2025 Honda Odyssey quick take.
Last Updated:
The Honda Odyssey just got a few upgrades for 2025. Let’s see if they are actually improving the good old Honda Minivan.
Outside, things are mostly the same except for a revised front end. Which does make the Odyssey a little bit smoother looking. The rear bumper has also been redesigned. These are very small visual changes that most people except current Odyssey owners will never notice.
Same thing inside, where things are mostly the same. (The top photo is the 2025 model). The main change is the larger screen, now a 9-inch unit.
The trim running along the dashboard now has a matte finish. Otherwise, it is still some plasticky material that is or isn’t trying to look like wood. It’s hard to tell.
The rest of the interior is basically the same as before. The available rear seat passenger screens are also larger. Almost 13 inches. Which is large enough for a comfortable viewing of the famous 1928 Children’s favorite, “The Man Who Laughs”. As mentioned in my previous review of the Odyssey.
The rear seat is very roomy and the 3rd row is more comfortable than in most 3 rows of SUVs out there.
There is also a large and deep extra cargo area behind the 3rd-row seats. These seats can be folded into the cargo area for a completely flat floor. An impressive and very convenient feature. The photo above shows what cargo is like with the 2nd row up. Which is quite amazing…
What hasn’t changed either is the Odyssey’s fantastic powertrain. And that’s a good thing. The 3.5 Liter Honda V6 is as creamy smooth as ever. Together with a smooth ride and light steering, this actually feels like an old-fashioned luxury car. The Odyssey is truly a luxury ride in many ways.
For some odd reason, my daily City MPG average was better with 17 to 18MPG than the last time I test drove it a few months ago. Still bellow the official 19MPG rating but better than the 14/15 I was getting before.
Freeeway MPG was pretty much the same at around 27. These large and smooth V6 engines are thirsty beast no matter how you slice it. But they’re actually not that much worst than the smaller 4 cylinder turbos.
The current Odyssey has been around since 2017 and it’s really time for a new design. Honda just did a great job with the 2026 Passport. And keeping their great V6 alive in the process.
That means there is hope for a really good looking next-generartion Odyssey…
I’m not a van buyer. But I’m not one of the van phobic either. My extended family has had two Odysseys, and they do their job really well and they’re likeable vehicles – more than most SUVs (I personally hate driving our CRV). If Honda could find a way to keep updating this to include an electric motor and hybrid battery space, while keeping the V6, that would be ideal. But I know this was designed with the Man Maximum, Machine Minimum ethos. So that engine is pretty tightly packaged. Its too bad. Most cars these days look like ugly boxes with edges cut onto them. This has some personality.