2020 Honda Odyssey Review

Name: 2020 Honda Odyssey Review
Brand: Honda
Price: 22445 USD

Honda Odyssey Elite Passenger Minivan Exterior Shown

+418

Some cringe at the thought of owning and driving a minivan. But you can't deny that this is the most efficient way to move people and cargo in just about any setting. The Honda Odyssey raises the segment bar by offering nimble handling, modern tech, gads of interior space, and ever-increasing levels of luxury and convenience as you move up the trim levels.

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2020 Honda Odyssey Review

byChristian Wardlaw^{Correspondent
Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at Edmunds and was the first editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.}

Pros

Configurable second-row seats are very useful
Packed with modern safety and tech features
Strong V6 engine and stable handling make it enjoyable to drive

Cons

Second-row seats can be hard to remove
No power-folding third-row seats
360-degree camera is not on the options list

What's new

10-speed automatic transmission now standard across the board
Part of the fifth Odyssey generation introduced for 2018

Overview

The 2020 Honda Odyssey marks 25 years since the popular minivan entered production. Consider that impressive milestone for a minute. The Odyssey, like a handful of other popular minivans, has survived the SUV Era of the late 1990s/mid-2000s, the Crossover Era (present) and today's much-mulled Decline of the Sedan Era. As much as many buyers say they can't stomach the thought of driving a minivan, someone is buying them.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Honda Odyssey LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$190/mo

$225/mo

Avg. Large Minivan

Calculate my fuel costs

It's not hard to see why. Minivans offer unparalleled comfort and cargo versatility. No SUV can touch them for ease of use or flexibility. From low step-in heights to walkable aisles and floor space to near-luxury features and technology, today's minivan is an almost no-compromise solution for families large and small.

The Odyssey sits at the top of that class with a slew of features that make life easier, such as configurable second-row seats and a zoomable, night-vision-equipped cabin camera that makes checking on your rear passengers a cinch. Anyone can cram in a load of features, though. What sets the Odyssey apart is its smooth-operating V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission and its alert, stable handling that makes it feel more like driving a sedan than a truck or SUV. It's not by coincidence that today's Odyssey sits atop our Edmunds rankings for minivans.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.0/10

How does the Odyssey drive? If there's such a thing as a "driver's car" among minivans, the Honda Odyssey is it. A strong V6 engine delivers plenty of power while the van's precise steering and stable handling instill confidence at higher speeds and on tighter roads. Even with passengers aboard, the Odyssey gets up to highway speed in no time, needing just 7.6 seconds for 0-60 mph in our tests.

The suspension can also handle bumpy roads without feeling overwhelmed, and the 10-speed transmission operates with swift and unobtrusive gear changes. Standard paddle shifters are a nice touch if you want to shift for yourself.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the Odyssey? The Odyssey excels at comfort in all three rows. The front seats are supportive and perfect for logging miles, while the second and third rows offer enough room for kids and adults. (You won't want to keep adults in the very back for too long, though, since footroom is a little tight.) The suspension shakes off bumps pretty well, but the ride is firmer than you might expect, even more so with the Elite's 19-inch wheels, and the van can get a little jittery over rough pavement.

Despite the firmer ride, the Odyssey is quiet on the highway. Credit goes to the active noise cancellation system and noise-reducing glass on the Odyssey's upper trims. Only on broken asphalt and rough concrete roads did we experience some tire noise.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? A minivan should make your life easier, and the Odyssey comes through. The sliding rear doors beat a crossover's traditional doors for ease of use, and slipping into the front seats is effortless. The sliding and reclining second-row seat also provides superb access to the third row. Both the driver's seat and the steering column offer a wide range of adjustment, and finding a natural driving position is a cinch.

Mediocre visibility is the only downside. It's hard to gauge space around the front of the car, and the second-row headrests block over-the-shoulder views. Front pillars and mirrors are typically bulky. Honda should offer a surround-view camera here.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? An 8-inch display, large icons and a snappy response make the Odyssey's infotainment system easy and enjoyable to use (standard on the EX and higher). When you don't feel like touching the screen, use voice commands to control navigation, front-row entertainment and calling functions, or summon your iPhone or Android voice assistants through the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections. An onboard Wi-Fi hotspot helps keep everyone connected on the go, although it's only available on the top two trim levels. A rear-cabin camera and intercom are also useful.

Driver aids are a mixed bag. Adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist aren't that refined, but lane departure and blind-spot warnings work well.

Storage

9.0/10

How’s the storage? Few vehicles can beat a minivan for cargo space and utility. The Odyssey has an above-average amount of cargo space, nearly 156 cubic feet at maximum capacity. You'll need to remove the second-row seats to clear all that room, and that's a tough task given the weight and awkward shape of the seats. A deep storage well behind the third row is useful for grocery bags and loose items. There's also ample room in the door pockets and deep bins all around the cabin for personal items.

The car seat anchor points for child seats are easily accessible in the second- and third-row seats. And the second-row sliding function comes in very handy when installing a large or bulky child seat.

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA puts the Odyssey Elite's fuel economy at 22 mpg combined (19 city/28 highway), which is about in line with the segment. During our mix of driving, we ranged from 14 to 24 mpg, achieving 21 mpg on our fuel loop, somewhat less than advertised.

Value

7.0/10

Is the Odyssey a good value? The Odyssey Elite trim level that we tested is pricey, no question. But the fundamentals of the Odyssey are available for much less if you can live without tech features such as active noise cancellation or a rear-seat vacuum cleaner. If you simply need maximum people-moving space, even the base LX captures the Odyssey's best qualities: smooth power, comfortable seating and an open, airy cabin.

Compared to its EPA rating, we saw slightly less fuel efficiency from the Odyssey during our testing. It's rated at 22 mpg combined, but we got anywhere from 14 to 24 mpg. However, it came closest with a steady diet of highway miles. Inside, the Odyssey is very well put-together.

Wildcard

8.0/10

Most buyers think of minivans primarily as family movers. And they indeed excel in this role. But the Odyssey's range of qualities will appeal to drivers of many stripes, including empty nesters, tech-savvy drivers, outdoor enthusiasts, home project enthusiasts, musicians and film professionals. Anyone needing to move people or equipment will appreciate the Odyssey's space and cargo versatility.

Which Odyssey does Edmunds recommend?

The EX hits the spot if you're on a budget. For not much more money than the base trim LX, you get active safety features and driver aids, conveniences such as power-sliding doors and three-zone climate control, and the desirable second-row Magic Slide seats. If you're looking for more, try the Touring, which gives you tons of extra features — including a built-in vacuum cleaner and a rear-seat monitoring system.

2020 Honda Odyssey models

The 2020 Odyssey comes in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Elite. But in typical Honda fashion, there aren't any packages or factory-installed options offered aside from a navigation and rear-seat entertainment upgrade for the EX-L. So to find the Odyssey you want, you'll need to pick a trim that matches your desired features and budget.

All Odysseys are equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 (280 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

The Odyssey LX is a good platform if you want minivan versatility at the best price. It comes with a robust list of standard features, including automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split folding third-row seat, a 5-inch central display, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, two USB ports and a seven-speaker sound system.

Moving up to the EX starts to make life easier, adding features such as power-sliding rear doors, three-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and enhanced sliding second-row seats with a removable center seat. The EX also tacks on more tech, including an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a host of driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.

The EX-L notches up the luxury factor with a sunroof, a noise-reducing windshield, a power liftgate and leather upholstery. As an upgrade, an EX-L subtrim (EX-L with Advanced Navi and RES) adds a navigation system, a 10.2-inch overhead display in the second row, and a Blu-ray player. This version of the EX-L also has a cabin intercom system, which broadcasts the driver's or front passenger's voice to the rear seating areas.

The Touring takes things up with front and rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, an integrated vacuum cleaner, a rear-cabin camera monitoring system (CabinWatch), and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Elite trim tops it off with luxuries such as ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging and a premium audio system.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#7 out of 14 among Minivans

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Honda Odyssey from 2008-2022.}

$508/yr

vs. $549/yr
for Average Minivan

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.51x/yr

vs. 1.47x/yr
for Average Minivan

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

14.1%

vs. 12.5%
for Average Minivan

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Honda Odyssey.

5 (50%)

4 (10%)

3 (0%)

2 (8%)

1 (32%)

3.4

50 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 50 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

"Automatic idle stop" not a fan

Steve R., 12/17/2019

2020 Honda Odyssey EX-L 4dr Minivan w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

Great car. Very sound. Quietest honda we have owned, we've had 5. Smooth responsive engine/ transmission. Would have knocked off a star for having the motor shut off at every stop. But since you can over ride that function by pressing a button, although you have to do that every time you start the motor we let it slide.

Multiple service visits within first year: Caution

Chris K, 09/12/2020

2020 Honda Odyssey Elite 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

UPDATE 2: Dropped from 3-stars to 1-star at around 12k miles. UPDATE 1: Dropped from 4-stars to 3-stars to 1-star now (8k miles). Summary: I didn't know Honda could have so many problems. Will not buy another Honda Minivan. What is the point of the Elite trim? I've been to the shop too many times for this 2020 Honda Odyssey Elite and am getting more uncomfortable with each visit. My … primary two concerns: 1) Electronics 2) Transmission **Electronics** I've had to bring the vehicle in TWICE already to fix the static pop issues in less than a year. The static pops can get loud enough to make me want to open the window. This is reported as a known issue. Parking Sensors: The parking sensors just started screwing up around 12,000 miles. While driving it just starts beeping madly as if something is right in front of the sensor. I went outside to inspect and there is nothing there. I use the parking sensors to fit into my garage and navigate tight drive-thru lanes, so disappointing that these are already not working right. I still need to take to shop for this. CabinWatch Camera: The interior cabin camera seems to always freeze up. They just fixed it due to a recall, so I'll monitor. *UPDATE* this has been working better lately. Auto-high beams don't seem to work. They worked perfect on my prior Honda CRV. I manually operate my high-beams. While a minor issue, what is the point of the feature? Wireless charger: the phone has to be just right. Makes it a pain as opposed to something I could just set down and forget. I just plug my phone in now instead of using wireless charging. Major recall with power/fire risk issue, was fixed but concerning. Other electronics recalls have occurred. A total of 5 related recall/issues surrounding electronics so far. **Transmission** Transmission recently started jerky/stutter in downshift between 30-40mph. When brought to service center, was noted that "commonly reported by customers" but is "typical of the vehicle" - this was not present when I first purchased the vehicle and it sounds like the transmission problems from the 2014-2015 series Honda Odyssey. This really makes the driving experience unpleasant as I am often in that speed range in the city. UPDATE: This seems to be slowly getting worse. I just hit 12k miles at my 1st year of ownership. UPDATE: For the recall fixes round 2, I had to wait a few weeks for some parts to come in.

Computer issues 30 DAYS after purchase!

MDaniel, 06/26/2020

2020 Honda Odyssey EX-L 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

As a long time Honda owner I am EXTREMELY infuriated with the fact that I am already having an issue with a brand new vehicle. Purchased a 2020 Odyssey on May 26, 2020 and on June 25, 2020 the audio just stopped working mid drive. I get home, turn the car completely off and the display would not turn off. After troubleshooting over the phone to no avail we have had to physically taken it …

Ody Love!

Scott Maggers, 05/28/2020

2020 Honda Odyssey EX-L 4dr Minivan w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

Like many others, my wife didn’t want to take the dive into being a minivan mom, but the Odyssey legit makes life easier and better. There are so many things to love about this van from the magic sliding 2nd row, to the hideaway 3rd row (great for Costco runs), Apple CarPlay, all the safety features, and 280hp engine. The 10 speed tranny is very smooth and crisp. We opted for the EXL w …

See all 50 reviews of the Honda Odyssey

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2020 Odyssey Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$30,690
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$190/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	38.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Odyssey models:

Lane Keeping Assist System: Informs you if you start to drift out of your lane and can help steer you back. Standard on the EX and above.
Collision Mitigation Braking System: Monitors what's ahead of you, warns about potential collisions and can automatically apply the brakes. Also standard on the EX and above.
HondaLink: Bundles various telematic features such as roadside assistance and automatic collision notification. Standard on the EX and above.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover13.6%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 Honda Odyssey Review

2020 Honda Odyssey Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Honda Odyssey LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Odyssey does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Honda Odyssey models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

"Automatic idle stop" not a fan

Multiple service visits within first year: Caution

Computer issues 30 DAYS after purchase!

Ody Love!

2020 Odyssey Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Honda Odyssey LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}