2023 Honda Odyssey

The 2023 Odyssey is a carry-over year of the fifth generation (2018–), refreshed for 2021. Its main change is a new Sport trim (EX, EX-L, Sport, Touring, Elite), and the 3.5L direct-injected V6 remains the only engine on every trim.

This is the peak torque of the standard and only powertrain. The naturally aspirated V6 makes it high in the rev range.

The 2023 drivetrain is unchanged from the tested 10-speed Odysseys (every trim since 2020). Instrumented results run from 6.4 s (Car and Driver) to 7.6 s (Edmunds, Elite), so the MotorWeek median of 7.2 s is used. That is quick for a minivan.

The V6 is smooth, linear and eager with no turbo lag, and it is among the strongest-feeling engines in the class. Variable Cylinder Management and idle stop are occasionally noticeable, and it can't match the near-silent low-speed running of the hybrid Sienna.

Every 2023 trim uses Honda's 10-speed automatic with shift-by-wire and paddles. Shifts are generally smooth and quick, with occasional part-throttle hunting among the tall upper gears.

Honda rates every 2023 trim at 3,500 lbs with trailer brakes and the accessory towing package, and recommends premium fuel when towing. That is par for the minivan class (Sienna and Carnival 3,500 lbs, Pacifica 3,600 lbs).

Every 2023 trim is front-wheel drive only, with no AWD at any price. The Sienna and Pacifica both offer AWD.

This is a pavement-focused family van, with low ground clearance, FWD only, and no skid plates, terrain modes or off-road trim. The new 2023 Sport trim is a styling package, not a capability one.

The whole range has one powertrain (3.5L V6, 10-speed, FWD) and no hybrid or plug-in option. By contrast, the Sienna is hybrid-only and the Pacifica offers a PHEV.

There is a single EPA configuration for 2023. With no hybrid assist, it sits with the gas Pacifica at the thirsty end of the minivan class.

It is weak in stop-and-go driving even with idle stop and cylinder deactivation, because there is no hybrid system to recover energy.

Tall 10-speed gearing and VCM keep the highway figure competitive for a V6 minivan.

This is the total range on the 19.5-gallon tank at the EPA combined rating. It is slightly more than the gas Pacifica and far short of the hybrid Sienna.

Regular fuel helps, but at 22 MPG combined the EPA annual estimate is among the highest in the minivan class.

Every trim runs on regular unleaded, with no premium requirement and nothing to charge. Honda recommends premium only when towing.

NHTSA rates the 2023 Odyssey 5 stars overall, with 5-star frontal and side ratings and a 4-star rollover rating (13.6% rollover risk). That is the top of the minivan segment.

IIHS lists the 2023 Odyssey as a Top Safety Pick+, with Good ratings in small overlap (driver and passenger), the original moderate overlap, the updated side test, roof strength and head restraints. The tougher updated moderate-overlap test rates it Poor for rear-passenger protection. That gap is why it fell to a plain TSP for 2024, and it keeps the score at the low end of the top band.

Honda Sensing is standard on every 2023 trim: Collision Mitigation Braking, Adaptive Cruise with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation and Traffic Sign Recognition. From MY2023, Blind Spot Information with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor is also standard on every trim, including the LX.

IIHS rates the standard Collision Mitigation Braking Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle (no collision at 12 and 25 mph) and Superior for daytime pedestrians. The night pedestrian rating is Advanced: it avoided collisions on high beams but showed limitations on low beams.

Blind Spot Information and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor became standard on every trim for 2023, up from EX-and-above in 2022. Both systems only alert, with no active steering or braking intervention and no safe-exit warning.

Standard LKAS and Road Departure Mitigation centre the van acceptably on well-marked highways. Reviewers note some wander and early disengagement on faded lines compared with Honda's newer camera/radar tuning.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (stop-and-go) is standard and smooth in traffic. There is no integrated highway-assist or traffic-jam-assist mode, and resuming after a full stop needs driver input.

No 2023 Odyssey trim offers hands-free driving, and every Honda Sensing function requires hands on the wheel.

IIHS rates the LED reflector headlights with standard high-beam assist Acceptable on all trims. Low-beam reach is good on the right side but only fair on the left on straightaways.

A tall greenhouse, low beltline and large side glass give excellent minivan sightlines. A multi-angle rearview camera is standard, though this generation offers no 360-degree camera.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good, with four rear seating positions fully equipped. Wide power sliding doors and Magic Slide second-row seats make multiple car-seat installs and third-row access unusually easy.

Every 2023 trim (EX, EX-L, Sport, Touring, Elite) seats eight via the Magic Slide second row with a removable center seat; the 7-seat base LX was discontinued for 2023.

The volume EX-L carries a standard moonroof that cuts front headroom to 38.7 in; only the base EX gets the full 40.7 in.

Front legroom is adequate but on the short side of the minivan band.

Generous second-row headroom even with the moonroof fitted to EX-L and above.

Second-row legroom matches the front row and is near the top of the minivan band, with Magic Slide adjustment adding flexibility.

One of the most adult-friendly third rows in any vehicle: 38.1 in of legroom and 38.3 in of headroom, with Magic Slide walk-in access standard on every 2023 trim. Hip room (48.4 in) makes three adults across a squeeze.

Large space behind the second row with the third row folded into its well; competitive but not class-leading.

Removing the second-row seats opens a cavernous load floor; the 140.7 cu ft figure applies with the seats left in place.

Magic Slide second row (side-to-side slide, removable seats), a one-motion fold-in-floor third row, a deep cargo well, and plentiful bins. The 115V outlet is limited to Touring/Elite.

Supportive seats in all three rows with a 12-way power driver's seat (4-way lumbar) on every trim and memory/8-way passenger seat from EX-L; ventilated fronts only on Elite.

Composed and well controlled, but the 19-inch wheels from EX-L up give a firmer edge over sharp impacts than the Sienna or Pacifica.

Active Noise Cancellation and acoustic windshield standard; Elite adds acoustic front and rear door glass. Road noise on coarse surfaces keeps it mid-pack.

Tri-zone automatic climate with second-row controls and heated front seats are standard on all 2023 trims; integrated sunshades in row two (rows two and three on Touring/Elite). Heated wheel and ventilated seats are Elite-only, and there are no heated rear seats.

2023 is a carry-over year of the fifth generation (MY2018 launch, MY2021 refresh), but the LX was dropped and the EX became the entry trim, so the base price jumped by about $5,500 over 2022.

The EX-L (leather, power tailgate, 8-inch Display Audio) is the volume trim. The new-for-2023 Sport sits just above it.

The mature 3.5L V6 and 10-speed automatic are inexpensive to service, and MY2023 is the first Odyssey covered by Honda Service Pass, which pays for routine oil changes and rotations for 2 years. This estimate sits between CarEdge's low figure, which excludes warranty work, and higher class-average estimates.

The Odyssey has the best resale value among gas minivans, and KBB places the 2023 in the top 10–25% of 2023 vans for depreciation. Projecting KBB's 3-year curve forward and averaging it with CarEdge gives about 54%.

Honda's new-vehicle limited warranty is at the industry floor. It matches Toyota and Chrysler and trails Kia's 5-year coverage on the Carnival.

The 5 yr / 60,000 mi powertrain coverage is the industry floor. Kia's 10 yr / 100,000 mi on the Carnival is the segment benchmark.

MY2023 is the first Odyssey with Honda Service Pass, which covers select factory-scheduled maintenance (oil and filter, tire rotation, inspections) for 2 yr / 24,000 mi. Roadside assistance runs for the 3/36 warranty term, and a HondaLink trial is included. The package is slightly narrower than ToyotaCare on the Sienna.

$41,905 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (54% retained, or about $22,629) leaves about $19,276 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,200 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $23,476 in total.

The sources disagree a little but both land at or above average. J.D. Power owners give the 2023 Odyssey a 78/100 Quality & Reliability score ('Average'), and Consumer Reports gave it a Recommended rating with a 4/5 predicted reliability score. That puts it at the upper end of the mixed-signals band: ahead of the Pacifica and Voyager, behind the Sienna.

Honda has long ranked among the top mainstream brands in Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings, though it sat close to the industry average in J.D. Power's 2023 VDS. It trails Toyota and Lexus, which puts it at the top of the mid-pack band.

MY2023 is covered by five NHTSA campaigns, a lighter record than the 2018–2022 vans. It avoids the 2018–2022-only SRS-software airbag recall, the mirror-pad recall and the 24V064 occupant-sensor recall. It does carry Honda's broad low-pressure fuel pump recall (stall risk), the rear-camera MOST-cable recall, and a small steering-gear assembly recall, so it sits mid-band in typical activity with nothing model-specific and systemic.

The 2023 Odyssey uses the 3.5L J35 V6 with the 10-speed automatic, standard on every trim since MY2020. The J35 family has a long high-mileage track record. The 23V751 connecting-rod-bearing recall covers only 2018–2019 Odysseys, and the 10-speed has shown no systemic failure pattern since the early-generation 9-speed was dropped.

The cabin carries the 2021 refresh: soft-touch upper surfaces and solid switchgear on EX-L and above, with hard plastics in lower zones and a dated 8-inch display. That is competitive with the class, though short of the Carnival's upscale trims.

Assembly at Honda's Lincoln, Alabama plant is generally consistent, and the owner quality score is average-to-solid. Scattered owner complaints and the 2023–2024 steering-gear tightening lapse keep it out of the top band.

Honda has one of the densest US dealer networks, about 1,000 dealers, with generally strong service satisfaction.

The J35 V6 and platform components are shared with the Pilot, Passport and Ridgeline, so parts are plentiful and the aftermarket is deep. Typical repair costs sit below the minivan average.

Every 2023 trim uses the same 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen, small against rivals' 10–12-inch units; the 10.2-inch rear entertainment screen (Touring/Elite) is not a center display.

The post-2021 Display Audio is simple with a physical volume knob and shortcut buttons, but graphics and processing feel dated and the screen is small; Honda replaced it with a faster 9-inch unit for 2025.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2023 trim (the LX that lacked them is gone), but wired only; wireless projection did not arrive until 2025.

Built-in satellite navigation with voice recognition is limited to Touring and Elite; most owners rely on phone projection and Siri/Google voice.

A 160-watt, 7-speaker system with subwoofer on EX–Touring is adequate; the 550-watt 11-speaker premium unit is Elite-only and unbranded.

A partial-digital cluster: a color driver information interface paired with analog-style gauges; a fully redesigned digital cluster arrived only with the 2025 refresh.

No feature-adding over-the-air program; updates to the head unit and navigation maps require a dealer or USB.

HondaLink app is supported on all trims, but remote start/lock/locate via the app needs the subscription services that come only on Touring/Elite (with a trial); CabinControl app handles rear audio/climate. No digital key.

USB-A only; the volume EX-L gets three 2.5-amp ports (front plus two in row two), with a third-row port, 115V outlet and HDMI on Touring/Elite and a wireless charger only on Elite.

Key-fob remote engine start and power sliding doors are standard; Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock and a power tailgate come from EX-L, hands-free tailgate on top trims. No phone-as-key.

A multi-angle rear camera with dynamic guidelines is standard and blind-spot cross-traffic monitoring helps backing out, but front/rear parking sensors are Touring/Elite-only and no surround-view camera is offered.

No head-up display is offered on any 2023 Odyssey trim.

The segment benchmark for family logistics: the Magic Slide second row (now standard on every trim with the LX gone) slides side-to-side for three-across car seats or a walk-through aisle, IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good, and power sliding doors and Rear Seat Reminder are standard.

5-star NHTSA overall, a 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, and Honda Sensing plus blind-spot monitoring standard on every trim. It drops out of the top band because it was the only minivan rated Poor in IIHS's updated moderate-overlap test, which measures rear-passenger protection.

Roomy second and third rows, standard tri-zone climate with rear controls and second-row sunshades, and a 32.8 cu ft well behind row three. Touring/Elite add rear entertainment, CabinWatch/CabinTalk and the 115V outlet, but lower trims have thin USB coverage in the back.

The smooth V6/10-speed, standard ACC with Low-Speed Follow and excellent outward view make traffic easy, but it is a 205-inch van with a firm-edged ride.

At 19/28/22 MPG the gas-only V6 costs far more per mile than the hybrid-only Sienna (36 MPG combined); it runs on regular fuel and maintenance costs are average.

A 205.2-in-long van with a 39.6-ft turning diameter. Visibility is excellent and a multi-angle rear camera is standard, but parking sensors are Touring/Elite-only and no 360-degree camera is offered.

A 3,500-lb tow rating and up to ~156–158 cu ft of cargo with the second row removed make it a capable light hauler, but it is FWD-only with no work-oriented trim.

The 3.5L V6 and 10-speed are proven Honda hardware, but there is no fleet or cargo variant and no wear-resistant interior option.

Removable second-row seats open a big flat floor, but the 115V outlet is Touring/Elite-only, there is no upfit ecosystem, and interiors are cloth or leather rather than washable.

A spacious, comfortable cabin with Active Noise Cancellation and standard ACC/LKAS. Its ~430-mile range (19.5 gal at 22 MPG) trails the Sienna hybrid, and there is no hands-on highway-assist mode beyond ACC plus lane keeping.

FWD-only with low ground clearance and no terrain modes. It can tow 3,500 lb of toys and swallow camping gear, but it is pavement-bound next to the AWD-available Sienna and Pacifica.

Class-leading flexibility: 32.8–38.6 cu ft behind the third row, a one-motion Magic Seat that folds into the floor, and removable second-row seats for up to 155.7–158 cu ft.

Widely rated the sharpest-handling minivan: tidy body control and good grip for a 4,500-lb van, though still clearly a family hauler.

Precise and well weighted for the class, but filtered with little road feedback.

Four-wheel discs deliver average minivan stopping distances with a predictable, if slightly soft, pedal.

The 280-hp V6 is strong and smooth and the 10-speed (standard on all trims) shifts cleanly, with occasional hunting and a slightly abrupt Idle Stop restart.

The V6 is quiet at cruise and sounds pleasant under load, helped by Active Noise Cancellation; no hybrid drone as in the Sienna.

A typical, fairly wide minivan turning circle.

Commanding, adjustable driving position with a 12-way power seat on every trim and excellent sightlines; the push-button shift-by-wire takes some acclimation and the small screen sits low.

As engaging as a minivan gets: a willing V6 and responsive chassis, but ultimately a pleasant appliance rather than a car enthusiasts seek out.

With the LX gone, the 2023 lineup starts at the EX ($38,835). It comes with Honda Sensing, power sliding doors, tri-zone climate, heated front seats, a moonroof, 8-inch Display Audio with CarPlay/Android Auto and the Magic Slide second row, a well-equipped entry point. However, the hybrid Sienna LE costs about the same and the Carnival LX starts lower.

A 280-hp V6, a flexible second row and a strong reliability reputation deliver solid content. However, the gas-only powertrain (19/28/22 mpg) gives up running-cost value to the hybrid-only Sienna at a similar sticker price, and dealer markups lingered into early 2023.

Five trims (EX, EX-L, the new Sport, Touring, Elite) span about $39K–$51K, but dropping the LX narrowed the bottom of the range. Every van is FWD with the V6, while Sienna and Pacifica offer AWD and Pacifica also offers a PHEV.

Once supply recovered, Odyssey sales rebounded to 71.5K in calendar 2023, up from the shortage-hit 2022. It remained one of the segment's top three sellers, though Sienna and Carnival grew faster.

Honda has a strong reputation with family buyers for reliability, resale value and low-drama ownership, and the Odyssey name has decades of minivan credibility. It is not aspirational, but very well regarded by its intended shoppers.

Early in the 2023 model year inventory was still tight and Odysseys often sold at or near MSRP. Honda's special-APR and lease programs returned only as stock rebuilt through 2023, so discounts stayed modest for most of the model year.

2023 is the sixth model year of the generation that launched for MY2018 and the third since the MY2021 mid-cycle refresh. That makes it current but aging against the all-new 2021 Sienna and 2022 Carnival, with no hybrid offered.

Reviewers consistently praise the Odyssey's driving dynamics, V6 and Magic Slide seating, and it ranks at or near the top of minivan lists. However, the Sienna (efficiency) and Carnival (style, value) won many 2023 comparisons.