- Superbly comfortable and easy to drive
- V6 power and a 10-speed automatic transmission
- Top-tier Honda levels of reliability and resale value
- Tons of tech and safety available
- Floor-cleaning HondaVac available on top versions
- Pricing starts at $30,790 (plus $1,120 destination) | Price yours
Pretty much purpose-built to raise your family for you, the 2020 Honda Odyssey minivan covers the needs of parents and kids as well as any other big box on wheels on the planet. Riding high enough to give a commanding view of the road and powered by a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of 28 mpg, the Odyssey does a championship job of babysitting a family’s short-term needs as well as its longer-term wants.
Family values
In a Honda Odyssey, seven or eight can stretch out in three rows of decent room, surrounded by high-quality materials. And as every family knows, storage space is treasured. That’s why the Honda minivan uses just about every open space it has to give you extra space for cargo and bits and pieces. It also boasts multiple power outlets and USB port(s), depending on trim level.
As you approach the higher ends of Odyssey ownership, more make-my-life-easier tech comes your way. The minivan’s CabinTalk in-car public-address system lets you use the Odyssey’s microphone and rear speakers to talk to rear passengers in true parental “voice-from-on-high” fashion. You’ll have to go up to the Touring model if you want the laudable cleaning power of the self-contained onboard HondaVac vacuum.
Our trust in the Odyssey’s comprehensive coverage of a family’s needs was emphasized by our Expert Review of the vehicle, which included a reference to the year we spent testing the big minivan. We reported that: “The Odyssey barely breaks a sweat at highway speed, which helps it return an impressive 28 mpg on the highway. Our recent long-term experience with a 2018 Honda Odyssey Elite version revealed a smooth and confident ride, together with a hushed interior, plenty of room in all three rows, and some of the most advanced driver-assist systems offered on a minivan.”
Family value
Starting at about $31,000 and stretching close to $50,000 at the top, the Honda Odyssey offers multiple trims. However, you have to step up to the $35,000 EX to enjoy things like Apple CarPlay and Honda Sensing safety. Still, even the base Odyssey offers power-adjusting front seats, automatic climate control, and push-button start.
For families, we recommend the EX version. That trim boasts the car-seat-handling advantages of Magic Slide 2nd-row seats, which index fore and aft and slide toward you. Extra super-value hint: The Odyssey EX also boasts power sliding doors, 8-passenger seating, walk-away auto-lock, and heated front seats.
Safety features
Knowing that your family’s safety is paramount, there’s a significant advantage that starts at the Odyssey EX: Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistance features. Honda Sensing includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and road departure mitigation, plus adaptive cruise control.
The essence of a Honda in every way
The name “Honda” builds up all kinds of expectations in a car buyer. Quality, reliability, a first-class ownership experience, and breathtakingly good resale value feel like Honda requirements. Indeed, the 2020 Honda Odyssey fulfills each of these expectations with ease. So naturally, we honored it with a 2020 KBB Best Buy award. As a parent, owning a purpose-built house-on-wheels seems kind of inevitable. If that’s your take too, the Odyssey might be the ultimate family car to fulfill your needs.
More 2020 Honda Odyssey
Build and price your own 2020 Honda Odyssey to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or see the Odyssey models for sale near you.
