Honda launched the facelifted minivan "Odyssey" (2025 New Odyssey) in the domestic market after four years. The new model, which enhances practicality and infotainment features such as rear seats and cargo space, aims to compete with Kia Carnival, which has dominated the North American family car market.
The New Odyssey is a facelift model of the fourth-generation Odyssey, which was released in 2021. The Odyssey, which was first launched in 1994, is a representative family car that sells more than 100,000 units annually in North America. It is positioned to target the domestic minivan market, which is virtually dominated by the Carnival, while competing with Toyota Sienna for the top two spots.
The vehicle's exterior shows no significant differences from the previous model unless examined closely. The angular lines are emphasized on the front end and bumper, giving the overall image a sleek look. There is also an impression of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). The vehicle dimensions are 5,250 mm in length, 1,995 mm in width, 1,765 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 3,000 mm, with only a slight increase in length from the previous model (5,235 mm), while the other dimensions remain the same.
Changes in the interior space and convenience features are more noticeable than those in the exterior. With a wheelbase reaching 3 meters, the interior space is ample. The seats, previously in a single brown color, now feature a brown-black two-tone design for a more sophisticated feel. The display size on the driver's seat has been increased, and performance improvements have been made in audio and wireless consolidation.
True to being a model symbolizing family cars, the New Odyssey focused on enhancing the utility of the rear seats and cargo space. The monitor located at the top of the second row has increased to the largest size in its class at 12.8 inches. During a test drive covering about 150 km round-trip from Gangnam in Seoul to Chuncheon in Gangwon Province, I sat in the second row for part of the journey, and after connecting my smartphone and headphones, videos from YouTube and Netflix played without interruption.
The second-row seats feature a magic slide function that allows movement in all directions by pressing a side button. It is also possible to detach and reattach the seats, but they were somewhat heavy for an adult woman to carry. The third row can fold completely by pulling a strap, but it required considerable effort due to the weight of the seats, making it not so simple.
With physical distance between the seats in the cabin and many instances of young children being passengers, features such as cabin watch and cabin talk, which allow the driver to monitor the second and third-row situations, were useful. When the cabin watch is activated, videos of the second and third-row spaces can be viewed in real-time on the driver's display. Cabin talk allows for communication with second and third-row passengers through speakers and headphones like an in-flight announcement.
Safety features include advanced driver assistance systems such as collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assistance, and lane departure prevention, along with the addition of seatbelt reminder functions for the second and third rows. If passengers in the rear seats do not wear seatbelts while driving, a warning sound will go off, which is useful when there are passengers who require attention, such as children and the elderly.
Overall driving performance is not heavy compared to the body size, and the ride quality is smooth and stable. Coupled with rear seat entertainment features and ample cargo space, long-distance driving with many people and luggage seems manageable. The vehicle equipped with a gasoline engine delivers a maximum output of 284 horsepower and a maximum torque of 36.2 kg·m. The official fuel efficiency is 9 km/L combined, 7.7 km/L in the city, and 11.2 km/L on the highway.
Assuming it competes with the Carnival, which is the undisputed number one in the domestic minivan market, the price competitiveness of the New Odyssey is relatively weak. The sale price of the vehicle launched as the Elite single trim is 62.9 million won. The price of the 2025 model Carnival 9-seater introduced by Kia last year starts from 35 million won for gasoline, 37 million won for diesel, and 40 million won for hybrid.