Instead of outright posh, the Odyssey Elite offers a balance of comfort and space for well-heeled buyers that nonetheless need to ferry around six or seven passengers and all of their cargo. That price could get a buyer into an arguably more luxurious Hyundai Palisade Limited or base-model Volvo XC90. While some of the OdysseyвЂ™s cabin materials are clearly intended for robustness вЂ“ think a fashionable Nike walking shoe, not a leather Ferragamo loafer вЂ“ the EliteвЂ™s interior styling nonetheless impresses, particularly given the OdysseyвЂ™s form factor.Д«ut at $48,940 as tested (up from $47,820 to start), it damn well better. As such, 2021 brings unique perforated leather and seat piping that looks appropriately chic. Honda says it designed the top-of-the-line Elite model less for traditional minivan customers and more for family folks trading in a premium car or SUV. With no children to my name, the Magic Slide instead got pressed into duty during an impromptu вЂњdrive-inвЂќ date, using the EliteвЂ™s standard Blu-Ray player for a viewing of Sleepless In Seattle. Honda even says the so-called Magic Slide feature even operates with baby seats installed on the LATCH anchors. Making up more ground are middle-row bucket seats that move from side to side in a few different configurations, including a center-oriented вЂњbuddyвЂќ mode, split captainвЂ™s chairs, and a left- or rightmost position that eases third-row access.

Honda says it prioritized passenger comfort вЂ“ sit in one of the PacificaвЂ™s foldably slim middle seats and youвЂ™ll understand why the bulkier (and cushier) Odyssey perches donвЂ™t retreat into the floor. IвЂ™m not known for my upper-body strength, so maybe someone else would have an easier time of it than I did, but if I regularly needed to go from passengers to cargo, the PacificaвЂ™s Stow-N-Go seating would be my vibe. While the third-row seat stows simply, the same canвЂ™t be said of the second row вЂ“ a revised folding mechanism for 2021 makes removing each of the middle-row seats easier, but the captainвЂ™s chairs are still rather unwieldy. I was legitimately surprised with its grip and handling verve on a spontaneous blast down a scenic route.

The Odyssey is about as nimble as youвЂ™d expect of any vehicle wearing that squared-off H badge. A family of four or five would have all the room in the world if they needed it for a long trip. While weвЂ™re back there, cargo space behind the third row is incredible at 32.8 cubic feet, and stowing those chairs is a cinch thanks to the backward-flipping вЂњMagic SeatвЂќ that stows in the deep cargo area for a flat rear load floor. That Sucks: Honda Runs Out Of Vacuum Cleaners For Odyssey Minivan Furthermore, Honda Sensing is also better than last year, thanks to a new radar sensor that offers a low-speed follow function with stop and go, pedestrian detection, and perceptibly better performance in a wider variety of driving situations. Much more importantly, the automaker added its Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technologies to all trims вЂ“ even the $31,790 LX gets features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assistance, and lane departure warning. Obvious changes include newly standard LED headlights on all models, along with a restyled grille, front bumper, and wheels. But the OdysseyвЂ™s age shouldnвЂ™t deter buyers, as Honda applied a conservative spate of improvements that help the not-so-minivan вЂ“ seriously, itвЂ™s longer than a Chevy Tahoe вЂ“ appeal to families looking for space, comfort, and efficiency. WhatвЂ™s New, Gumshoe?Дў021 brings a facelift to the popular Honda minivan, which has been on sale since 2018 in its current form. All that in a vehicle that also offers a built-in vacuum. To my surprise, I found myself enjoying the spacious, comfortable, smooth, and light-on-its-feet Odyssey about 70 percent as much as any of those far sportier steeds. For context, the day Honda dropped the Elite-trim minivan in my driveway, I had access to both my personal roadster, my boyfriendвЂ™s E90-generation 330i, and a Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 (review coming soon). If that modern-day Family Truckster is the 2021 Odyssey, at least I wonвЂ™t have to sacrifice too much driving fun for school-dropoff convenience.

2021 honda odyssey review