The name Odyssey comes from the story of Odysseus’s long voyage home. And just as that ancient Greek hero found his way home in a world filled with hazards, so too will the Honda Odyssey get you and your family safe and sound wherever you roam. The Honda Odyssey is consistently ranked first or second in virtually every critic’s list of minivans. In this preview guide, we’ll explore why the latest iteration of this minivan is a favorite.
What’s New for 2020?
The year 2020 marks a quarter century of the Odyssey nameplate. In celebration, a commemorative 25th Anniversary package injects more chrome into the minivan and offers larger 19-inch wheels. On top of that, the formerly optional 10-speed automatic transmission including automatic stop-start and push-button start is now standard on all 2020 Odysseys. This replaces the 9-speed transmission that was standard in years past.
Peace of Mind
Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2020 Honda Odyssey stellar ratings in safety crash tests. NHTSA gave five out of five stars, while the IIHS gave the Odyssey their best rating of Good in all crash rating categories. Truly, this is a very secure drive when you’re carrying the loves of your life.
A multi-angle rearview camera is standard across the board. But we recommend upgrading to the Odyssey EX trim level or higher to grab a laundry list of active safety features, including park assist, blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert, and the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features. Honda Sensing includes pre-collision braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, road departure warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.
Cavernous Cabin Space
Naturally, there’s a lot of seating - eight seats on three rows. This is a minivan, after all. And that does have its perks. Everyone sits comfortably, thanks to ample head- and legroom on all three rows. And, thanks to the Magic Slide feature, the second row slides quickly and effortlessly to find the perfect balance between second-row and third-row legroom.
There’s also a tremendous amount of storage space, 39 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 92 cubic feet behind the second row, and 158 cubic feet behind the first row. This van is ready to take you, your kids, and your stuff wherever you need it.
All of this, and we haven’t even gotten to the strong engines, abundant tech features, the fit-and-finish cabin, or the infotainment system. Let’s just say that many more reasons exist to buy the 2020 Honda Odyssey. Try one out and see the rest for yourself.
*Any MPG listed is based on model year EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid only) and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml.
** Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program. Model tested with standard side airbags (SABs). For additional information on the 5-Star Safety Ratings program, please visit www.safercar.gov.