me was turning slowly as I passed it. 8- The auto bright lights is annoying. It turns my brights on when cars are still around and I wouldnt be using them. I read in the features that the sliding door buttons would not freeze each other and stop the door if they bit get pushed, but the doors freeze if my son and I push the buttons any time close to each other. I miss my 2012! Everything worked great on that van! Ive never experienced so many glitches with a brand new car as I have with this one! Weve bought 5 new cars in the last 5 years too! The Honda dealership just told us that wed have an update soon to fix the dvd player. That was 2 months ago. Im so disappointed! Its a beautiful van, but nothing works like its supposed to.

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  Unbelievable technology package - 2005 Honda Odyssey
  By pecan38 - March 28 - 10:00 am

  It is an incredible package, the amount of technology that is crammed into this car is just amazing!! Honda paid attention to almost every detail and made improvements in every area. This ody drives like a car and the body roll is minimal if not non-existent. However, Honda did not finish the job. They have added memory seats, well the feature appears to memorize only the seat positions and it does not seem to memorize the rear view mirror positions. Only one of the the power windows has an auto up and down feature. For a car costing 42k(drive out), Id expect it all the Windows to have auto up and down feature.

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  Worth the Wait! - 2005 Honda Odyssey
  By smitty1 - March 28 - 10:00 am

  After looking extensively at the 04 Honda, Toyota and Nissan, we decided to wait for the Honda redesign and glad we did. It has everything and more the Toyota offered for ~$4500 less. Only complaint is DVD system wouldnt eject disk after first use and had to be replaced. Paid MSRP on 10/15.

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  Honda Does It Again - 2005 Honda Odyssey
  By CAS - March 28 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for the next generation of minivans, you must look at the Honda. It has features that make driving it just a delight such as all the sliding doors are powered and the warning sensors which tell you in the front or rear how close you are to another object. The way you can easily reconfigure the interior makes it useful for almost anything you need.

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  My new Honda Odyssey - 2003 Honda Odyssey
  By akshay - March 25 - 2:00 am

  The Odyssey is by far the best Minivan that I have ever driven. Love the 240 HP V6 engine. The 3rd seats which magically disappear are a huge plus. The high safety rating combined with a very comfortable ride have made me an extremely happy owner.

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  Disappotined - 2003 Honda Odyssey
  By Raguu - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I thought Id love the Honda. My last minivan was a Dodge and boy was I wrong. The biggest selling point is the fold down 3rd row and I think the reason is its the only thing better than the dodge!

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  Im actually PROUD to drive a minivan! - 2003 Honda Odyssey
  By mfallo - March 25 - 2:00 am

  3 years ago I purchased my VW Passat because Consumer Reports magazine rated it best family car. HA! What a joke! From day one I had no idea what the editors were thinking. But when I was due for a new vehicle, again I listened to the experts, giving them one last chance. The Odyssey is everything it claims to be and more. A mom definately had a say on the design of this thing. The best car I ever owned before this was a 1991 Honda Prelude, and this minivan has the b---s of that little Honda. Once you step in you are surrounded by ingenious design, luxurious leather, and such a smooth ride that the big bus feels like a small sporty sedan.