2018 Honda Odyssey Road Test and Review

2018 Honda Odyssey exterior profile by Carrie Kim ・ Photo by Carrie Kim

So, you’re thinking about buying a minivan, and you’ve decided to read up on the brand new 2018 Honda Odyssey? As well you should — it’s arguably one of the best minivans on the market, and a popular one at that. Especially now that the Odyssey is all new for 2018, it’s primed to crush the competition with more features, improved functionality, and tech that both parents and children will love. It’s not just hype; Honda has put a great deal of thought into making the brand-new Odyssey a keen competitor that you’ll have to test drive to believe. Read on to find out why.

The Basics

The Odyssey is almost unbeatable in the segment — with the trusty Honda badge and its accompanying dependable reputation, it’s been the minivan families have trusted for years. The new 2018 model is quiet, easy to maneuver and, despite its size, very similar to other Honda models like the Pilot and Accord behind the wheel. However, the Odyssey is the first from the brand to debut a new 10-speed transmission, and even though that’s a lot of gears to cycle through, its shifting is smooth, and it always manages to find just the right one. Fuel economy estimates aren’t too shabby — the Odyssey is reported to return 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Our week of city driving came in at just under 18 mpg.

Photo by Honda

New Look

You can still identify the new Odyssey at first sight, even with its updated exterior design. It features the latest "floating roof" trend; the rear side windows are dark and look as though they are wrapping around the back. This works in conjunction with Honda's smart way of hiding the sliding door rails, but we think it's a sharp design element, too.

Moving inside the minivan, the biggest changes are right in the center of the dashboard. The new 8-inch glossy touchscreen display is sharp and contemporary. We also like the full-color digital display in the instrument cluster.

Photo by Carrie Kim

'Magic Slide' seats are not just a clever name.

You need a minivan because you need to transport lots of people, right? And no matter the vehicle, it never really seems that easy for people to get into the third row. Sure, you can pull the seat forward and squeeze your way back to the deep cavern known as the not-so-comfortable “way back."  But Honda’s new "Magic Slide" seats make it easy to move the entire seat over, increasing the entry space for tweens, teens and, perhaps most usefully, grandparents. During our week's test drive, we constantly used this feature. And because both second-row captain's chairs could easy slide, it was easy to load up and drive away for everyone. It had us wishing Magic Slide was around when our kids were babies because it’s easy to slide one of the captain's chairs over to the side or up toward the front seat. It would be easy to tend to a baby in that position and relieve a lot of the stress that driving with unhappy little ones can bring. We also see morning drop-offs at school going a lot more smoothly with big kids (and even bigger backpacks) who need to scoot out quickly from the third row.

Photo by Carrie Kim

CabinWatch, where have you been all my life?

Families with littles, Honda’s got your back. Well, eyes in the back of your head at least. The new CabinWatch feature (available on top Touring and Elite models) is an interior camera that lets you keep an eye on what’s happening behind you. And get this — it’s an infrared camera, so you can still see the kiddos at night! You don’t have to be a helicopter parent to appreciate the convenience of this little feature; having the image on the center display screen keeps you from constantly looking back to referee during arguments or check on the sleeping baby. It’s safe, it's convenient, and it makes us wonder — why didn’t we think of that? CabinTalk is also available. With a microphone positioned above the driver, their voice is broadcast through the van’s speakers or the entertainment system’s headphones. This means parents can speak in a “reasonable” voice without having to turn around to talk to the back rows.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Connectivity for the Whole Family

The Odyssey was designed for everyone to enjoy. With our top-level Elite model’s Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging pad, two USB ports, HDMI port and power outlets in all three rows, it was like a living room on wheels. Streaming video is the icing on the cake. Honda also offers an accompanying app to be used in the Odyssey so families and friends can enjoy collaborative music playlists in the car and make adjustments with the climate controls to suit their preferences. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both worked seamlessly in the Odyssey, and the new, larger touchscreen display is all the better for viewing.

Photo by Honda

No Sacrificing Safety

Minivans can get so luxurious that it’s easy to get priced out once you’ve added all the bells and whistles. While some features are great to have, often they’re ones you can go without. Fortunately, no sacrifice is necessary for the safety department, because four out of the five Odyssey models come standard with Honda’s suite of safety technology, called Honda Sensing.

The latest driver assistance features are bundled in this package: We recommend stepping up to EX models and higher to get Honda Sensing's adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, road departure mitigation and collision-mitigation braking. We are also big fans of the blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alerts, which arrive on higher-trim Odysseys.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Models and Pricing

There are five available Odyssey models, ranging in price from $29,990 to $46,670. The base LX model is well equipped with a multi-view backup camera and Bluetooth connectivity, but we recommend stepping up one level to the EX model, which starts at $33,860. The EX comes with Honda Sensing, the Magic Side seats, and smartphone integration. We like this model for its bang for the buck.

Upgrading to the EX-L ($37,360) basically gets you leather upholstery and navigation, but if you want to go big, consider the Touring model ($44,510), which gets you a built-in vacuum cleaner, CabinWatch and the blind-spot monitor with cross-traffic alert. Rounding out the lineup is the Elite, starting at $46,670, that comes with everything — we mean everything — adding wireless smartphone charging, a premium 11-speaker audio system, and heated and ventilated front seats.

Photo by Carrie Kim

The Odyssey vs. the Competition

In the battle of the minivans, we consider the big three to be the Chrysler Pacifica, the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey. The Sienna and Odyssey have been steady and constant rivals, each trying to one-up the other at the release of a new model. The Sienna retains a large customer base because of its all-wheel drive availability, as it’s still the only minivan available with AWD. However, the Sienna was last fully redesigned in 2011 and feels almost ancient compared to the new Odyssey. Before our test drive with the 2018 Odyssey, our minivan recommendation has been firmly directed toward the Pacifica. Introduced for the 2017 model year, the Pacifica blew us away with its stunning and clever design both inside and out, Stow 'n Go seats and fun apps for the kids. Then, upping the ante, the Pacifica also became available as a plug-in hybrid, the only gas-electric minivan. The Odyssey has everything the Pacifica offers (aside from a hybrid powertrain), but with its worry-free Honda badge, it’s quickly become our top recommendation.

Final Thoughts

We’re going to steer clear of minivan stigmas and family-car jokes and say that if you are serious about buying a minivan, you’ve found your winner. The simple seating configurations made possible by the Magic Slide seats are not only intelligent but also convenient. The tech available in the car isn’t just entertaining; it can make your life easier. The safety features are not overwhelming or a nuisance; they are powerful, helpful aids that will enable the driver to keep their most precious cargo safe. Easy on the eyes and durable on the inside, this van will hold up to busy family life, and last for years to come. Are there any drawbacks to choosing the Odyssey as your trusted family wagon? We don’t think so. Kudos, Honda — you’ve made it very easy for a family to sign on that dotted line.

Photo by Honda