2026 Honda Odyssey

Honda's 3.5L SOHC i-VTEC V6 is the sole powertrain across all Odyssey trims (Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, Elite), carried over unchanged from the 2025 mid-cycle refresh.

Peak torque of the standard (and only) 3.5L V6 powertrain, unchanged from 2025 refresh.

Independent instrumented tests of the mechanically identical 2024–2025 Odyssey put 0–60 at roughly 7.0 seconds — among the quickest minivans thanks to the V6's power and the 10-speed's ratios.

The 3.5L V6 delivers smooth, linear power with a pleasant note under load and no turbo lag. Variable Cylinder Management can occasionally intrude with audible transitions, and there is no hybrid seamlessness like the Sienna, so refinement lands strong but short of best-in-class.

The 10-speed automatic (Honda in-house, introduced 2018) generally selects gears well and shifts smoothly, with occasional hunting between the taller top gears at part-throttle cruising. No harsh downshift complaints in current-gen reviews.

Honda rates the Odyssey at 3,500 lbs when properly equipped — tied with Sienna and Carnival for the minivan class; Pacifica is nominally 100 lbs higher.

The Odyssey is front-wheel drive only across all trims — no AWD option at any price point. This is a significant gap versus the Sienna (standard hybrid AWD) and Pacifica (optional AWD).

Strictly pavement-oriented family minivan: ~4.5 in ground clearance, no skid plates, no terrain modes, no off-road trim. Even light unpaved-road duty is compromised by the low front air dam.

Single 3.5L V6 gas powertrain across every trim — no hybrid, PHEV, or EV option. Odyssey is the least electrified minivan in the segment (Sienna hybrid-only, Pacifica offers PHEV, Carnival offers V6 + hybrid).

Single powertrain across the lineup — 3.5L V6 with 10-speed automatic and FWD only. No hybrid assist puts Odyssey at the bottom of the minivan pack alongside the gas Pacifica.

Weakest-in-segment city figure — no hybrid assist to recapture energy in stop-and-go traffic. Ties gas Pacifica and trails Sienna's hybrid (36 city) badly.

Highway figure is competitive for a V6 minivan thanks to tall 10-speed gearing; matches Pacifica gas FWD and lags Sienna hybrid by only ~2 MPG on the interstate.

Range computed from EPA combined and Honda's published 19.5-gal fuel tank. Marginally better than Pacifica gas (~418 mi) on the strength of a slightly larger tank; well short of the Sienna hybrid's ~600+ mi total range.

Regular fuel keeps per-gallon costs low, but the 22-combined-MPG figure translates directly into higher pump costs — EPA pegs annual fuel cost near the top of the minivan set, matching gas Pacifica and roughly $1,000/yr above the Sienna hybrid.

Honda specifies regular 87-octane unleaded for normal driving — no premium, no diesel, no charging infrastructure. Owner's information recommends premium when towing at maximum capacity, a minor caveat that puts it a touch below zero-caveat regular-only rivals.

NHTSA awards the 2026 Odyssey a 5-star overall rating, with 5 stars in frontal and side crash tests and 4 stars in rollover — top of the segment.

The Odyssey is NOT a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick — Honda's 2026 TSP list is Passport, HR-V, Accord and Civic; Odyssey is absent. Testing still relies on the 2018 platform and the van earns a Poor rating in the updated moderate-overlap front test (rear-passenger protection), which is the primary reason it misses the award.

Honda Sensing is standard on every 2026 Odyssey trim and includes AEB (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Monitor, and Traffic Sign Recognition — a comprehensive suite at base price.

Honda's CMBS handles vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian scenarios reliably in current IIHS front-crash-prevention testing, but the Odyssey's older sensor generation is not a leader in the updated nighttime pedestrian evaluations that top scorers now clear.

Blind Spot Information with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor is standard on all trims; alert-only (no active steering intervention) but reliable coverage for a family van.

LKAS with Lane Departure Warning is standard and centers competently on marked highways, but reviewers note the system is not as smooth as newer Honda Sensing 360+ implementations and can ping-pong slightly on faded lines.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (full stop-and-go) is standard and works well in traffic, but Honda has no combined highway-assist mode that fuses ACC with active lane centering into a single supervised experience.

Honda offers no hands-free highway driving system on any 2026 vehicle — no equivalent to Ford BlueCruise, GM Super Cruise, or Tesla FSD is available on the Odyssey at any trim.

IIHS headlight testing on the 2026 Odyssey shows Good visibility on the right straightaway but only Fair on the left straightaway and sharp curves, with Inadequate visibility on the gradual left curve — decent but a step behind class leaders.

Excellent forward and side sightlines from the tall greenhouse and thin A-pillars typical of the minivan format; standard multi-angle rearview camera with available Multi-View camera system on upper trims aids parking and lane changes.

IIHS rates the Odyssey's LATCH system Good+ (among the best in the industry) with four rear seating positions equipped; exposed second-row lower anchors, clearly labeled tethers, huge sliding-door openings, and Magic Slide second-row seats make three-across installations easier than any rival.

Odyssey is offered exclusively as an 8-passenger minivan; Magic Slide 2nd row seats three with a removable center jump seat.

Honda-published front headroom; matches or slightly betters key minivan rivals.

Honda-published front legroom; on the lower end of the minivan band but seat travel and layout are ample in practice.

Honda-published 2nd-row headroom; among the roomiest in the segment.

Honda-published 2nd-row legroom; near limo-class and among the best in the segment.

3rd row seats three across with 38.1 in legroom and 38.3 in headroom — genuinely adult-usable, easy access via wide sliding doors and Magic Slide 2nd row, and Magic Seat one-motion fold flat into the floor for a flat load surface.

With the Magic Seat 3rd row folded flush into the floor, the Odyssey exposes a huge flat cargo hold — near the top of the minivan class.

Removing the 2nd-row Magic Slide seats and folding the Magic Seat 3rd row unlocks class-leading maximum cargo volume — 158 cu ft handily beats Pacifica (~140.5) and Sienna (~101).

Standout minivan-specific solutions: Magic Slide 2nd row (side-to-side and fore-aft), Magic Seat one-motion 3rd-row fold-into-floor, deep well behind 3rd row, HondaVAC built-in vacuum on Touring/Elite, CabinWatch rear-seat camera and CabinTalk PA, huge center console with removable trash bin.

Front seats offer long-haul support with 8-way power on EX and above; 2nd-row Magic Slide outboard seats with available extending footrest (Elite) draw strong road-trip praise. Slight demerit vs. Pacifica for less premium bolstering in base trims.

Composed, well-controlled ride that skews slightly firmer/sportier than Sienna or Pacifica — impact harshness over sharp expansion joints is noticeable but body motions are well contained. Not the plushest in class but very livable.

Active Noise Cancellation and acoustic windshield keep wind and road noise well suppressed at highway speed, but the 3.5L V6 sends more powertrain noise into the cabin under load than the electrified Sienna hybrid or Pacifica PHEV.

Tri-zone automatic climate standard, heated front seats standard on EX and above, ventilated fronts and heated steering wheel on Touring/Elite, rear sunshades and 115V outlet on Elite. Broad availability across mid-and-up trims, though no heated rear seats.

2026 Honda Odyssey is a carryover of the refreshed 2025 lineup; Sport is the entry trim priced just above the $42,905 2025 figure with the typical model-year bump.

EX-L and the mid-cycle Sport-L are the volume trims; 2025 EX-L was ~$45,905 total, and 2026 nudges toward $46,500 as equipped.

Honda's 3.5L V6 is a mature, well-supported platform; maintenance is typical for a mainstream V6 minivan with routine oil/tire/brake needs. CarEdge/Edmunds class data for Odyssey run in the $5.0–6.0k range over 5 years.

Honda holds value reasonably well, but gas-only V6 lags Sienna hybrid's residuals; Odyssey depreciation runs ~45–50% over 5 years, so retention around 50–55%.

Standard Honda new-vehicle limited warranty; below Kia/Hyundai's 5-year segment leaders.

Honda's 5/60 powertrain coverage is the industry floor; Kia Carnival's 10/100 is the segment benchmark.

Honda does not include complimentary scheduled maintenance (unlike ToyotaCare or Hyundai's 3-year plan). Standard perks are limited to 24/7 roadside assistance during the 3/36 basic warranty and a HondaLink connected-services trial. Basic package for the segment.

$46,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (53% retained, or about $24,645) leaves about $21,855 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $27,355 in total.

Consumer Reports has rated the current-gen Odyssey's predicted reliability in the average-to-above-average band, and J.D. Power VDS scores for the fifth-generation Odyssey have been mid-pack — solid but held back by numerous recall-driven issues (see 6.1.3).

Honda is consistently a top-6 mainstream brand in CR reliability rankings and in the middle-to-upper tier of the J.D. Power VDS, trailing Toyota/Lexus but well ahead of the mainstream average.

The fifth-generation Odyssey has been recalled repeatedly since launch — sliding door latch, hood latch, fuel pump (Denso), rear seat belt tensioner, and 10-speed transmission software have all triggered NHTSA campaigns, giving it one of the busier recall histories in the segment.

The J35 3.5L V6 is one of the longest-running, most durable powertrains in the US market with a strong high-mileage reputation, and the ZF-based 10-speed automatic has been in service since 2018 with no systemic failure patterns.

For a mainstream minivan the Odyssey's cabin uses soft-touch materials on the upper dash and doors with reasonable switchgear feel — competitive with Sienna and Carnival but not class-leading; lower-trim EX cabins get called out for harder plastics.

Assembly at Honda's Lincoln, Alabama plant is generally consistent with tight panel gaps and few reported rattles, though J.D. Power IQS ratings for the Odyssey have slipped slightly since the 2021 refresh.

Honda has one of the densest US dealer networks (~1,000 dealers) with strong customer service satisfaction — J.D. Power CSI has consistently placed Honda above the mainstream average, though it trails Buick and Mini at the top.

Honda parts are widely stocked with a large aftermarket ecosystem — RepairPal pegs Odyssey annual maintenance near $547, below the minivan average, and OEM parts are competitively priced versus Sienna and Pacifica.

The 2025 mid-cycle refresh introduced a 9.0-inch color touchscreen on EX and above; the base LX retains a 7.0-inch display audio unit. 2026 carries over unchanged.

The refreshed 9-inch system is a clear step up from the pre-2025 unit — sharper graphics, quicker response, and a retained physical volume knob. Menus are logical but the platform still trails Uconnect 5 and Toyota's Multimedia 3.0 on speed and polish. Integrates uniquely with CabinWatch rear-seat camera and CabinTalk PA.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on EX and above — every trim from the volume EX-L upward. Only the entry LX (about 5% of volume) uses wired projection.

Honda's built-in voice control handles basic commands (call, tune, temp) but is not a natural-language assistant. Native satellite navigation is included only on Touring and Elite; on other trims most drivers default to phone projection.

Base 7-speaker system is adequate; the top premium setup is an 11-speaker Honda audio system on Touring/Elite. Notably, the Odyssey has no branded premium option (no Bose, JBL, or Harman/Kardon) — a segment gap versus Pacifica (Alpine/Harman Kardon) and Sienna (JBL).

A 7-inch color Driver Information Interface sits between analog gauges on EX and above — partial digital rather than a full reconfigurable cluster. LX uses a smaller monochrome display. No full-digital cluster is offered on any trim.

Honda has been slow to roll out over-the-air software. The Odyssey supports periodic map/system updates but does not receive whole-vehicle feature-adding OTAs the way Uconnect 5 (Pacifica) or Toyota's newer platforms do.

HondaLink app covers the core remote functions — remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle status, find-my-car — but the more useful features require a paid HondaLink subscription after the trial period. No digital-key/phone-as-key on Odyssey.

A genuine Odyssey strength: multiple USB ports across all three rows (USB-C added in the 2025 refresh on higher trims), plus a 115V household AC outlet in the second row on Touring/Elite. Wireless phone charging standard on Touring/Elite. Family-friendly by design.

Smart Entry with push-button start is standard on EX and above; remote engine start is standard on EX+; hands-free power tailgate on Touring/Elite; power sliding doors on EX and above. Phone-as-key is not offered.

Multi-angle rear camera is standard across the lineup; front and rear parking sensors are standard on Touring/Elite. However, the Odyssey does NOT offer a 360-degree surround-view camera on any trim — a real gap versus Sienna, Carnival, and Pacifica which all offer one.

No head-up display is offered on any Honda Odyssey trim through 2026. Not a segment outlier — Sienna and Carnival also lack HUD — but scored per absolute item guidance.

Segment benchmark for family logistics. Magic Slide 2nd row (fore-aft and side-to-side) is uniquely built for three-across car-seat installations, four rear LATCH positions with a Good+ IIHS anchors rating, huge sliding-door openings, removable center jump seat, class-leading 92 cu ft behind row 2 for strollers, plus HondaVAC and CabinWatch to check on kids.

Strong headline safety — 5-star NHTSA overall and Honda Sensing (AEB, ACC w/ LSF, LKAS, RDM, BSI+RCTA) standard on every trim including the volume EX-L. But Odyssey is NOT a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick — a Poor rating in the updated moderate-overlap front test (rear-passenger protection) is a genuine family-safety gap on a van whose whole purpose is hauling kids in the back.

Near limo-class 2nd-row legroom (40.9 in), an actually usable 3rd row (38.1 in legroom), tri-zone climate standard, heated fronts from EX, ventilated fronts + heated wheel on Touring/Elite, USB ports across all three rows, 115V outlet in row 2 and rear sunshades on Elite, plus CabinTalk PA and CabinWatch camera.

Composed 10-speed drivetrain and standard ACC with Low-Speed Follow make stop-and-go traffic effortless, and the tall greenhouse gives commanding visibility. Downsides: 205-inch overall length, no hands-free assist mode, and reviewers describe the ride as firm-edged relative to Sienna/Pacifica — livable but not the segment's most relaxing daily driver.

Weakest-in-class fuel economy — 22 combined MPG (19 city / 28 hwy), tying gas Pacifica and trailing the Sienna hybrid by 14 city MPG. EPA pegs annual fuel cost around $2,700, roughly $1,000/yr above Sienna hybrid. Insurance and maintenance are normal for the segment, so fuel is the whole story — expensive to commute in.

A 205-inch, 78.5-inch-wide van with a 38.9-ft turning circle — respectable for a minivan but still oversized for city work. Multi-angle rear camera is standard and outward visibility is excellent, but Honda offers NO surround-view camera on any Odyssey trim — a real gap versus Sienna, Carnival, and Pacifica which all offer 360°. Parking sensors are Touring/Elite-only.

3,500-lb tow rating (tied Sienna/Carnival, 100 lb below Pacifica) plus class-leading 158 cu ft max cargo make it a competent light-hauler — 280 hp V6 is unstressed under load. But FWD-only, no bed, and no work-oriented trim mean it's a family cargo tool, not a job-site vehicle.

Honda's 3.5L SOHC V6 and 10-speed automatic are proven mainstream powertrains with a solid long-term reputation, and the platform has been in service since 2018. But Odyssey has no cargo/fleet variant, no wear-friendly interior option, and no commercial-fleet track record — durability under family duty is strong, under work abuse it's unproven.

USB ports in all three rows and a 115V AC outlet on Touring/Elite give it more usable onboard power than most family vans, and removing the Magic Slide 2nd row opens genuine cargo space. But there's no dedicated upfit ecosystem, no roof-rack system on most trims, no washable interior option, and basic cargo tie-downs only — well behind purpose-built work vans.

Excellent all-row space, Active Noise Cancellation and acoustic windshield hush the cabin at cruise, and standard ACC + LKAS reduce highway fatigue. Range is decent at ~429 mi from the 19.5-gal tank at 22 combined but trails Sienna hybrid (~600 mi), the V6 is audibly present under load, and there's no unified highway-assist mode — a good tourer, short of best-in-class.

FWD-only across every trim (no AWD option at any price), ~4.5 in ground clearance, no skid plates, no terrain modes, low front air dam. It can pull 3,500 lb of light toys and swallow gear inside, but any real dirt/gravel duty is compromised — pavement-bound versus the Sienna hybrid's standard AWD.

Class-leading gear flexibility: 158 cu ft max cargo (beats Pacifica ~140 and Sienna ~101), Magic Seat one-motion 3rd row folds flat into a deep floor well, Magic Slide 2nd row seats are removable for a cavernous open floor, and HondaVAC handles cleanup. Roof rails and factory hitch available via accessory. Exceptional gear-swallower.

Odyssey remains the most engaging minivan to drive: tight body control, well-tuned suspension, and Honda's traditional chassis focus keep it composed in corners. Not sporty — still a 4,500+ lb van — but the class benchmark for agility.

Electric-assist rack is direct, accurate, and appropriately weighted for a large van, but feedback is muted — typical of Honda's minivan/SUV steering calibration. Better than most rivals, still filtered.

Firm, linear pedal with predictable response; stopping distances typical for the class. No regen blending complications (gas-only). Testers note somewhat longer stops when fully loaded.

3.5L V6 with the 10-speed automatic is smooth and responsive at moderate throttle; some low-speed transmission hunting and firmer tip-in than Sienna's hybrid, but no start/stop harshness or hybrid handoff issues.

V6 is subdued at cruise and pleasantly musical under load — better character than the Sienna's droney four — but louder overall at highway speed than the electrified rivals.

Honda's published curb-to-curb turning diameter for the 5th-gen Odyssey has been 36.7 ft since launch; carries over unchanged for the 2026 refresh. Tight for a full-size minivan and best-in-class or tied.

Commanding minivan seating with wide seat/steering adjustment range, clear sightlines, and easy step-in. The 2025 refresh added a 9-inch touchscreen and cleaned up the center stack while retaining physical HVAC knobs.

Within the minivan set, the Odyssey is the one enthusiasts single out — V6 has real character and the chassis responds to inputs — but it is still a large FWD van, so the ceiling is limited.

Honda pruned the entry LX/EX trims a few years back, so the 2026 lineup starts at EX-L (~$42K) with leather, tri-zone climate, power tailgate/sliding doors, 8-inch infotainment, and Honda Sensing standard. Content is generous once you're in, but the higher floor gives Kia Carnival LXS (~$37K) a class-leading equipment-for-dollar entry point.

Solid 280-hp V6, Magic Slide 2nd row, CabinWatch/CabinTalk on upper trims, and Honda's reliability halo give real content per dollar — but the lack of a hybrid variant (Sienna is hybrid-only, Pacifica offers PHEV) hurts total cost of ownership math versus rivals at similar sticker prices.

Only four trims (EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, Elite), no AWD option (Sienna and 2025+ Carnival offer AWD), and no powertrain choice — everyone gets the V6. Reasonable trim ladder but noticeable configuration gaps versus the class.

Odyssey is consistently the #1 or #2 US minivan behind Toyota Sienna, with roughly 90K+ US sales in recent years. Segment overall is shrinking but Odyssey remains a dependable top-two seller.

Honda enjoys an unusually strong reputation among family buyers for reliability, resale, and low-drama ownership, and the Odyssey nameplate carries specific family-hauler credibility. Not aspirational in a luxury sense, but very high positive brand association for the intended shopper.

Honda historically runs modest but real incentives on Odyssey — lease specials and small cash allowances are typical, and as the segment softens and the generation ages, dealer discounts have loosened. Not fire-sale territory like some rivals, but negotiable.

Fifth-generation Odyssey launched for 2018 with a mid-cycle refresh for 2021 — that makes 2026 the eighth model year on the current platform with only carryover changes. A next-generation Odyssey (likely with hybrid) is widely expected in the near term, creating real replacement risk for buyers.

Reviewers still praise Odyssey for family ergonomics, driving feel, and the Magic Slide second row, and it remains a Car and Driver Editors' Choice-caliber pick — but comparison tests increasingly hand the class win to Sienna (hybrid efficiency) or Carnival (freshness/value). Well-reviewed, no longer the default winner.