Since its initial launch in the mid-90s, the Odyssey has always been considered as the ultimate minivan. Excellent handling and dynamics, spacious interior and a long list of standard equipment are the main reason why this vehicle was always at the top of its class. Moreover, the current generation is arguably a minivan that offers more than any competitor. It has been around since 2017, so reports about the 2021 Honda Odyssey refresh may seem surprising to some of you, considering that minivans usually have longer production cycles compared to sedans, crossover and similar vehicles.
However, the competition is much tougher these days, not just because of several amazing minivans, but also because of a full range of three-row crossovers, that is taking over the market. Therefore, we expect updates for the next year. The exact details are still unavailable, but it looks like we are about to see a couple of styling tweaks, along with additions of new technology and other features. We expect to see the new models sometime in the second half of next year.
2021 Honda Odyssey Redesign
In terms of base design characteristics, we definitely won’t see any notable change. The current generation is still pretty fresh for any bigger modifications, particularly in terms of mechanics. If offers great driving dynamics, but also a pretty smooth ride. So there is no reason for changes at the moment. On the other side, we could see a couple of visual updates, though we have to say that the current model already looks pretty attractive. It follows the brand’s latest design language and has a lot in common with crossovers like Pilot and CR-V, particularly in terms of the front face.
This is also the area where we could see a couple of tweaks, to the parts like the grille, bumper etc. The rest of the vehicle comes in a typical minivan manner and we don’t expect to see bigger modifications. Still, we could see a couple of additions in terms of new color options, sets of wheels and similar things.
Interior
On the inside, we could see a couple of changes. Still, the overall cabin design is about to remain the same. This cabin is well-built. It is full of hi-quality materials, while the dashboard also features pretty attractive lines. In a combination with attractive color schemes and a long list of standard equipment, it’s no wonder this cabin looks more opulent compared to most rivals in the class. Also, it is an extremely comfortable minivan. It can accommodate up to eight passengers and all three rows offer an amazing level of comfort, with plenty of leg and headroom and massive and supportive seats.
The cargo area is spacious as well. There are almost 40 cubic feet behind rear seats. The overall cargo volume goes up to 158 cubic feet, which are some of the best ratings in the class. The only complaint here goes to the fact that the second row needs to be physically removed if you want to use all of the cargo space. We hope that Honda will solve this problem with the update.
Of course, most of the interior updates will be in terms of standard equipment. We expect some nice additions, but we have to say that the current model is already pretty generous. This includes safety features as well. Currently, a rearview camera is the only standard safety feature and if we consider that the key rival, Toyota Sienna, is far more generous in this aspect, we expect to see some notable additions.
2021 Honda Odyssey Engine
Most likely, we don’t see bigger changes under the hood of 2021 Honda Odyssey. It will continue with Honda’s well-known 3.5-liter V6. In this case, it delivers around 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Base models come with a 9-speed automatic transmission, while higher trims are equipped with a newer 10-speed automatic gearbox. In both cases, the ride quality is amazing. The ride is smooth while driving dynamics and handling are pretty amazing for a minivan. When it comes to fuel economy, things are pretty typical for the class. This model returns around 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Key rivals, Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica feature similar mpg ratings.
2021 Honda Odyssey Release Date and Price
Although this update still waits for the official confirmation, it looks quite likely. Therefore, we will probably see 2021 Honda Odyssey a little bit earlier than usual, but still within the second half of the next year. When it comes to the price, the current model starts at around 31.000 dollars and we don’t expect bigger deviations in the future.
