Honda’s 2018 model year is off to a great start. The 2018 Honda Odyssey will be the fifth generation of the company’s popular people carrier, commonly referred to as a minivan. The negative connotation of the minivan, on the other hand, feels out of place with the 2018 Odyssey.
Despite the fact that the fourth generation was only released for the 2017 model year, Honda did not hold back in providing a full range of brand new features for the new Odyssey. We suspect they were inspired by the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, which managed to remove at least some of the “soccer mom” stigma. This means you can look forward to new safety and technology features, a polished exterior, and a freshly redesigned interior.
Exterior design
There are new external enhancements for the 2018 Honda Odyssey. Starting at the front, the headlights are sharper and have a type of lightning bolt make-up, giving the Odyssey a more assertive first impression when compared to the 2017 model. The appearance of the new, deeper creased hood adds to this image.
The grille descends deeper and replaces the cheap black plastic outline with an upscale chrome line design. The fog lights get a new, more contemporary housing that would not seem out of place on a luxury SUV.
The profile of the 2018 Odyssey is quite noticeable from the side. The redesigned hood has a more pointed front, and the doors have an intriguing crease line pattern that updates the overall look. The body line decreases gradually towards the rear of the car, which is a step forward from the more blocky design of the 2017 model.
The tail lights are the first thing you’ll notice on the back, and they’re quite similar to those on the Honda Accord sedan. Instead of the boring square-shaped ones found on the fourth generation Odyssey, you’ll find two pincers holding on to a chrome strip that meets the Honda emblem in the middle. The rest of the creases in the rear have been smoothed out, giving it a tighter appearance.
Interior design
Inside the cabin, there are even more improvements, including a whole new dashboard. It’s rounder, smoother, and more in keeping with the current trend for wrap-around dashes. The center stack now has a new 7-inch infotainment screen and a cockpit-style collection of buttons.
The stick shift has been replaced by a modern knob under the infotainment screen, and a start/stop button is located closer to the steering wheel.
The second row of seats comprises two full individual seats as well as a removable center seat. The Honda Magic Slide system allows these seats to be moved back and forth, left and right, and replaces the previous model’s system, which allowed the seats to be folded flat into the floor. The Magic Slide system allows for quick access to the third row seats, which can also be folded into the floor for extra cargo room.
Engine specs
The 2018 Honda Odyssey is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of producing 280 horsepower. This is 32 horsepower more than the 2017 model and only 10 horsepower less than the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica output. The advantage of a slightly lower output is that the fuel efficiency improves, and Honda claims that the Odyssey is the best in its class.
The 2018 Odyssey is offered with two automatic transmission choices. The first is a new nine-speed automatic transmission that is standard on lower trims. The higher trims will include a ten-speed transmission. The Odyssey will be the first people carrier to use a 10-speed transmission, making Honda’s fuel economy goals easier to meet.
Furthermore, the Odyssey‘s weight was significantly reduced as a result of the adoption of lighter materials and a new, lighter chassis.
Tech specs
The infotainment system will be combined with either a seven or eight-inch touchscreen screen in the front. The system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a rear seat entertainment package is available as an option. This will give a separate 10.2 inch screen, a USB port, and 4G LTE WiFi internet connectivity to the rear seat.
Additionally, if the eight-inch screen is chosen, the driver will get a view of the rear seat thanks to a number of cameras aimed at the second and third rows.
Honda improved the driving experience by including “Snow” and “Eco” buttons on the center stack. When traveling in snowy or icy conditions, the Snow button changes the traction control settings, and the Eco button ensures that the minivan is operating at optimal fuel economy settings.
The HondaLink app lets you remotely check the fuel level, lock and unlock the doors, and start the engine using your smartphone.
Safety features
Honda’s famous Sensing Suite, which includes a wide variety of safety features, is also available on the 2018 Honda Odyssey. Unfortunately, Honda passed on the opportunity to make it a standard feature on all trims, which is a shame given that only the base trim lacks it. Traffic safety is critical, and seeing that Honda went so far in all other areas to produce a top-of-the-line car experience, but left the safety department a little underwhelmed.
The Honda Sensing Suite includes essential semi-autonomous functions. There are several features to assist the driver in staying in the correct lane. To round out the included Sensing Suite features, there’s Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking, and Forward Collision Warning. Blind Spot Information, Cross Traffic Monitor, and Automatic High Beam Headlights are additional Sensing features.
Backing sensors and a rear view camera are also available to assist the driver in parking the 2018 Honda Odyssey.
Price & sale date
The lowest trim level, LX, begins at $29,990. The EX trim costs $33,960, which is one trim level higher. Then there’s the EX-L, which costs $37,460, and the EX-L with Navigation and Rear Entertainment System, which costs $39,460. The top trims, Touring and Elite, cost $44,610 and $46,770, respectively.
The 2018 Honda Odyssey is currently available for purchase in the United States. The Odyssey will not cross the Pacific since Europe has less of a market for people carriers or minivans.