Kelley Blue Book: The 2022 Honda Odyssey is a superb minivan truly made for families

That sacrifice has not been in vain. KBB has given the Odyssey multiple awards like Best Minivan, Best Family Car, Best Resale Value, Best Buy, and class winner in the 5-Year Cost to Own rankings. This generation has been around since 2018, receiving a major update last year. The Odyssey is practical, user-friendly, and even a touch classy.

It’s also safe. The Honda Odyssey has earned top marks in crash-test programs performed by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

2022 Honda Odyssey pricing

Starting off with LX trim, the 2022 Odyssey has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $33,040, plus a destination charge. The range-topping Elite model is $48,770.

The minivan world just became a little more exciting with the debut of the all-new 2022 Kia Carnival 000270, +0.23%, whose entry-level model costs $32,300. Its top-end version is also less expensive. The Toyota TM, -5.64% Sienna begins at close to $36K, the Chrysler Pacifica in the $37K region.

Before buying, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to find out what others in your area paid for their new Odyssey. No need to worry about resale values, Honda’s credentials here are impeccable.

Driving the 2022 Honda Odyssey

Composed, serene, easy. Whatever challenges there are in life that require a minivan, driving the 2022 Odyssey is not one of them.

The engine is sufficiently muscular, while the 10-speed automatic transmission has no trouble selecting the right gear for the right time, acting as if its job is the simplest thing in the world. Notice there’s no gear lever. A set of buttons in the center console controls the transmission and parking brake. It frees up space that can be used for storage.

We’ve found the 18-inch wheel/tire combination to be more comfortable than the 19-inch alternative in the higher trims.

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Interior comfort

Does the 2022 Odyssey have seating for seven or eight? It depends on the trim. The entry-level LX accommodates seven occupants. The rest of the range will take eight. There’s plenty of room for heads and legs, even in the third row. All the seats are comfortable. And there are 15 cup holders.

The cabin is also quite versatile, with movable/removable/folding seats — although the 2nd-row seats are quite cumbersome when trying to extricate them. Cargo space stretches from 32.8 to 158 cubic feet.

Keeping an eye on passengers is easy enough with a concave mirror fitted as standard. The CabinWatch camera comes in at the penultimate Touring trim, which is also the model that has an in-car communications system.

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Exterior styling

Apart from that new metallic red color, there are no visual changes to the 2022 Odyssey. It’s still unmistakably a minivan — with sliding doors on both sides, LED headlights/daytime running lights/taillights, plus 18-inch alloy wheels on the lower three trims, or 19-inch alloys on the Touring and Elite models.

Favorite features

Magic slide second-row seats
Standard at the EX level. Not only do they move forward, bringing a child in the second row closer to the front passenger and enabling easy access to the third row. They can also move back for optimum legroom. And from side to side, allowing users to tweak the configuration.

Smart entry with walk-away auto lock
Chances are that many minivan drivers will have their hands full with either a child and/or their backpack and perhaps something like mud-stained clothes. So it’s a joy to know that the Odyssey has their back by unlocking on approach or locking itself when the family heads indoors.

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Standard features

Although the LX is the lowest trim and doesn’t have some of the most desirable items, it’s nevertheless an affordable, high-quality, new Honda minivan. And it has a decent amount of standard equipment, such as several driver assistance features, power-adjustable front seats (8-way for the driver, 4-way for the passenger), and active noise cancellation.

Only the infotainment system is a frequent reminder to buyers that they should have bought the EX trim, with its relatively small screen (5 inches, measured diagonally), lack of smartphone integration, and just two USB ports. Even then, the audio system has six speakers.

Factory options

Honda doesn’t offer many extras (although there are attachments to carry bikes, kayaks, or surfboards, plus a tent), so buyers need to explore higher trim levels. Which can be annoying when hands-free tailgate operation is high on the wish list, but not available until the top trim.

We suggest at least the EX model for a greater complement of safety features and a better infotainment system. Beyond that, it’s a question of budget and preferences.

Among the wide range of goodies and gadgets are heated/ventilated front seats, an in-cabin communications system, rear seat monitoring, rear-seat entertainment system, leather seating surfaces, more USB ports, Wi-Fi, wireless charging, 19-inch alloy wheels, front/rear parking sensors, and a 12-volt outlet in the cargo area.

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Engine and transmission

A 3.5-liter V6 provides the 2022 Odyssey with a perfectly acceptable 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This connects to a 10-speed automatic transmission, and drive goes solely to the front wheels. Anyone seeking a minivan with all-wheel drive should investigate the Toyota Sienna or Chrysler Pacifica.

It’s OK to use regular 87-octane gasoline. The Honda Odyssey has a couple of ways to conserve fuel, such as cylinder deactivation (running on just three cylinders when conditions permit) and an engine stop/restart function. Towing capacity is 3,500 pounds.

3.5-liter V6
280 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
262 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28 mpg

This story originally ran on KBB.com.