The current generation Honda Odyssey has been a strong presence in the minivan segment since it made its initial debut in Detroit a few years ago. But age is starting to catch up to the Odyssey, and Honda has unveiled a reworked version that not only enhances its good looks, but also manages to cram in more new technology at the same time.
Slated to make its appearance at the 2020 New York Auto Show (barring a coronavirus related cancellation) the Odyssey retains much of the core elements of the old van, but Honda designers have made some aesthetic improvements to keep it in the minds of minivan shoppers. This includes revised LED headlights with the units now sporting a more distinctive look, as well as relocated running lights which have now been moved to the outer corners. The grille is now mainly black, but a chrome strip on top spans the entire width of the vehicle. The tweaked lower fascia only features a single inlet, and the fog lights are now arranged in a stacked pattern in the corners. Gloss black trim lurks underneath the rear window, and the range topping Elite model now features redesigned 19-inch wheels and auto dimming side mirrors.
Honda’s Honda Sensing system is now standard on all Odyssey trims, and it even gains adaptive cruise control and pedestrian braking to bolster its arsenal of drivers assistance technologies. Meanwhile, the Odyssey also gets in on the recent trend of adding rear seat reminder that sounds an audible chime to alert the driver to double check the rear seat to make sure they do not leave a child or a pet in the rear of the Odyssey when they are out doing errands. As a bonus, Touring and Elite trims include the CabinWatch camera so they can have an extra eye of what’s going on in the rear seats via a small camera.
The rest of the interior undergoes a more subtle transformation, with Honda changing the design of the climate controls, and the second row seats are now easier to move and are less of a bear to pull out when it comes time to remove them. EX grade and above models gain nifty tri-color floormats and illuminated USB ports to help passengers find them at night. EX-L and above models ratchet up the luxury slightly, and include leather seats with contrast stitching, power lumbar support for the front passenger seat, and storage pockets in the seatbacks for the second row occupants. The other key changes are found in the Elite model with that model now featuring perforated leather seats for the first and second row which could be a nod to the rather opulent thrones in its chief domestic equivalent the Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle model.
Amid all of these changes, the performance hardware is left untouched, with the Odyssey still being powered by a 3.5 liter V6 that makes 280 horsepower and is still mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Look for more information to be revealed closer to its official debut which includes more images, with Hinda choosing to only release two teaser images in its initial press material for the van.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.