- Most models include HondaSensing suite of safety systems
- Tech powerhouse with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Wi-Fi among offerings
- Features range from in-vehicle vacuum cleaner to in-car camera monitoring system
- Excellent resale value and penchant for reliability
- Pricing starts at $31,085 | Price Yours
As surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, you can count on the Honda Odyssey minivan to make our annual list of Best Family Cars. Why is it just so good? As we sum up in our 2019 Honda Odyssey review, “When it comes to mixing maximum family friendliness with a pleasant driving experience, it doesn’t get any better than the 2019 Honda Odyssey minivan. From its cool (well, cool for a minivan) design and highly functional interior to its impressive list of safety features, the Odyssey has the game figured out.”
The benchmark among minivans
The latest Odyssey, which was fully revamped just last year, isn’t just one of the best vehicles to move busy broods. It also took top honors in its class for best resale value, and our grabbed our biggest trophy of the year, the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award, which recognizes the best vehicles in their class, period.
Whether you go with a base model that has seating for seven or a higher trim with seating for eight and the nifty Magic Slide second-row seats that allow easy pass-through access, you’ll get a well-rounded minivan that has a powerful yet efficient V6 engine, comfortable road manners, and a ton of versatility.
Keeping safe
We recommend stepping up at least one trim to the Odyssey EX. By doing so, you’ll get the HondaSensing suite of safety and driver-assistance features that includes potentially accident-avoiding and life-saving systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, plus adaptive cruise control. Also included in this trim is blind-spot monitoring, which acts as a digital eye to watch for other vehicles in the spots to the rear sides of the vehicle that are easy to miss as first glance.
Convenience features galore
As you would expect in a minivan, the Odyssey has a wealth of room for families and friends. Where the Honda really excels is with its features. Think of them as seasoning to enhance the flavor of everyday life.
From the HondaVac built-in vacuum cleaner to CabinWatch, a system that lets you monitor what’s going on the back seats (and who’s poking whom), Honda’s minivan is a step above the rest. Other features we like are its power sliding doors, adjustable-height power tailgate, Blu-ray rear-seat entertainment system and in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot.
The Odyssey even has a parlor trick that enables you to use the vehicle’s microphone and speakers as a PA system to talk to rear passengers. Yes, that means no more having to turn around in the driver’s seat and shout.
More than just features for features’ sake, these available systems can go a long way in creating a more comfortable, less stressful environment for the whole family. And that’s the whole idea with this vehicle. From its functionality and roominess to its history of reliability and value in the near and long-term, the Honda Odyssey remains among the smartest and economical choices available for busy families.
More 2019 Honda Odyssey
Build and price your own 2019 Honda Odyssey to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Odyssey models for sale today at dealers near you.
Also, we’re living with one of these minivans for a year. Check out our Honda Odyssey Long-Term Ownership Review.
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