The 2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2020 Honda Odyssey

When searching for “Honda dealer near me,” there is a good chance you are wondering where you can find one of Honda’s most popular vehicles: the Honda Odyssey. What is even more exciting about the Honda Odyssey is that the Japanese carmaker has refreshed the minivan for the 2021 model year. With two “new” Odyssey’s to choose from, there has never been a better time to get your hands on this excellent minivan, which Honda has rightly dubbed a family room on wheels.

With all of the great features available on the 2020 Odyssey, you can’t go wrong if you end up going that direction. However, the 2021 Odyssey has several vital upgrades that are sure to please any driver. To help you figure out which version you should go for, here is a breakdown of the 2021 Honda Odyssey vs the 2020 Honda Odyssey.

Honda Odyssey Trims

One way both Odysseys are similar is when it comes to trims. Both the 2020 and 2021 Odyssey have five trims starting with the LX, then moving on to the EX, EX-L, Touring, and finally, the Elite. While the trims all have the same names and follow the same order, one difference is that some of the advanced features found on the higher trims of the 2020 model are now available on lower trims for the 2021 model.

The best example is probably Honda Sensing, which was available on the EX trim and above for the 2020 Odyssey. For the 2021 version, Honda has made Honda Sensing standard on all trims, which is a smart move. Honda Sensing is the name of Honda’s suite of driver-assist technologies. At the top of the Honda Sensing list of safety features is the Collision Mitigation Braking System, which can automatically engage the brakes to minimize impact in the case of a crash.

The second technology that is part of Honda Sensing is Road Departure Mitigation, which helps keep the Odyssey in its lane. The Lane Keeping Assist System also helps with this, while Adaptive Cruise Control adjusts your speed to maintain a predetermined distance from the vehicle in front of you. Finally, The Traffic Sign Recognition system completes the Honda Sensing suite and makes the 2021 Odyssey one of the safest minivans on the road. Safety is an exceptionally high priority for minivan drivers, as the segment appeals to families. By including Honda Sensing on all of the 2021 Odyssey trims, Honda has done a great job recognizing the importance of producing and selling the safest vehicle possible to as many people as possible.

Both the 2021 Odyssey and the 2020 Odyssey share the same engine. Not changing the powerplant is another wise move by Honda as the 3.5L V6 is one of the best engines in the minivan segment and provides 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Using the same V6 engine also means that the 2021 Odyssey will continue to have a stellar fuel economy. With an EPA rating of up to 19 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway, the 2021 Honda Odyssey will help keep your gas bill manageable.* These are great numbers for any minivan and put both the 2020 and 2021 Odyssey among the top minivan options available today.

Exterior and Interior

While the wheelbase is the same for both the 2020 and 2021 Odyssey, the 2021 Odyssey is a hair longer overall. The 2020 version measured 203.2 inches from bumper to bumper, while the 2021 version is 205.2 inches. This will translate into a bigger feel (always welcome) without making the Odyssey any more challenging to maneuver and park.

When you look at many other measurements and metrics for these two minivans, there are many similarities. They have the same width, height, legroom, and cargo volume behind all three rows of seats. They even have the same towing capacity of 3,500 lbs, which is an excellent towing capacity for a minivan and will allow you to pull a light trailer easily.

The 2021 model is packed with all the convenience features that Honda Odyssey drivers have come to love about the minivan. These include the Magic Slide 2nd row of seats found on the EX trim and above and the power tailgate available on the EX-L trim. This latter feature can be upgraded with the Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate that is available on a number of the upper trims for the 2021 model.

Also found on the 2021 Odyssey are Cabin Talk, Cabin Watch, Apple, CarPlay, and Android Auto. These fantastic tech features make staying connected not only possible but safe too. Two more advanced technologies are found on the same trims of both the 2020 and 2021 Odysseys. The first is the Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Monitoring, which helps keep drivers aware of vehicles in hard to see spots. The other is the HondaVac built-in vacuum cleaner, which makes keeping the Odyssey clean easier than ever. It should be noted, though, that on the 2021 version, HondaVac is only available on the Elite trim.

Price

Even though the 2021 Honda Odyssey is brand new and has Honda Sensing standard across the lineup, the price is only slightly higher than the 2020 version. For the LX trim, the price starts at $31,790, whereas the 2020 Honda Odyssey starts at $30,790.** The EX and EX-L trims for the 2021 Odyssey are even closer in price to the 2020 version and make for incredibly compelling buys. When it comes to the 2021 Touring trim, you will find that the recommended price is lower than it was for the same trim on the 2020 model. This makes choosing the 2021 Touring trim a no-brainer.

Verdict

As a rule of thumb, it is often wise to go with the newest car or minivan possible. It means that the carmaker has been able to implement the latest technologies into the vehicle – in the case of the 2021 Honda Odyssey, that is undoubtedly the case. The 2020 Odyssey is an excellent minivan and worth buying over just about any other brand because it offers Honda Sense on every trim and is only slightly more expensive, or in the case of the Touring trim, actually cheaper than the 2020 version. The 2021 Honda Odyssey is the better buy.

Find Both Honda Odysseys at Honda of Newnan

At Honda of Newnan, we love all things Honda, and that includes both the 2020 Odyssey and the 2021 Odyssey. Stop in to see the new Odyssey and to ask our Honda experts any question you might have about this excellent minivan or any of the exceptional vehicles in Honda’s unparalleled lineup. We can even set up a test drive so you can experience the Honda Odyssey for yourself.

We are open seven days a week, so you can contact us or come in for a visit any day. Our sales associates, auto financing team, and Honda service technicians would love nothing more than to serve you and make your car buying experience as easy as possible. We look forward to seeing you soon.

*19 city/28 highway/22 combined mpg rating. Based on 2021 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.

**MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $1120 destination charge and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $395 charge for select premium colors. $395 charge only applies to 2021 models.