There was a time when minivans ruled the roads. The suburban streets were filled with these practical and dependable vehicles that offered space beyond your imagination. Soccer moms and basketball dads could chauffer their children around town, from school to team practice and local shopping malls, safely and easily. Like all ages, this one came to an end as an increasing number of suburban drivers began to embrace SUVs as the new millennium dawned. Still, some understand the value of a minivan, which is why a number of the best models survived this mass extinction event. You could call it survival of the fittest or just the marketplace doing its magic, but the Honda Odyssey has soldiered on, delivering value and practicality unlike any other model.
The 2024 Honda Odyssey represents the latest version of this minivan, which has been fulfilling drivers’ needs for almost three decades. Introduced at the height of the minivan craze in 1995, the 2024 Odyssey is part of the fifth generation that has been offered since 2018. As with all Honda models, the company continues to make incremental changes to the Odyssey, such as the decision to discontinue the base LX trim last year and introduce a Sport trim designed for drivers with an active lifestyle.
Five Terrific Trim Levels
The 2024 Odyssey returns with five different trim levels to choose from. Starting with the EX, which has a starting MSRP of $38,240, the Odyssey should be able to fit into most family’s budgets. The EX includes a great many standard features, such as the Honda Sensing suite of active driver assistance features and a Magic Slide second row of seats that will make entering and exiting your Odyssey more convenient. It also improves the logistics of converting the Odyssey from a passenger to a cargo van.
The EX-L trim adds leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. As with many other Honda models, the L stands for leather. This trim also comes with a power tailgate for ease of access and a one-touch power moonroof that lets you bring the outdoors inside your minivan. The Sport trim was added in 2023 and adds a set of 19-inch gloss black alloy wheels and exclusive interior and exterior styling. The Touring model is perfect for families who love to take long family road trips in their Odyssey. This has a rear entertainment center to keep the young ones entertained, Cabin Watch and Cabin Talk to stay in touch with the kids, and a Wi-Fi hotspot to keep everyone connected.
The top trim of the 2024 Odyssey is the Elite. This earns its name by adding a wireless phone charger, an 11-speaker premium audio system, and a hands-free access power tailgate. This is the one for the family driver who loves to shop or has kids who play sports. Even if your hands are filled with your shopping bags or sporting gear, you can open the power tailgate on your Odyssey with just the sweep of your leg.
A Standard Powertrain for All Your Odysseys
Each 2024 Honda Odyssey comes equipped with a standard 3.5L V6 gas engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine has a single overhead camshaft design with 24 valves for its six cylinders and features the VTEC and variable cylinder management systems to improve efficiency and performance. The Odyssey also features the Idle-Stop system, which automatically turns the engine off when you stop at a light or in a traffic jam, and then automatically restarts it once you take pressure off of the brakes. The engine uses direct fuel injection to deliver 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
The Odyssey is only available with front-wheel drive. This enhances efficiency, enabling up to 22 miles per gallon in combined fuel economy. This model is quite nimble for a minivan, providing exceptional acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.3 seconds, with a top speed of 111 miles per hour.
Incomparable Interior Space
One of the best things about driving a minivan is the amazing combination of passenger and cargo space. The Odyssey holds up to eight passengers in all trims except the EX, providing an impressive 160.1 cu.ft. inside with the second and third-row seats folded down. The EX offers a little more space because it doesn’t have a moonroof, giving you an incredible 163.6 cu.ft.
The designers at Honda do a great job apportioning the space between the various rows in Odyssey. The front-row and second-row passengers will enjoy 40.9 inches of legroom, while those in the third row won’t feel cramped with a pleasant 38.1 inches to stretch out their legs. The Magic Slide seats in the second row are easy to move, allowing easier accessibility to the third row than you will find on a three-row SUV. This also allows them to be folded down for cargo purposes.
The Odyssey also gives you exceptional cargo space. The tailgate opens up to 38.6 cubic feet of room with all of the seats in place, more than enough for your luggage on your latest odyssey. If you need more room, just fold down the third row of seats to free up 92.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
Safety Comes Standard
Honda is known as a pioneer in the passenger safety field, and this is probably why the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2023 Honda Odyssey a Top Safety Pick+ rating, the highest available.
A big reason for this award is that the 2024 Odyssey features the most comprehensive set of Honda Sensing driver-assistance features of almost any model. Even the base trim Odyssey EX has every available Honda Sensing feature except for front and rear parking sensors, which are only on the Touring and Elite trims. Otherwise, you will get every single Honda Sensing feature standard on your Odyssey.
BSI is the Blind Spot Information system. When you signal for a lane change, BSI will provide an alert if there is a vehicle riding in your blind spot in the adjacent lane. Once you have cleared the other vehicle, you can safely move over. This is like having an extra set of eyes. Similarly, the Lane Keeping Assist System and Lane Departure Warning will alert you if your Odyssey starts to drift out of the lane. The system will make slight adjustments to the steering to get you and your minivan back on the straight and narrow.
An Infotainment System to Keep You Connected and Entertained
Every 2024 Honda Odyssey features the Display Audio system on an eight-inch color high-resolution electrostatic touchscreen. This allows you to link your smartphone using Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Once linked, you can make hands-free calls and texts, and stream your favorite apps.
If you love music, you will appreciate the seven-speaker audio system that comes on every Odyssey trim except the Elite. This gives you 160 watts of music, filling your minivan with your greatest tunes. However, if you are a true audiophile, you will love the 550-watt premium audio system on the Odyssey Elite. This gives you 11 speakers strategically located around the cabin. What’s more, if you can’t agree on which music to stream, you can access all of the incredible channels on SiriusXM, which is featured on every trim of the Odyssey. This will give you even more options, making it even harder for you and your passengers to decide on the soundtrack for your latest adventure.
Make Your Next Family Vehicle a 2024 Honda Odyssey
While so many family drivers are going with SUVs, see why the smart ones have chosen a 2024 Honda Odyssey. This minivan provides exceptional room, great performance, and tons of entertainment in a safe and affordable minivan. Defy conventional wisdom and make the right choice for your next family adventure in an Odyssey.
