2018 Honda Odyssey Photos, engines & full specs

Honda launched the fifth generation of its full-size minivan, Oddysey, in 2017 at the North American International Auto Show and continued the success story of this family-friendly MPV.

The Odyssey nameplate has been a successful story ever since the model’s introduction in 1994. Its capability to transport seven or eight passengers comfortably made it a darling for large families.

Even though it didn’t sell on all the markets and had plenty of engine versions, it was praised for its qualities as a smooth, long-distance cruiser. In addition, the overall exterior look was pleasant always up to date in terms of design trends.

For the 2018 model year, the Odyssey had a front fascia that followed the same design language as the Honda Accord or the CR-V, featuring a chromed horizontal slat on the grille and swept-back headlights. The front bumper was extended downward with an apron that also contained a secondary trapezoidal-shaped grille flanked by a pair of divided scoops for the fog lamps.

From its profile, the sculptured door panels created a dynamic image for the vehicle, while the waistline was lowered behind the rear doors. At the back, Honda’s designers made a tailgate slightly tilted forward to create more room inside the cabin.

Accessing the interior of the Odyssey was easy, thanks to the large front doors and the sliding rear doors on both sides. The front occupants were spoiled with high-mounted seats fitted with flip-down armrests and separated by a wide center console that housed a pair of cup holders and a storage compartment. Still, the automaker left some room between the center console and the center stack to allow passengers to pass from side to side.

In front of the driver, Honda installed a digital instrument cluster split into three screens, similar to the one offered in the Civic’s tenth generation, and atop the center stack, it placed the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that featured a volume turning knob. The middle row could be tilted forward to ease access for the third-row passengers, and all of the individual seats from there could have been removed. With the middle seat removed, the outboard ones could slide inward. Even the third row was fit for adults, which made the Odyssey an excellent people carrier.

Under the hood, Honda installed a 3.5-liter gasoline engine that offered 280 hp (283 PS). It was paired with a standard nine-speed automatic transmission for the lower grades, while the upper ones were fitted with a ten-speed automatic gearbox.

The independent suspension in all corners made the Odyssey a comfortable vehicle on long distances, and the aerodynamic shape helped it get better fuel efficiency. As for the safety systems, the minivan came fitted with the entire Honda sensing package that included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and others.