2021 Honda Odyssey Review

Name: 2021 Honda Odyssey
Brand: Honda

Price Range: $16,586 - $40,990

Honda Odyssey Elite Passenger Minivan Exterior Shown

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

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. And among minivans, the 2021 Honda Odyssey does it the best. It offers nimble handling, modern technology, gobs of interior space, and pleasing levels of luxury and convenience.

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Average price: $31,144

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Appraise My 2021 Honda Odyssey

Honda Odyssey model years

Honda Odyssey for Sale

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

Mediocre fuel economy
No power-folding third-row seats
Overly vigilant forward collision warning system is frustrating

What's new

Mild styling update
Lightly refreshed interior
Honda Sensing suite of driving aids now standard
Part of the fifth Odyssey generation introduced for 2018

Overview

Written by automotive expert Cameron Rogers

9/1/2020

Your choices are relatively limited if you're in the market for a minivan. Luckily for you, the 2021 Honda Odyssey is so much better than the rest that your search can start and end here. The Odyssey does all the minivan stuff well — there's plenty of passenger and cargo room, and its V6 has plenty of sauce to move this eight-passenger vehicle with authority.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

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2021 Honda Odyssey
Touring Passenger Minivan
$30,500
great price
$2,840 below market
- 45,629 miles
- 8 Seats, 19 City / 28 Hwy MPG
- 19 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
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Located in Manassas, VA
** OVER 30,000 VEHICLES SOLD, TWO LOCATION TO SERVE YOU, 400+ VEHICLES IN STOCK, visit www.AlphaMS.com to view our inventory, BEST PRICES IN TOWN ** N...
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
5FNRL6H83MB008659
Stock:
S008659
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Price Drop
2021 Honda Odyssey
Touring Passenger Minivan
$33,998
- 56,792 miles
- 8 Seats, 19 City / 28 Hwy MPG
- 3 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Sterling, VA
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency and pricing without document or processing fees. Certain cars may hav...
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
5FNRL6H86MB002497
Stock:
70046446
Certified Pre-Owned:
No

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We're also impressed with the amount of technology present. The upper trim levels feature a vacuum cleaner hidden in the cargo area, an intercom system so you can speak to passengers without raising your voice, and an interior camera system, which is handy for keeping an eye on rowdy backseat passengers.

The 2021 model year brings mild upgrades to the Odyssey. Honda restyled the grille to mimic those on the Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pickup truck. The Honda Sensing suite of active safety features and driving aids is now standard on all models. The interior also reflects mild upgrades, including perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping on the Elite model. These small revisions only help cement the Odyssey's status as the preeminent minivan in the class.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.1

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Honda Odyssey on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8/10

How does the Odyssey drive? The Odyssey just might be the exception where it is OK to use the words "minivan" and "fun" in the same sentence. Its V6 engine offers enough power for your merging and passing needs even when you've got the cabin full of passengers. In our testing, the Odyssey Elite accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, essentially an average time for a V6-powered minivan.

Precise steering and stable braking and handling give the Odyssey a confident presence both on the highway and along tighter roads. Is the Odyssey sporty? Not really. But it is well sorted and enjoyable to drive. Everything feels cohesive.

A smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission unobtrusively chooses the proper gear for the situation. Standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are nice if you want to shift for yourself. If we had to nitpick, it'd be that the engine stop-start system (it turns the engine off at stoplights to save fuel) is a bit unrefined, but it can be disabled.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the Odyssey? The Odyssey is slightly ahead of its peers in yet another area. The front seats are great for logging miles on extended drives. The second-row seats are equally suited for kids or adults. Third-row legroom is limited, but two grown-ups can survive back there for shorter distances. Our Odyssey Elite's 19-inch wheels likely gave it a firmer ride than the smaller available wheel options (smaller wheels mean more absorbent tire sidewalls). But generally speaking, there aren't many bumps the Honda can't absorb with ease.

Honda deserves credit for its noise-reduction efforts, and the Odyssey is the quietest minivan in the segment by our measurements. The available cabin intercom also lets you bypass the low-level road noise. A microphone picks up your voice and broadcasts it to the rear of the van via the speakers or through the rear entertainment system's headsets. Now you can say "Stop touching your sister!" without having to turn your head around to shout it.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? A minivan should make your life easier, and the Odyssey does. Sliding rear doors will always beat the traditional doors of a crossover SUV when it comes to getting kids in and out. The height of the first two rows of seats makes them easy to slide right into. The second-row seats recline and also slide sideways with only moderate effort, allowing superior 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. Those with longer legs, however, might wish for extended thigh support from the lower cushion. Our biggest gripe is the mediocre visibility up front and over the shoulder. The windshield roof pillars and side mirrors are bulky. And while the rearview cameras are nice, a surround-view camera would be optimal. Honda doesn't offer one.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Honda's infotainment system has big virtual buttons and snappy responses. You can customize the layout of the screen's virtual buttons. The Garmin-based navigation graphics and menus, though, seem archaic compared to newer systems. And some operations, including voice commands, are a little hard to figure out. We preferred to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps instead during our testing.

The tech in the Odyssey is hit-and-miss. The rear cabin camera monitor (in lieu of the sunglass mirror) and cabin intercom are certainly useful. But some of the advanced driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, respond sluggishly and are prone to false positives. We avoided using them.

Storage

9/10

How’s the storage? Few vehicles can best a minivan here. The storage well behind the third row is deep and perfect for grocery bags. The third-row seats are lifted and lowered manually, which requires a little muscle, but the strap handle system is easy enough to use. The Odyssey has a larger max capacity, at 155.8 cubic feet, than both the Sienna and the Pacifica. The second-row seats are bulky and hard to remove, yet their side-to-side adjustability is a helpful storage solution if you don't need a fully flat floor.

When it comes to installing car seats, the Odyssey sets the bar. Not only are the lower car-seat anchors extremely accessible, but booster-age kids will also find it easy to put on their own belts.

Fuel Economy

6/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Odyssey Elite's fuel economy at 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is average for a minivan. On our 115-mile evaluation route, which is primarily composed of highway driving, we observed 21 mpg. This indicates the Odyssey might underperform with respect to the EPA's estimates.

Value

7.5/10

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.

Warranty-wise, Honda is on par with competitors — most offer three years/36,000 miles of basic and five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Roadside assistance is also typical and provided for the length of the basic warranty.

Wildcard

8/10

As a kid-mobile, the versatility of a minivan is unbeatable. As road trip transport for five or six adults, the Odyssey is nearly as accommodating. And for the weekend home improvement warrior, it's a cavernous, lockable space for all your stuff. Not convinced it's cool? This one also drives like a car and has flexible seating, USB ports galore and in-cabin tech to keep everyone entertained.

2021 Honda Odyssey trim level differences

The 2021 Odyssey is a family-friendly minivan available in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Elite. All are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 (280 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) powering the front wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. The LX comes with second-row captain's chairs, allowing seating for seven. All others come installed with a removable middle seat to increase capacity to eight. Compare the 2021 Honda Odyssey trim levels in-depth.

Which Odyssey trim does Edmunds recommend?

Consider going with the EX. It gets you plenty of useful features at an affordable price. Its tri-zone climate control, additional middle-row seat, blind-spot monitor and smartphone integration systems (among many other features) are well worth the extra cost over the base LX. The special features found on the Touring and Elite, such as the integrated vacuum cleaner and a rear intercom system, make family life easier, but they're certainly not essential.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$196/mo

$240/mo

Avg. Large Minivan

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Reliability

The 2021 Honda Odyssey has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 8 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #7 out of 14 among Minivans. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above 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

$508/yr

vs. $549/yr
for Average Minivan

Frequency

1.51x/yr

vs. 1.47x/yr
for Average Minivan

Severity

14.1%

vs. 12.5%
for Average Minivan

Recalls

8 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 26V332000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: Refer to C
Manufactured from:: 2016-06-29 to
Number of vehicles affected:: 98892
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Defect Consequence:: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

Recall Number:: 26V227000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: UNW
Manufactured from:: 2017-01-24 to 2022-06-03
Number of vehicles affected:: 440830
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Odyssey vehicles. A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly.
Defect Consequence:: Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will reprogram the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) software or replace the ECU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UNW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 16, 2026. The information in your report suggests that Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.

Recall Number:: 25V877000
Number of vehicles affected:: 1019
Defect Description:: Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
Defect Consequence:: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.

Recall Number:: 24V064000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: XHP, VHQ
Number of vehicles affected:: 750114
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Defect Consequence:: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, and October 18, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

Recall Number:: 23V858000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: KGC, KGD
Number of vehicles affected:: 2490460
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Defect Consequence:: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Recall Number:: 23V431000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: EEL, ZEM,
Number of vehicles affected:: 1209673
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Defect Consequence:: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.

Recall Number:: 23V174000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: FE5
Number of vehicles affected:: 339404
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Defect Consequence:: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed May 11, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.

Recall Number:: 21V010000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: N/A
Number of vehicles affected:: 1258
Defect Description:: Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Braun-modified Honda Odyssey vehicles. The fuel tank assembly installed by Braun may be susceptible to the fuel tank overfilling into the charcoal canister. If the charcoal canister fills with a sufficient amount of fuel, fuel may leak out.
Defect Consequence:: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Corrective Action:: Braun will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles. If evidence of a fuel leak is present, a new fuel tank assembly and a new Honda charcoal canister will be installed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 10, 2021. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Honda Odyssey Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.3

36 reviews

5(39%)

4(17%)

3(14%)

2(0%)

1(30%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2021 Honda Odyssey video

2021 Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna — Minivan Comparison: Who Has the Best Family Vehicle?

In this video, our experts compare the most popular minivans on the market, the 2021 Honda Odyssey and the 2021 Honda Odyssey. How well do these two family vehicles compare to each other and which one is a better fit for you and your family? We answer this question and more in this popular minivan comparison test.

2021 Odyssey Features & Specs

Trim:

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$31,790
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$196/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	38.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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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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