2025 Honda Odyssey Elite Review

This week I bring you the best-selling minivan in America, the Honda Odyssey. It's also a highly recommended people hauler of the minivan variety - racking up recent recognitions from Car and Driver, U.S. News and World Report, and Money. 2025 brings a bit of a refresh with style and tech updates. My review vehicle is the top-of-the-range Elite in a four trim lineup.

Exterior

The Odyssey's new sportier looks up front and in the back are a welcome sight. I am also loving a new-for-2025 Smoke Blue Pearl hue paired with also new-for-2025 machine-finished 19-inch alloys.

A new, more aggressive grille with larger black fog light surrounds looks great. The updated fog light design helps with visibility. The 2025 Odyssey's reshaped front and rear fascias give it a more modern look, too, and the redesigned rear bumper now integrates the same vertical reflectors used on the second-generation Acura NSX supercar.  

Powertrain

The lineup is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 280-horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It's mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with, yay! paddle shifters. Power and shifting are smooth and meet the needs of fairly heavy vehicle weighing in around 4,000 pounds curb weight. It also must be said that its 280 horses are better than the hybrid-only Toyota Sienna's 245 and you do not get paddle shifters in the Sienna.

Interior 

As its van status would indicate - the Odyssey is very roomy with seating up to 8.

My Elite trim's two-tone semi-open concept interior has a nice build quality. Comfortable, roomy, perforated leather front seats feature piping (note, you'll now get a leather-trimmed interior standard on all trims.) The 12-way power driver's seat along with the 8-way power passenger seat are both heated and ventilated. The leather-trimmed steering wheel is heated, too. 

The Odyssey gets some tech upgrades in the cabin this year. They include a new standard 7-inch digital instrument display. Additionally, a larger 9-inch color multimedia touchscreen delivers improved performance thanks to a faster processor. Is the screen still on the smaller side, yes, but it's an improvement. Am I a fan of the volume button? No.  It's too small in my opinion. On the brighter side, the system is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . Other tech features include a vertical wireless phone charger, though I don't love the material,  a WiFi hotspot and multiple USB-C ports throughout the cabin.  The Elite features an 11-speaker premium sound system.

I'm not a huge fan of the center stack. For one, it's too high and too much of a reach for me.  And there are a lot of controls there. It's where you find the shift-by-wire gear shifter and a bunch of other things including automatic stop-start. I'd also like to see less plastic there. The center console bin is pushed back a bit giving some open space between it and the center stack. 

The big news in the second row is a new revamped rear entertainment system with a larger 12.8-inch screen.  Designers also relocated the HDMI plug to the inside of the console, which also now serves as storage space for streaming devices. Second row  Magic-Slide seats provide easy access to the third row- and both 2nd and 3rd rows enjoy manual sunshades though I wish they were a bit more substantial.  Other 2nd row features include a Multifunction middle seat that doubles as drop-down console with three cupholders.

A one-motion 60/40 split  Magic 3rd row stows right into the floor if you need  more cargo space.   The third row is quite roomy and Honda doesn't forget it when it comes to contrast piping, USB-C ports and headphone jacks. The 3rd row reclines too, using a seat pull from the cargo area.

The Odyssey's sliding doors are easy to open and close at the touch of a button in the cabin or via the key fob. Standard Elite feature also include a sunroof, tri-zone climate, rain-sensing wipers, and a hands-free power tailgate .   

Ride and Drive

Driving a minivan isn't exciting, but it's not meant to be.  The Odyssey is certainly easy to drive and delivers a smooth and comfortable ride. Acceleration is good, too. 

Safety

Standard Honda Sensing driver assist features include Collision Mitigation Braking System with Advanced Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow. The Elite adds front and rear parking sensors.

Rear Seat Reminder is also standard across the lineup and can be integrated with the Elite and Touring CabinWatch system.

Verdict 

The 2025 Honda Odyssey's updates for this model year further bolster its status as a family-friendly people hauler that's a great value.

• What I Liked Most:  Exterior and tech updates, easy-going overall ride and drive comfort.
• What I would change:  Redesign the hard-to-reach center stack.
• MSRP:  Base: $50,880. As equipped: $52,630.
• Official Color:    Smoke Blue Pearl.
  
• Fuel Economy: 19 city/ 28 highway/22 combined.
• Odometer reading when tested:  3,798 miles. 
  
• Curb Weight: 4,590 pounds.
• Spare tire:  Compact Spare.
• Length-Width-Height: 205.2" long/78.5" wide/69.6" high.
• Fuel Tank Capacity:  19.5 gallons with filler on the driver's side.
• Towing Capacity:  3,500 pounds.
• 2025 Honda Odyssey in a few words:  A nicely updated minivan  
  Warranty:  3-year, 36,000 mile Basic Warranty; New Honda Service Pass complimentary 2- year/24,000-mile Maintenance Service.
• Final Assembly Location:   Alliston, Ontario, Canada.
• Manufacturer's website:  Honda