My Thoughts Exactly: 2025 Honda Odyssey

Here’s a few truths for you about minivans…

One…space. Plenty of human space that requires less gymnastics than an SUV. The second-row seats do slide, flip, and fold. The difference is the interior height is much more manageable. 

Secondly, space (again). Do the math and break out the tape measure. When it comes to cargo management, the minivan offers more options and flexibility than an SUV – or, even a pickup truck!

Lastly (for now), we journalists love them. If we are wired to support the underdog, there’s no other underdog than the minivan. 

Which brings me to the 2025 Honda Odyssey.

You already know that a Honda delivers on solid transportation. It offers reliability, ease of operation, comfort, and quality. That is why they have not deviated from its basic formula. It also continues to be built on a shared platform with the Passport SUV and the Ridgeline pickup truck at the same plant in Alabama. 

Certainly, you have to improve upon the product. Following the tweaks made on the Passport and Ridgeline, the Odyssey received a new grille, some updated trim, and a new instrument cluster and infotainment interface. Just a few minor tweaks to the most straight-forward minivan in the market. 

Yet, it has its own personality while staying true to the formula. That is why the Honda Odyssey remains a compelling product at a time when the market is still interested in minivans. 

Has the updates work to improve the product? Visually, yes. It does not distract from the Odyssey’s basic design with its unique C-pillar glass design. Comparing it to its competition, you know it is a Honda Odyssey. That is a key thing to consider.

The sad thing about doing this work is the futile attempt to convince trolls and other people who read this website and watch our YouTube videos that they know something about automotive design and engineering. Perhaps if you look at an Odyssey very closely, then you understand why Honda has stuck to a proven formula that still invites families to travel together in a single spacious vehicle.

The Elite trim level is where you get to see how much Honda has poured into their minivan product. The power opening doors into the second- and third row. The wide entry into a spacious cockpit. How the liftgate opens to either a deep well behind the third row or to an expansive cargo hold where the third-row seats fold down into the well for a flat loading surface.

The Odyssey offers all of this without gimmicks. Rather, what used to be considered a gimmick is no longer considered as such. 

In short, the new grille looks great. As does the new 19-inch machine finished alloy wheels. In all, the Odyssey Elite gives you a mix of style and class that befits its purpose.

Cabin-wise, I like that Honda gave the Odyssey its new analog-looking instrument cluster. The digital part of the cluster offers plenty of key information on the vehicle. The controls are familiar an easy to reach. The transmission is a push-button affair.

The other change I noticed was in the nine-inch infotainment touchscreen interface. It is now at the current Honda standard which is very good indeed. You also have wireless smartphone integration, along with wireless charging. Eleven speakers filter sound throughout the cabin and it does come with a second-row entertainment system with the capability of connecting to wireless headphones. 

The Elite tester seats up to seven people. The front seats and the second-row captain’s chairs are comfortable and supportive, while swathed in leather. You access the second- and third row through a power- and -remote-operated pair of sliding doors, along with sliding second row seats for easy access to the third row.  

A convenient liftgate can be opened without having to touch it. Once open, you get a deeply recessed space behind the third row filling up to 38.6 cubic feet. Use the third row to fold flat with the liftgate opening, and cargo space is now up to 91.0 cubic feet. With all seats out of the way, you can load up to 155.7 cubic feet. 

In addition to the space, there is a new test I am giving minivans. Normally, I would load in my rollator into the cargo hold of an SUV or the trunk of a car flat without any problem – unless the cargo area is too small, or I have to fold down the seats behind the cargo area. 

With the recessed space behind the third row of a minivan, the rollator should be able to stand up in that space securely and not damage the trim around it. In the Odyssey, this test was successful. The rollator barely moved in that space and no marks were observed in the cargo hold. A win for exceeding the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

Power comes from a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with 262 pound-feet of torque. It is connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Performance matches the minivan well with solid acceleration and quiet highway cruises. In terms of fuel economy, we averaged 21.7 MPG. 

The ride quality was quite good, with a smooth and comfortable feeling for all passengers on board. You might find a bit of roll and lean on some turns and evasive maneuvers beyond its low limits. The Odyssey is always stable on the road, keeping its occupants mindful and demure.

The Odyssey also executed sharper, tighter turns overall. On-Center feel was just fine, if not tending towards the softer side. As for the brakes, the Odyssey exhibits a good pedal feel for the braking system. Therefore, it turned in good stops in normal, panic, and wet situations. 

For 2025, you have four Honda Odyssey models to choose from. Pricing starts from $41,920. This 2025 Elite tester came with a sticker price of $52,275. 

When it comes to minivans, the Honda Odyssey delivers on solid transportation for its occupants. It is a proven vehicle that has attracted many families to its straightforward approach to transporting them in a quality vehicle that also has a reputation for being extremely reliable. 

Is that enough? Well…yes and no. If some people want fancy details and electrification, certainly there are plenty of options out there. However, Honda offers more in terms of transporting families with some fanfare. The Odyssey does the job as intended and gives you a bit of enjoyment along the way.

If you are choosing a minivan for your family, give the Odyssey a good look. You might be smiling over every mile doing so. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All photos by Randy Stern