Honda Odyssey (2027)

Savagegeese is highly impressed by the Odyssey’s family practicality, despite its dated image and technology. After 6,000 miles of harsh weather, road trips, hauling, and daily use, they found it exceptionally easy to load, configure, and live with, praising its removable Magic Slide® second-row seats, fold-flat third row, quiet V6, smooth ride, and useful space. The trade-offs are meaningful: mediocre fuel economy, front-wheel-drive traction issues, no 360-degree camera, an aging Honda Sensing suite, and styling they consider unattractive. They ultimately prefer the newer, more efficient, all-wheel-drive Toyota Sienna for a one-car family, but enthusiastically endorse the Odyssey as a versatile second vehicle or workhorse.

Brian Wong is strongly impressed by the Honda Odyssey’s family practicality, calling it the clear winner against the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid and Ford Expedition. Hands-on tests showed easier third-row access with child seats installed, highly flexible Magic Slide® second-row seating, removable seats, substantially more cargo space, and the lowest loading height. Sliding doors also let children exit in tight parking spaces, even when adults could not. Wong concedes SUVs remain better for towing and off-road driving, but for everyday family transport, he considers the Odyssey’s utility essentially unbeatable.

Kelly is highly enthusiastic about the Honda Odyssey’s family practicality, especially its car-seat flexibility. She calls the Magic Slide® second-row seats a game changer, praising their side-to-side movement, seat-mounted belts, plentiful tether and lower anchors, removable third-row headrests, roomy cargo area, and easy fold-flat seats. CabinTalk®, storage, sunshades, and ceiling-mounted rear entertainment also earn strong approval. Her reservations are that the redesign is barely meaningful, there’s no hybrid or all-wheel-drive option, CabinWatch® feels limited, the sliding doors lack a convenient exterior button, and second-row vents aren’t ceiling-mounted. Overall, she views the Odyssey as exceptionally versatile for families.

Matt is positive about the Honda Odyssey, calling it the more engaging and practically versatile van despite its efficiency penalty. He praises the smooth, characterful 280-hp V6, comfortable ride, easy maneuverability, Magic Slide® second-row seating, and removable seats, which deliver roughly 148 cubic feet of cargo space—far more than the Sienna. He also appreciates CabinWatch® and CabinTalk®, though he criticizes the Odyssey’s front-wheel-drive-only layout, lower real-world fuel economy, and less advanced technology, including no head-up display, 360-degree camera, or digital rearview mirror. Ultimately, he prefers the Sienna overall for hybrid efficiency and available AWD.

TheTopher is genuinely enthusiastic about the Honda Odyssey, calling it one of the best-packaged family vehicles available. He praises its cavernous, flexible interior, Magic Slide® second-row seats, easy third-row access, physical controls, quiet ride, smooth V-6, strong audio system, and surprisingly lively acceleration. His hands-on winter-weather testing also found the front-drive van stable with suitable tires, though wheelspin was obvious on the test car’s fuel-focused all-seasons. The missing 360-degree camera, dated infotainment, modest lane-keeping performance, and lack of all-wheel drive are meaningful omissions, but they do little to undermine his view that the Odyssey remains an exceptionally practical, comfortable, and enjoyable minivan.

Car Confections is strongly positive about the Honda Odyssey, calling it an exceptionally comfortable and practical family hauler. The review praises its refined V-6, smooth 10-speed automatic, excellent ride, spacious third row, Magic Slide® seating, CabinWatch®, CabinTalk®, and generous cargo capacity. Measured testing supports that confidence, including a 56.5-dB cabin reading and detailed space measurements. Still, the Odyssey feels less feature-rich than rivals: there is no hybrid or all-wheel-drive option, 360-degree camera, panoramic roof, or novelty equipment such as a vacuum. Overall, it is recommended for families prioritizing comfort and usability over flashy extras.

Kelley Blue Book is warmly positive about the Honda Odyssey, calling it an aging but still compelling family hauler. Its practical formula remains strong: smooth 280-hp V-6 power, easy-to-use sliding doors, flexible Magic Slide® seating, adult-friendly third-row space, abundant storage, and useful family tech such as CabinWatch® and CabinTalk®. The review is playful and enthusiastic about road-trip details, including removable second-row seating and clever cargo-area seating. It acknowledges the Odyssey’s older generation and gas-only powertrain, but concludes that its safety equipment, resale value, spaciousness, and everyday usability make it a strong alternative to hybrid minivans and three-row SUVs.

Shari Prymak views the 2027 Honda Odyssey positively, ranking it just behind the Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna. He credits its proven 3.5-liter V6, smooth and quiet ride, roomy cabin, family-friendly flexibility, and stronger reliability and resale prospects than the Pacifica or Carnival. The Odyssey’s removable second-row seats and practical interior appeal, though they are less convenient than Chrysler’s Stow ’n Go system. Its main limitations are front-wheel drive only, mediocre fuel economy, and a relatively unchanged design. Overall, it’s a sensible, financially defensible choice, though not the comparison’s standout winner.

Honda Insider is highly positive about the Odyssey, calling it a trusted family companion after nearly three years and 70,000 miles. Their real-world ownership included road trips, snow, sports gear, dogs, and two children, with praise for the smooth V6, roomy cargo area, durable interior, Magic Slide second-row seats, and thoughtfully protected power sliding doors. Criticisms include confusing second-row handles, awkward rear-seat controls, an aging 8-inch touchscreen, occasionally overzealous lane-departure alerts, and missing premium features such as a 360-degree camera or hybrid AWD. Despite those caveats, they would confidently buy another Odyssey.

Omar Rana is highly enthusiastic about the Honda Odyssey, calling its family-focused versatility “minivan Tetris.” He admires the removable second-row middle seat, flexible third-row seating and tailgating mode, rear entertainment, Cabin Watch, Cabin Talk, physical climate controls, and comfortable heated and ventilated seats. He also appreciates that the $42,000 EX-L retains most useful features without the $52,000 Touring price. His main criticism is that no Odyssey trim offers a 360-degree camera, while the minivan styling earns only a jokingly reluctant defense. Overall, it feels like a confident, upbeat recommendation for practical families.

Pushing Pistons is highly enthusiastic about the 2027 Honda Odyssey’s clever family-focused design. The video showcases a reversible third-row seat for tailgating, removable and sliding second-row seating, and practical touches like cup holders, USB-C ports, sunshades, and extra legroom. Up front, Cabin Watch and Passenger Talk make supervising and communicating with children easier, while storage and charging features add convenience. The presentation is playful and strongly positive, though it focuses almost entirely on features and offers no meaningful drawbacks or ownership critique.