The updated 2021 Honda Odyssey is here to give the redesigned Kia Carnival some fresh competition.
UPDATE, 24/06/21 – Honda has released drive-away pricing information as part of its new ‘Price Promise’. We’ve updated this article and brought it forward.
The base price has increased, but Honda has given its minivan a fresh new look and some new features, including more active safety technology.
Gone, however, is the option of eight seats, with all Odyssey models now featuring standard second-row captain’s chairs that each include ISOFIX anchor points for child seats.
All 2021 Odyssey models have a bluffer and arguably more handsome front fascia, with a redesigned grille, bumper and bonnet and standard LED headlights.
There are sequential indicators front and rear and a new 17-inch alloy wheel design, while the rear also has new-look tail lights and a new bumper.
Inside there’s a new steering wheel, while the infotainment system touchscreen has grown from 7.0 inches to 8.0 inches and includes wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There’s also a new 7.0-inch colour information display in the instrument cluster.
The old VTi and VTi-L trims have been replaced with the Vi L7 and Vi LX7 and it’s the entry-level Vi L7 that’s seen the greatest increase in standard kit.
The base Vi L7 now has a full suite of active safety technology, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control is also standard.
None of these features were available on last year’s VTi.
The spec list looks a little more luxurious, too, with standard leather upholstery, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, and power-sliding rear doors.
Over last year’s cheaper VTi-L, the Vi LX7 has also added a hands-free power tailgate with kick sensor, power sliding doors with gesture control, memory for the power driver’s seat, and ambient footwell lighting for the second row.
The power sliding doors have a new “reservation lock” feature, allowing you to lock the vehicle and walk away even if your doors and tailgate are open. The system will close all these doors and then lock the car, saving you from having to wait.
Honda initially priced the updated 2021 Odyssey at $44,250 before on-road costs for the Vi L7 and $51,150 before on-roads for the Vi LX7.
From July 1, 2021, however, Honda’s new, no-haggle ‘Price Promise’ comes into effect as the company adopts a new agency sales model.
There’s now a fixed, drive-away price of $48,700 for the Vi L7 and $56,000 for the Vi LX7.
All Odyssey models are mechanically unchanged for 2021.
Honda claims the Odyssey was Australian private buyers’ favourite people mover last year, with 34 per cent market share.
Last year, Honda sold 1091 examples of the Odyssey, accounting for 16.1 per cent of VFACTS’ People Mover Under $60,000 segment.
In contrast, 3650 examples of the Kia Carnival were sold, accounting for over 50 per cent market share in the segment. Third place went to the LDV G10 with 725 sales.
The Japanese factory that produces Australian-market Odysseys will soon close.
A Honda Australia spokesperson confirmed the current Odyssey will continue to be imported from Japan until 2022.
There’s no word on whether a successor will be produced elsewhere for Australia, or whether the Odyssey line will end with the current-generation car.
Pricing
- 2021 Honda Odyssey Vi L7: $48,700
- 2021 Honda Odyssey Vi LX7: $56,000
All prices are drive-away.
Engines
All 2021 Honda Odyssey models are powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 129kW of power and 225Nm of torque. It’s mated to a continuously-variable transmission (CVT).
Fuel Economy
The 2021 Honda Odyssey consumes 8.0L/100km on the combined cycle. It requires 91RON regular unleaded fuel and has a 55L fuel tank.
Dimensions
The 2021 Honda Odyssey measures 4855mm long, 1820mm wide and 1710mm tall, with a 2900mm wheelbase.
It weighs 1824kg, rising to 1854kg in the Vi LX7.
Braked towing capacity is 1000kg, while unbraked is 450kg.
Servicing and Warranty
The 2021 Honda Odyssey has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and requires servicing every six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.
Honda offers a capped-price servicing program, with the first five services priced at $125 from July 1, 2021.
All Odyssey models now come standard with five years of roadside assistance.
Safety
The Honda Odyssey has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP based on testing conducted in 2014. It received a frontal offset score of 12.75 out of 16, whiplash and pedestrian protection scores of Good and Acceptable, and an overall score of 32.75 out of 37.
All 2021 Honda Odyssey models come standard with:
- Autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keeping assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Front and front-side airbags
- Curtain airbags for all three rows
Standard Equipment
The Vi L7 comes standard with the following equipment:
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Adaptive cruise control
- LED headlights and front fog lights
- Automatic headlights
- Power sliding doors
- Keyless entry and start
- Leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Surround-view camera
- Single-zone climate control
- Six-speaker sound system
- Paddle shifters
- Power windows with auto up/down (driver door only, also controllable by key fob)
The Vi LX7 adds:
- Active cornering lights
- Satellite navigation
- Power sliding doors with gesture control
- Power tailgate
- Tri-zone climate control with rear controls
- Eight-way power driver’s seat
- Four-way power passenger’s seat
- Power windows with auto up/down (all doors, also controllable via the fob)
- Ambient footwell lighting (second row)
Colours
From July 1, 2021, metallic paint is standard on all Honda models.
There are only four colours available on the Odyssey range. These are:
- Platinum White pearlescent
- Super Platinum metallic
- Obsidian Blue pearlescent
- Premium Twinkle Black pearlescent
