2025 Honda Odyssey review: Minivans do have a place

The older I get, the more I like minivans

2025 Honda Odyssey review by The Road Beat

Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman

Over four years ago, I tested a Honda Odyssey for the first time—the first minivan I reviewed for The Road Beat. I was unkind to the practical people carrier, but then again, I was a fresh 27 years old and couldn't understand why anyone would willingly subject themselves to such perceived shame and defeat in life. Now, closing in on 32, that narrow-minded view has changed dramatically—and that's still without children even. While the Honda Odyssey isn’t a perfect minivan, my appreciation and fondness for its charming convenience have grown remarkably in an age of endlessly complex over-complication.

Picks

Last autumn, I had a Honda Pilot for a weekend getaway in Carmel, California, and its large size came in endlessly handy when hauling around our seven person group with such ease. Yet, as spacious as a properly large SUV can be, the Pilot and similar alternatives have got nothing on a minivan in this department. A night out in Sacramento for a friend’s birthday dinner was followed by a group trip to a local arcade (for adults, mind you), and with parking possibly an obstacle, we decided to take just one car: the Odyssey.

With every seat filled by a full-sized human, the Odyssey becomes a temporary party bus. Its sliding rear doors make for impressively easy access to both rows of rear seats, so you can climb in and out without fuss nor lack of grace. The simple fact that you can fill a car with this many actual, normal-sized adult humans—in decent comfort—is incredible. It’s also far more hospitable in this scenario than a traditional SUV. When it comes to carrying passengers, a minivan simply cannot be beat.

Continuing strengths for the Odyssey are its impressive road manners. Despite looking like an ungainly, massive blob, the Odyssey steers far more competently than its shape suggests. In motion, the steering wheel has a reassuring weight and even provides some real feedback tingling through the rim. Dynamics continue to be a surprisingly strong point for Honda's minivan. What’s more, the ride quality is kind to occupants across a variety of troubled surfaces, all while remaining composed over pesky bumps mid-corner. And when the road does get twisty, you may be surprised to find the Odyssey has a relative appetite for corners (for a minivan, that is), showcasing decent front-end grip and a mild resistance to understeer. Compared to its longstanding nemesis, the Toyota Sienna, the Odyssey is easily the more satisfying car to drive both slowly and quickly. It feels like a machine of substance—not a detached toy. Despite its size, it also shrinks itself down nicely on the road and allows for easy placement.

I also enjoyed the strong and fervent V6 engine when wound up. It delivers lively acceleration and a soundtrack full of gusto. 0–60 mph isn’t anything special on paper (around seven seconds), but the seat-of-the-pants feel when the V6 hits the famed VTEC variable valve timing crossover is a treat. The angry, raw sound is music to the ears, and its smooth combustion is a delight compared to the nasty and/or lifeless four-cylinder engines in some competitors.

Inside, there are also a host of physical buttons that are easy to operate, and with an assured sense of control. Where many others have flocked to digital switches, the presence of real buttons you can feel and press makes daily operation simpler and more pleasant.

Nicks

Despite my real-world fondness for the Honda Odyssey, there are notable detractors that may or may not matter to potential buyers. While the V6 engine is enjoyable, overall gas mileage stood at 22 MPG after a weeklong test. That’s on par with SUVs of similar size, but Toyota’s new Sienna—now offered only as a hybrid (a bit slower too, mind you)—gets over 30 MPG with ease.

The transmission works well enough when left to its own devices, with smooth shifts happening through all 10 gears, but there’s a pair of paddle shifters behind the wheel if you desire manual override and control. These are utterly useless, however. Downshifts—say, when trying to control speed on a long downhill stretch—are slow to execute and offer no meaningful engine braking, often resulting in gained speed rather than a reduction due to the prolonged pause in between changes.

As practical as the interior is, the second-row seats could be easier to fold out of the way for third-row access, and the overall design of the cabin looks and feels quite dated. The center display screen, for example, is tiny by modern standards and oddly angled upward toward the sunroof which compromises viewing. Other physical controls may be functional, but they look old and lack the quality polish of a car built brand-new in 2025. The rearview camera is also horrendous, with paltry, outdated resolution that’s frankly inexcusable. I'm not talking old iPhone 5 level of video quality, but more like a Motorola flip phone pre-Anchorman.

Interior quality is typical Honda in terms of its robust build plus a complete absence of rattles. But even on this upscale Elite version, materials on vital touch points could be nicer especially considering the $52,275 retail price. At least the seats are very comfortable, and I like the brighter color of the leather used here—it makes this Odyssey Elite feel even larger and more expansive inside, if that were possible.

An Odyssey that makes journeys not an Odyssey

In case you forgot—or if today’s TikTok generation is no longer required to read Homer’s The Odyssey—Odysseus’s journey home from the beaches of Troy wasn’t what anyone would consider as fun with the endless danger and turmoil lasting a decade. Fortunately, this Odyssey makes every trip easy and even enjoyable. I genuinely liked driving the Odyssey, and it made outings with friends stupidly simple. For those with multiple kids—especially those regularly driving their kids and their kids' friends around—the Honda Odyssey makes so much sense. An updated model with refreshed furnishings and modern tech would keep this sales favorite confidently at the top. And really, more Americans ought to consider a minivan in general because the packaging just works.

2025 Honda Odyssey Elite

As-tested price: $52,275

Pros: Huge inside; V6 is fun; Good road manners

Cons: Elite is expensive; Thirsty and dated in ways

Honda Odyssey Elite basic specifications

Powertrain & Performance

• Engine: 3.5L V6

• Horsepower: 280 hp

• Torque: 262 lb-ft

• Transmission: 10-speed automatic

• Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)

• Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500 lbs

Fuel Economy & Capacity

• City / Highway / Combined: 19 / 28 / 22 MPG

• Road Beat real word MPG: 22

• Fuel Tank Capacity: 19.5 gallons

Exterior Dimensions

• Length: 205 in

• Width: 79 in

• Height: 70 in

• Wheelbase: 118 in

• Curb Weight: About 4,600 lbs

Interior Dimensions & Capacity

• Seating Capacity: 8 passengers

• Cargo Volume:

  • Behind 3rd row: 32.8 cu ft

  • Behind 2nd row: 86.6 cu ft

  • Behind 1st row: 140.7 cu ft

Safety & Driver Assistance

• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)

• Blind Spot Information System (BSI)

• Rear Cross Traffic Monitor

• Front and Rear Parking Sensors

• Multi-angle Rearview Camera

2025 Honda Odyssey image gallery

Thank you for reading The Road Beat's 2025 Honda Odyssey review. To never miss an article or image gallery, please subscribe. All photos by mitchellweitzmanphoto.com.