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Recently, Honda Malaysia introduced the updated version of its 2020 Odyssey series into the mass SUV market. Despite its compact size when compared to the CRV, it is built as an ideal family car in mind, making it the perfect minivan.
The 2020 Odyssey comes with comfort, more connectivity, and a dose of fun. One of its main features is the spacious interior that can accommodate up to 8 people. Lengthy drives are a breeze and you do not have to worry about cramped spaces or sitting discomfort. The Odyssey is an upgraded version of the older series infused with the reliability of its original version.
Pros:
- Controls are simple to use
- Cabins are spacious and wide
- A quiet and relaxing ride
- Excellent Climate control
Cons:
- Poor visibility
- The second-row seats can be hard to move
- There is no surround-view camera
- The third-row seats do not have power folding
Features to look out for in Honda Odyssey
Interior
How many people can the Honda Odyssey accommodate?
The three rows of seats can accommodate up to eight passengers, with plenty of head and legroom to go around. The Honda Odyssey has firm cushions and its front seats are roomy, allowing for the highest comfort meant for longer rides.
Yet, the four-spoke steering wheel of the Odyssey is large enough because of the mammoth size of the center boss and minimalist design for the four spokes. The Honda Odyssey has 40.9 inches of legroom in the front and second-row seats.
People riding in the second row can have more comfort thanks to the 38.1 inches of legroom available. Taller passengers can stretch themselves when riding, as even the third row has adult-friendly space. Outward visibility is overall excellent.
Safety Features
The car comes with anti-lock brakes that act immediately when a tyre has stopped rotating under extreme pressure.You can also drive safely with the stability control that automatically reduces the power engine to help prevent the driver from losing control of the vehicle.
Altogether there are four airbags such as front impact airbags, side- impact airbags, overhead airbags, and knee airbags to protect the driver and passenger from a collision.
Other safety features include seatbelt pretensioners to automatically tighten the seatbelts, anti-whiplash to reduce the likelihood of a whiplash injury and security system to detect unwanted vehicle intrusion. As-a-matter-of-fact, all this provides maximum peace of mind for both driver and passenger.
Interior Quality
Given the price range of the car, the cabin is of top-notch and unparalleled quality. Even though it is not a perfect 10, the overall design is one of the most stylish SUVs in its category.
Cargo Space
Boasting 32.8 cubic feet of space behind the third row, the 2020 Honda Odyssey has more than enough space to accommodate luggage for the entire family. For example, it can store large items such as bicycles, big musical instruments, or sporting gears.
Even more impressive, the third row can create 158 cubic feet of flat cargo storage and you can fold the second-row seats to achieve a massive cargo volume of 158 cubic feet.
Honda Odyssey’s Infotainment, Bluetooth and Navigation
Honda Odyssey’s trouble-free infotainment system is the bees-knees as it is second to none for world-class “in-car” entertainment. Highlights include its straightforward menus, rearrangeable icons, handy smartphone integration functions, and a large responsive touch screen.
However, this is merely the tip of the iceberg as other standard features that stand out include an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, satellite radio, navigation, a rear-seat blu-ray entertainment system, a wi-fi hot spot and others.
The only drawback of the Honda Odyssey is because of the complexity of the infotainment, amateurs or newbies may need to take time to learn how to click on or operate its virtual buttons.
However, critics agree on its 8-inch touch screen, which is large and visible enough for passengers to have close-up scrutiny.
Engine
The Honda Odyssey is powered by a 280-horsepower V6 engine that generates 280hp and 262lb feet of torque. The Odyssey is the perfect minivan for taking your entire family for a holiday or to town due to its now-standard 10-speed automatic transmission that makes for some serious smooth-shifting capabilities.
Plus, the engine delivers a good amount of power, smoothness, and oomph.
You would be surprised how far the Odyssey can go in just 7.6 seconds starting from 0 to 60 mph. The vehicle has everything it takes to beat the number that other vehicles in this segment struggle to achieve.
For a minivan, it delivers quick acceleration even when the car is fully loaded with passengers.
Gas Mileage
Its fuel economy is on par with the best of the best when it comes to engine adequacies. With a powerful and swift front-wheel drive, it gets an EPA estimated 19mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. This makes the Honda Odyssey a notch above the rest of its competitors.
Despite the Odyssey 2020 not having an all-wheel drive, it compensates by being fitted with an adequate 19.5- gallon fuel tank.
Ride Quality
Thanks to its nicely weighted steering, it evokes a touch of sporty and durable handling. There’s limited body roll when maneuvering, and this exceeded the expectations of a minivan even though it is not a sporty SUV.
The Odyssey’s smooth suspension is an advantage as it shields occupants from most rough road surfaces such as large potholes and bumps so that the ride is smooth.
Best of all, the handling is impressive that it breezes through busy streets, traffic and tight parking.
Reliability and Star Rating
It has a high rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on reliability from J.D Power.
Honda Odyssey Warranty
Honda covers the 2020 Odyssey with a three year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty.
Safety Features
Honda Odyssey Crash Test Results
The 2020 Odyssey scored five stars for its frontal and side crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
It received four stars for its rollover tests and five stars for its frontal and side crash tests. However, the Odyssey received mixed ratings for the effectiveness such as Poor for the LX trim, Marginal for the EX and EX-L trims, and Acceptable for the Touring and Elite trims.
The car comes with a multi-angle rearview camera. Other advanced features include its active safety features such as park assist, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, and the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features.
Which Honda Odyssey is the best?
The Honda Odyssey is available in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and EX. The 2020 version comes with a 280 horsepower V6 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission complete with standard trims. The base LX model can accommodate seven people, while some other models can accommodate up to eight people maximum.
Among all of the ranges, the EX is considered the best trim due to its hefty price and worthwhile features. For example, it has a touch screen, smartphone integration, and a host of advanced driver assistance features.
The icing on the cake is of course largely due to its family-friendly features such as power-sliding doors and a second row Magic Seat that has amazing slides. In a nutshell, the EX is your best bet when it comes to looking for a practical yet ergonomic car altogether!
Is the 2020 Honda Odyssey a great minivan?
Yes, the 2020 Honda Odyssey is an excellent subcompact minivan. It’s the bee’s knees for the passenger accommodation, mainly because of its wide and spacious interior. The car has durable sturdy wheels that can take you back and forth on the highway.
Yet, there are several drawbacks that makes it lose out to its competitors. Issues such as poor visibility, zero surrounding camera, lack of power-folding, and inflexible second-row seats are such reasons.
Should I purchase a new or old Honda Odyssey?
Although Honda has made no major changes in the 2020 model, there are some slight improvements compared to the 2019 model, so you are getting your best bang for the buck.
The 2020 Honda Odyssey Model has some changes compared to the previous models. A few of the updates include 19-inch wheels, a chrome roof rack and body details, a chrome bumper protector, and a special key fob. Another important update is the manufacturer’s decision to make the 10-speed automatic transmission standard, which includes an idle-stop system.
Since the 2019 model is available in several colours, you can expect a plethora of attractive hues for the 2020 model. Altogether, there are eight exterior colours to choose from such as Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern steel Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, and more.