I was legitimately surprised with its grip and handling verve on a spontaneous blast down a scenic route. The Odyssey is about as nimble as you’d expect of any vehicle wearing that squared-off H badge. A family of four or five would have all the room in the world if they needed it for a long trip. While we’re back there, cargo space behind the third row is incredible at 32.8 cubic feet, and stowing those chairs is a cinch thanks to the backward-flipping “Magic Seat” that stows in the deep cargo area for a flat rear load floor. That Sucks: Honda Runs Out Of Vacuum Cleaners For Odyssey Minivan Furthermore, Honda Sensing is also better than last year, thanks to a new radar sensor that offers a low-speed follow function with stop and go, pedestrian detection, and perceptibly better performance in a wider variety of driving situations. Much more importantly, the automaker added its Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technologies to all trims – even the $31,790 LX gets features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assistance, and lane departure warning.

Obvious changes include newly standard LED headlights on all models, along with a restyled grille, front bumper, and wheels. But the Odyssey’s age shouldn’t deter buyers, as Honda applied a conservative spate of improvements that help the not-so-minivan – seriously, it’s longer than a Chevy Tahoe – appeal to families looking for space, comfort, and efficiency. What’s New, Gumshoe?Ģ021 brings a facelift to the popular Honda minivan, which has been on sale since 2018 in its current form. All that in a vehicle that also offers a built-in vacuum. To my surprise, I found myself enjoying the spacious, comfortable, smooth, and light-on-its-feet Odyssey about 70 percent as much as any of those far sportier steeds. For context, the day Honda dropped the Elite-trim minivan in my driveway, I had access to both my personal roadster, my boyfriend’s E90-generation 330i, and a Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 (review coming soon).

If that modern-day Family Truckster is the 2021 Odyssey, at least I won’t have to sacrifice too much driving fun for school-dropoff convenience.

2020 vs 2021 honda odyssey