2016 Honda Odyssey

The 2016 Honda Odyssey comes in five trims LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite. All trims are powered by the same 3.5L V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The van comes in a well-equipped state right from the base LX trim. Moving up the trim ladder adds some creature comfort, convenience, and luxury features while the top-end Touring Elite trim offers some luxury-sedan rivaling entertainment and comfort features.

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We would recommend the EX trim since it offers a long list of features with a mild increase in price over the base trim. You can opt for the SE trim if you need that rear-seat entertainment system at an attractive price.

The 2016 Honda Odyssey is powered by a standard 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine which produces 248 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission plus the front-wheel-drive is standard. The punch from the powertrain is enough for highway passes including everyday driving. The ride is a bit on the firmer side, but the Odyssey manages to combine ride comfort and handling prowess better than most family-haulers.

The Honda Odyssey is quick for a minivan and it does 0 to 60 in just 6.6 seconds. The Odyssey inspires you when it comes to braking and just takes 127 feet to stop from 60 mph which is similar to other vehicles in this segment. The Toyota Sienna offers the maximum power and torque figures here at an aggressive price point but the Honda Odyssey is the quickest one. All other minivans take more than 7 seconds to the 60mph mark.

The 2016 Honda Odyssey is the fuel economy champ as it returns a pretty decent fuel efficiency ratings. Technologies like Variable Cylinder Management, which shuts off cylinders depending upon driving conditions for maximum fuel efficiency helps to attain the 22 mpg of combined mileage.

None of the rivals are very far off from the Odyssey in terms of fuel economy. The Toyota Sienna truly impresses with its EPA ratings of 22 MPG, given the power output figures from its motor while the Kia Sedona disappoints a bit with its lower fuel economy ratings of 20 MPG. However, its fuel tank of 21.1 gallons, helps it make up in the range covered.

The Honda Odyssey is quite spacious from the inside and uses every possible seating configuration for passengers. The 3rd-row "Magic Seat" splits 60/40, folding into the floor with one pull, while the 2nd-row seats can slide outward 1.5 inches, permitting three child safety seats to be placed side by side. The seats are wide and comfortable with good support all day long.

Odyssey might be well-styled but is a big box on the wheels. Its square shape and a low load floor mean more cargo space. The third row folds into the floor and the middle row can be completely removed for exceptional cargo capacity. The Toyota Sienna takes the topper’s medal here with its most spacious cabin and huge cargo space of 150 cubic feet on offer. Some interior features are:

• 10-way power-adjustable driver seat
• Heated Front Bucket Seats
• Reclining Rear Seat 
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Active noise cancellation
• HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter

How intuitive is the 2016 Honda Odyssey’s infotainment unit?

The 2016 Honda Odyssey gets a standard 8-inch infotainment display which also offers most of the basic connectivity and entertainment features. The user interface is fluid with crisp images and a user-friendly layout. Some of the standard features include a seven-speaker audio system with a CD player, Pandora compatibility, an auxiliary audio input jack among other features. Some of the infotainment features are:

• 8.1-inch HondaLink touchscreen infotainment display
• 12 speaker Premium Audio System
• Honda satellite-linked navigation system
• SiriusXM Satellite radio
• FM Traffic Real-Time Traffic Display
• Rear-seat Entertainment System
• Bluetooth HandsFreeLink

The 2016 Honda Odyssey is basically a stylish box on wheels, yet Honda has managed to add some elements of visual interest for a buyer’s liking. It is attractive or not depends on you as the design is always subjective. The front fascia looks much-inspired from the sedan lineup. The side profile has distinctive body lines with a kink at the B pillar which increases visibility for third-row passengers. The rear fascia is somewhat bland and a chrome band joins the two taillamps, not to forget it has got a spoiler too.

The Kia Sedona gets the most aggressive front-end design but looks like any other minivan in the segment with the traditional boxy design language. While the Honda Odyssey is the longest minivan measuring 202.9 inches, the 2016 Sedona has the longest wheelbase of 120.5 inches. It also has highway ground clearance, however, it is the 2016 Toyota Sienna that at 68.9 inches is the tallest minivan available. Some exterior features are:

• LED Brakelights
• Power Sliding Rear Doors
• Lip Spoiler
• Power Heated Side Mirrors
• Sunroof
• Chrome Door Handles
• 18-inch Alloy Wheels

The 2016 Honda Odyssey bagged some excellent crash scores from the IIHS and the NHTSA. The federal organization awarded the vehicle with a perfect 5-star rating while the IIHS gave the van the most prestigious “Top Safety Pick+” award. Some of the standard safety features include front-seat side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags for all three rows, and front-seat active head restraints. Some of the safety features are:

• Forward Collision Warning (FCW )
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW )
• Multi-angle rearview camera
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System 
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA )
• Advanced Compatible Engineering(ACE) Body Structure

The Honda Odyssey takes the first spot when it comes to ratings and customer satisfaction. It has a plethora of family-friendly bells and whistles and a high-quality interior. It even delivers good performance by minivan standards along with commendable fuel economy numbers as well.