2018 Honda Odyssey Pros and Cons
Honda‘s had a great run with the Odyssey minivan and the latest version has been updated to better suit the needs of minivan customers.
The 2018 Honda Odyssey is all new and was the first model to sport Honda’s 10-speed automatic transmission. It also introduces a host of technological and utility based features that help set it apart from other players in the segment. Make sure to check out our review, but here is a brief look at the pros and cons of one of North America’s most popular people carriers.
ALSO SEE: 2018 Honda Odyssey Earns Highest Safety Ratings from Both Agencies
2018 Honda Odyssey Pros and Cons
Pros
Exemplary Performance and Handling: The Odyssey transports passengers and all their luggage in comfort, but this minivan is not content with just being a people mover. The way it rides and handles is not too far off from a typical crossover. The 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine and 9 or 10-speed automatic transmissions hustle this vehicle to a sub-six second zero-to-60-mph time and does so with an agility and composure that belies the vehicle’s size.
Classy Styling (for a Minivan): No one’s expecting a minivan to turn heads, but the Odyssey avoids looking boring and has some bold character lines integrated into its sheet metal. Complementing the overall modern look is a trendy floating roof effect. It’s a design that’s fancy enough to get some attention but not so much as to come off as trying too hard.
ALSO SEE: 2018 Honda Odyssey vs Chrysler Pacifica Comparison Test
Big On Safety: Having a vehicle that constantly ferries your precious ones means you will have safety on the brain regularly. The Odyssey excels in this area and recently got awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest honor for safety standards in the U.S. In addition, Honda’s smart sensing suite of driver assistance tech including collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control have your family’s back too and make the drive less stressful.
Very Reliable: This is a Honda so ownership will likely be filled with lesser unscheduled trips to the dealer, access to a robust dealer network across the nation, and a powertrain combo that will last for a long time.
ALSO SEE: 2018 Honda Odyssey Review
Handy Family Friendly Features: There are a host of available technological and functional features which make the Odyssey more than your average minivan. A newly introduced Magic Slide seating system has outboard second-row seats that don’t only move up and back, but also side to side. You can also slide a seat in toward the middle of the vehicle, and all the way forward, to open up extra-easy access to the third row. A cabin control app through a smartphone allows passengers to adjust the front audio system, rear entertainment system and rear climate control. Finally, a smartphone inspired brand new infotainment system sports a tile-based user interface enabling you to organize the positions of your favorite apps in the order you prefer. Of course, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard with the system and an available built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot connection can be activated at just the touch of a button.
Cons
More Expensive Than the Competition: The Odyssey comes with a few unique features that might justify its price premium over the rest of the competition, but for those buyers looking for the best value for money, the premium may serve as a disadvantage when stacked up against cheaper vehicle options.
Not a Fuel Sipper: The Odyssey’s combined fuel economy of 22 mpg is respectable, but a competitor like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid can manage up to 32 mpg on a combined cycle. Something to consider when shopping around.
Second-Row Seats Cumbersome to Remove: Removing the second-row seats in the Odyssey requires quite a bit of effort — they don’t neatly stow away like in the Pacifica. Drivers would have to remove the entire bench, but the seats themselves are not exactly light either. Anyone who needs to do this regularly will get frustrated with the tiring process eventually.
Discuss this article on our Honda Odyssey Forum
Chidi loves talking about cars. He enjoys exploring the limits of new car technology and performance vehicles. When he is not writing features for AutoGuide, you will most likely find him perusing Kijiji or Autotrader listings for unique classic nameplates.
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I have bought Odyssey Elite. After couple days I found the puddle of rainwater collected in the rear trunk. Honda service just sealed the hole in the body of this van and dried carpet and insulation. This is not anymore reliable car, and a warranty service is also bad.
Our 2001 Odyssey EX has 180000 miles and runs almost like a new car. It doesn't squeak or rattle and it drives/tracks well. New timing belts every 80000 miles, along with water pump, hoses, belts,etc. Mostly routine oil changes[every 5-6000 miles], gets 23mpg at 80 "cruise control" mph. Always starts, replaced battery at 120,000 miles, front CV boots, motor mounts at 85,000. Replaced auto trans at 150,000 miles. Will drive this old van for another 2-3 years and get a new then. Personally, I use a wheelchair and removed the mid row of seats[two buckets]the first week we bought the van, they've been sitting lonely in the garage since 2001! I'd certainly like "stow n go" seating like Chysler has!!! Haven't liked the last two body styles of Odyssey van, the "lightning bolt" and "2018" designs simply won't age as well as vans with straighter lines! Our van before the 2001 Odyssey was a 92 Dodge Caravan, it only had 4 doors, so when the 2001 Odyssey offered a 5 door minivan, I was ALL in! btw, we drove the Caravan for 150,000 miles and it was "OK", tended to be a rattle trap after 80000 miles, but still ran OK, but..NOTHING like the 2001 Honda Odyssey...what a great van!