The minivan. Once the chariot of choice for families everywhere, it has seen its popularity wane in the face of the SUV onslaught. Yet, for sheer practicality and passenger-hauling capability, nothing quite beats a minivan. And in this segment, the Honda Odyssey has long been a dominant player. But in our fast-paced automotive world, even stalwarts need to evolve. So, how does the 2024 Honda Odyssey hold up against increasingly sophisticated rivals? Let’s dive into a detailed Honda Odyssey Review to find out if this minivan still deserves its place at the top.
The current generation Honda Odyssey, while still competent, is starting to show its age. The automotive landscape has shifted dramatically, with competitors like Toyota and Kia making significant strides. Toyota’s Sienna, now exclusively a hybrid, boasts impressive fuel economy and available all-wheel drive – features the current Odyssey lacks. Kia’s Carnival is also throwing punches with its stylish design and soon-to-arrive hybrid variant. In a market where fuel efficiency is becoming paramount and fresh designs are capturing attention, the 2024 Odyssey faces a significant challenge to maintain its leading position.
Image: Front three-quarter view of a 2024 Honda Odyssey Elite minivan in a driveway, highlighting its exterior design.
Interior: Space and Comfort Still Reign Supreme, But Age Shows
Stepping inside the 2024 Honda Odyssey, the first thing you notice is the vastness of the cabin. Space is abundant in all three rows, making it genuinely comfortable for adults even in the rearmost seats. Honda continues to excel in interior packaging, maximizing passenger room and cargo capacity within the minivan footprint. However, the design itself feels dated. Compared to the more modern and stylish interiors of competitors, the Odyssey’s cabin appears to be from a previous era. In a world of sleek infotainment systems and digital dashboards, the Odyssey’s smaller, somewhat cluttered center display feels out of place, especially in a vehicle with a price tag nearing $50,000 for higher trims. The upward angle of the screen towards the sunroof is also an odd design choice. While the system is user-friendly, its size and presentation detract from the overall interior ambiance. Even the gear selector buttons contribute to the sense of an aging design.
Image: Close-up of the dashboard of the 2024 Honda Odyssey, focusing on the infotainment screen and center console.
Despite the dated aesthetics, the Odyssey remains incredibly practical. While it doesn’t offer Chrysler’s ingenious Stow ‘n Go second-row seats that fold completely into the floor, the Odyssey’s seats are still relatively easy to manipulate, offering versatile configurations for passengers and cargo. Speaking of cargo, even with the third row seats in use, the rear storage area is generous and deep. However, a puzzling omission is the lack of a cargo area light. Inexplicably, the Odyssey doesn’t provide illumination for the rear cargo space, making it difficult to see at night. While the third row area has a light, it’s effectively blocked by the seats when they are in use, leaving the main cargo area in darkness – a surprising oversight in such a family-oriented vehicle. On the positive side, higher trims like the Elite come loaded with tech and safety features, including wireless Apple CarPlay, blind-spot monitoring, and a suite of driver-assistance systems.
Image: Interior shot of the 2024 Honda Odyssey Elite, showcasing the spacious cabin and seating arrangement from the driver’s perspective.
Driving Experience: Still a Driver’s Minivan
Where the Honda Odyssey continues to shine is in its driving dynamics. In true Honda fashion, the steering is precise, well-weighted, and provides a surprising amount of feedback, especially for a minivan. This responsiveness inspires confidence on winding roads, setting it apart from some of its competitors. The Toyota Sienna, for example, prioritizes comfort and isolation, resulting in steering that feels numb and disconnected. The Odyssey, in contrast, offers a more engaging driving experience, making it arguably the most driver-focused minivan in its class.
Image: Close-up of the steering wheel and driver’s side dashboard of the 2024 Honda Odyssey Elite, highlighting the driving controls.
Powering the 2024 Odyssey is a 3.5-liter V6 engine. While it might lack some low-end grunt, the V6 delivers smooth and satisfying power once it’s revved up. It also avoids the unrefined noises often associated with four-cylinder engines, providing a more pleasant engine note when you demand more performance. The 10-speed automatic transmission is an improvement over previous nine-speed units in other Hondas, but it’s not without its flaws. Downshifts can sometimes be hesitant, and the shift logic can occasionally seem indecisive, particularly when using cruise control on hilly roads. The vehicle can lose speed going uphill before downshifting and accelerating to regain the set speed, impacting both efficiency and driver smoothness. Fuel economy is another area where the Odyssey lags behind newer rivals, achieving around 21 MPG combined in real-world driving. Competitors like the hybrid Sienna offer significantly better fuel efficiency, a key consideration for many minivan buyers.
Image: Rear interior view of the 2024 Honda Odyssey Elite, emphasizing the spacious second and third row seating.
Conclusion: Awaiting a Refresh to Reclaim Top Spot
The Honda Odyssey has been a stalwart of the minivan segment for good reason. It offers a spacious and comfortable interior, enjoyable driving dynamics, and a reputation for reliability. However, in its current iteration, the 2024 model feels dated in key areas, particularly its interior design and fuel economy. With competitors offering more modern designs and efficient powertrains, the Odyssey is in need of a significant refresh to regain its competitive edge. A hybrid powertrain is almost certainly on the horizon, and incorporating Honda’s newer design language both inside and out would do wonders to revitalize this venerable minivan. For now, the 2024 Honda Odyssey remains a capable and practical choice, especially for those who prioritize driving enjoyment in a minivan. But for buyers seeking the latest technology, fuel efficiency, and cutting-edge design, waiting for the next generation Odyssey might be the wiser choice.
Pros:
- Spacious and comfortable interior
- Impressive driving dynamics for a minivan
Cons:
- Outdated interior design
- Below-average fuel economy compared to competitors
Image: Front exterior shot of a 2024 Honda Odyssey Elite, showcasing the vehicle’s front grille and headlights.
Image: Side profile of a 2024 Honda Odyssey, highlighting its minivan silhouette and wheel design.
Image: Close-up of the infotainment screen in a Honda Odyssey, emphasizing its size and interface.
Image: Interior view of the third-row seats in a Honda Odyssey Elite, showcasing the legroom and seating space.
