The 2018 Honda Odyssey marked a significant redesign for the popular minivan, bringing with it updated safety features and a fresh look. For families prioritizing safety, understanding how the Honda Odyssey 2018 performs in crash tests is crucial. This article delves into the safety ratings of the 2018 Honda Odyssey, providing a comprehensive overview of its performance in various crash evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test assesses how well a vehicle protects the driver in a collision involving the front corner of the car. In the driver-side small overlap front test, the 2018 Honda Odyssey received a Good rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
The structural integrity of the Honda Odyssey 2018 held up well in this demanding test, earning a “Good” for structure and safety cage. Crucially, injury measures for the driver were also rated “Good” across all body regions – head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. The driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also evaluated as “Good”, indicating effective occupant protection systems.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test reveal specific intrusion levels in the occupant compartment. For instance, the lower hinge pillar maximum intrusion was 13 cm, while the footrest intrusion measured 12 cm. These measurements, along with others like steering column and upper hinge pillar intrusion, provide detailed insights into the structural response during the crash. Driver injury measures, such as Head Injury Criterion (HIC) and neck tension, were also well within acceptable limits, further supporting the “Good” rating.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2018 Honda Odyssey again achieved a Good overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | A |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
While the overall rating remained “Good”, the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating in the passenger-side test, a slight step down from the driver-side. However, passenger injury measures maintained “Good” ratings across all areas, similar to the driver-side test. Interestingly, driver injury measures are also assessed in the passenger-side test, and these too received “Good” ratings. This indicates a high level of protection for both front occupants in this type of frontal crash.
Technical measurements for passenger-side testing, from both IIHS and Honda conducted tests, show slightly higher intrusion measurements compared to the driver-side test in certain areas like the lower hinge pillar and footrest. However, injury measures for the passenger dummy remained low, confirming effective protection.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
The moderate overlap front crash test is another crucial evaluation of frontal crash protection, simulating a collision where a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end absorbs the impact. The 2018 Honda Odyssey excelled in this test, earning a Good overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/Foot, Left | G |
| Leg/Foot, Right | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
In the moderate overlap front test, both structure and safety cage, and all driver injury measures (head/neck, chest, leg/foot) were rated “Good”. This consistent “Good” performance across the board underscores the robust frontal crash protection of the 2018 Honda Odyssey.
Technical measurements indicate minimal occupant compartment intrusion in this test. For example, footrest intrusion was only 3 cm, and instrument panel rearward movement was negligible. Driver injury measures, such as HIC and neck tension, were also very low, reinforcing the “Good” safety rating.
Side Impact Crash Test
Side impact crashes are a significant concern, and the IIHS conducts side crash tests to assess vehicle performance in these scenarios. The 2018 Honda Odyssey achieved a Good overall rating in the original side crash test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Driver Head Protection | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G |
The 2018 Odyssey demonstrated excellent side impact protection, with “Good” ratings for structure and safety cage, driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), driver head protection, rear passenger injury measures, and rear passenger head protection. This comprehensive “Good” performance highlights the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in side collisions.
In the updated side crash test (Side 2.0), using a more severe impact and focusing more on rear passenger protection, the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey maintained a Good overall rating. While driver injury measures remained “Good”, rear passenger torso and pelvis injury measures were rated “Acceptable” in this more challenging test. Despite this slight downgrade for rear passengers in the updated test, the overall side impact protection remains strong.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is evaluated to determine a vehicle’s resistance to roof crush in rollover accidents. The 2018 Honda Odyssey earned a Good rating in the roof strength test.
| Overall Evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb Weight | 4,327 lbs |
| Peak Force | 23,884 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 5.52 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.52, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement, the 2018 Honda Odyssey demonstrates robust roof strength, contributing to occupant protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Good head restraints and seats are essential for preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2018 Honda Odyssey’s head restraints and seats received a Good overall rating.
| Overall Evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic Rating | G |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | G |
Both dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry were evaluated as “Good,” indicating effective design in minimizing whiplash risk.
Headlights
Headlight performance is a critical safety feature, especially for nighttime driving. The 2018 Honda Odyssey’s headlight ratings vary depending on trim level.
For Touring and Elite trims with LED reflector headlights and high-beam assist, the overall headlight rating is Acceptable. These headlights provide “Fair” to “Good” visibility in various driving scenarios, with high-beam assist compensating for some low-beam limitations.
For EX and EX-L trims with Halogen projector headlights and high-beam assist, the overall rating is Marginal. Visibility is generally “Fair” to “Inadequate” with these headlights, although high-beam assist offers some compensation.
For the LX trim with Halogen projector headlights and without high-beam assist, the headlight rating is Poor. Visibility is mostly “Inadequate” in various conditions, and the lack of high-beam assist further limits nighttime driving performance.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or prevent frontal collisions. The 2018 Honda Odyssey, when equipped with the optional Collision Mitigation Braking System (part of the Honda Sensing package, standard on EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims), earns a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meets forward collision warning requirements. This “Superior” rating underscores the effectiveness of the optional front crash prevention system in the 2018 Honda Odyssey.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families with young children, ease of use of child seat anchors (LATCH) is important. The 2018 Honda Odyssey receives a Good+ rating for LATCH ease of use, with extra LATCH positions.
The Odyssey has four rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and one additional position with a tether anchor. The LATCH system is generally easy to use, with anchors that are not too deep in the seat and require reasonable force to attach to.
Conclusion
The 2018 Honda Odyssey stands out as a safe minivan, achieving top Good ratings in most IIHS crash tests, including small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, and roof strength. It also features a Superior rated front crash prevention system (optional) and Good+ rated LATCH system. Headlight ratings vary by trim, with higher trims offering “Acceptable” rated LED headlights, while lower trims have “Marginal” or “Poor” rated halogen headlights.
Overall, the 2018 Honda Odyssey is a strong choice for safety-conscious families, offering excellent crash protection and available advanced safety features to help prevent accidents. Prospective buyers should consider trim levels carefully, especially regarding headlight performance, to ensure they are getting the desired level of safety equipment.
