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The Honda Odyssey received a design refresh in 2021, with additional updates in 2023 and 2025. As a result, all 2021 model-year content remains fully applicable to the 2022 design.
- The Honda Odyssey is extremely functional. It may look like a minivan, but everything about it is designed to make real mom life easier, from sliding doors to smart interior layout.
- Best-in-class car seat setup and flexibility. Five sets of lower anchors, six tether anchors, removable middle seat, and the Magic Slide seats make this one of the most car-seat-friendly vehicles out there, especially for three-across and third-row access with car seats installed.
- The removable middle seat is a game-changer. I can switch between an eight-seater and captain’s chairs depending on my season of life, and it’s incredibly easy to take out without losing car seat flexibility.
- Magic Slide is iconic!! I can slide an outboard seat inward even with a rear-facing car seat installed, which gives me third-row access without uninstalling anything.
- Cabin Watch + Cabin Talk are game changers for moms. Being able to see your kids and talk to them through the speakers (even through headphones) without turning around or taking your eyes off the road is next-level mom convenience.
- Storage everywhere (and then some). Door cup holders, center console organization, four cup holders within reach of the driver, purse hooks, trunk cubbies, and massive cargo space mean there’s a place for everything, and then some.
- Incredible space, but ventilation is the weak spot. The Odyssey is spacious in every row, but the lack of ceiling vents (especially for rear-facing kids) is frustrating and one of Kelly’s biggest complaints in an otherwise incredibly functional vehicle.
The Exterior
The Honda Odyssey looks like a minivan, and it’s not trying to be anything else. The LED daytime running lights and updated sliding door track (hidden in the window instead of the door) do help clean things up and make it feel more modern. The wheels are cute, the blue color is fun, and the chrome details are fine. But at the end of the day, you’re not choosing this van for curb appeal, you’re choosing it for how well it works.
First Row
The first row is packed with functionality. Door cup holders, cubbies, a huge center console, and even a purse hook make it easy to stay organized.
I really like the screen-to-button ratio. Climate, audio, and seat controls are easy to find, which matters when you’re driving with kids.
Cabin Watch and Cabin Talk are huge for me. I can see my kids and talk to them without turning around or taking my eyes off the road.
The shifter is a little different, but it saves space and gives you more room for storage and cup holders.
Comfort-wise, the seats are fine, but they’re a little firm and not as plush as I’d want for long drives.
Second Row
The second row is where the Honda Odyssey really shows why people love minivans. If you’re dealing with multiple car seats, car seat transitions, or daily third-row access, this setup gives you real flexibility.
- Every second-row seat has its own set of lower anchors, with tether anchors across the row, which makes this one of the most car-seat-friendly layouts out there.
- The middle seat is removable, and once you take it out, you unlock the Magic Slide seats. Magic Slide means the entire outboard seat can slide side-to-side, not just forward and back.
- With Magic Slide, I can create a path to the third row without uninstalling a car seat, which is a huge win if you need daily third-row access. This works for both forward-facing and rear-facing car seats.
- I was able to install a forward-facing Graco Extend2Fit and a rear-facing Clek Liing and still comfortably sit next to them, which tells you how much space and flexibility you’re really getting.
- Second-row amenities include built-in sunshades, cup holders, USB ports, HDMI, and a ceiling-mounted rear entertainment screen that doesn’t interfere with car seat installs.
- My biggest complaint back here is ventilation. Moving the vents off the ceiling and onto the sides is frustrating, especially for rear-facing kids.
For me, Magic Slide is what sets the Odyssey apart. It gives you longer-term usability than a traditional car-seat-friendly tilt because you can keep accessing the third row as kids grow, without constantly uninstalling car seats. If Honda had kept ceiling vents, this second row would be nearly perfect.
Third Row
I’ll be honest, the third row is very spacious, and I really like how much flexibility you get back here. There’s plenty of room, and it works well for kids and even adults when needed.
- The biggest issue for me is ventilation. The vents are small, they’re on the side, and they’re not even really blowing on you. There’s also nothing for the person sitting in the middle, which is frustrating.
- I do love that you get sunshades back here, plus USBs, cup holders, and headphone jacks on both sides, which makes this row much more usable for kids.
- The headrests are removable, which helps with visibility to the rear entertainment screen and allows you to play around with seating positions depending on your family’s needs.
- Car-seat-wise, you get lower anchors on the outboard seats and tether anchors across the row, which adds to the overall flexibility of this van.
Overall, the third row is roomy and functional, with great amenities for kids, but the ventilation is a miss. If Honda had kept ceiling vents, this row would be a lot more comfortable, especially for longer drives.
Trunk
The trunk space in the Honda Odyssey is impressive. I fit my Uppababy Vista stroller with room to spare, even with space left for a full grocery run. I love the extra cubbies back here because they’re perfect for diapers, wipes, and all the random things you want easy access to. Between the deep cargo area and how easy the seats are to fold, this trunk is clearly built for real family life.
Safety
The 2022 Honda Odyssey is an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus.
The 2022 Odyssey also received a 5 Star rating from NHTSA.
I do want to call out the lack of seat belt pre-tensioners for the second row. Pretensioners remove slack from the seat belt in the nanoseconds before a crash, dramatically reducing injury in frontal and near-frontal collisions. This feature has been standard in front seats for nearly two decades, but not the back seat. While this doesn’t affect children in harnessed car seats, it does affect other passengers.
ADAS - Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems
The Honda Odyssey comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with automatic emergency braking, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow.
Blind Spot Information System (BSI) with Cross Traffic Monitor is also standard.
The Odyssey includes Traffic Sign Recognition and automatic high-beam headlights as part of Honda Sensing.
A multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines is standard, and higher trims add front and rear parking sensors.
Car Seat Setup in the Honda Odyssey
If you’re prioritizing car seat compatibility, the Honda Odyssey truly stands out as a car seat machine.
The Odyssey is a car seat machine! Every seating position is equipped with a top tether and a removable head restraint. This feature makes it much easier to install forward-facing car seats or high-back boosters without interference—something that’s often an issue in competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica, where fixed headrests can cause compatibility problems.
LATCH
All seats, except the third-row center, have lower anchors. The lower anchors are all exposed and not deep in the seat bight. This makes for really easy attachment, especially for a baseless infant car seat.
Every seating position is equipped with a top tether. The second row outboard tether anchors are easy to find. They’re in the center of the seatbacks. The center seat’s tether anchor is at the bottom of the seatback. In the third row, the opposite is true. The center tether anchor is in the center of the seatback and the outboard seat tether anchors are toward the bottom of the vehicle seat.
Belt Buckles
The buckles in all positions are short and flexible. This is great for booster riders!
You can twist the buckle stalk up to three full turns (no half turns) to pull the buckle down and out of the car seat’s belt path, if necessary. This is most commonly a problem for rotating car seat bases when it does occur.
Seat Shape
The second row outboard seats are large and fit a variety of car seats. The center seat of the second row is extremely narrow. Very few car seats fit in the center seat and allow the adjacent outboard seat to tilt/slide forward for third row access. Additionally there is often overhang in the center seating position because it is shallow. Many manufacturers allow side overhang here when the outboard vehicle seats are in place. Please contact your car seat manufacturer for clarification if you’re unsure how much overhang is permissible. Seats that fit well in this position include but are not limited to: Graco SlimFit3 LX 3 in 1, Chicco Fit3X, Britax Poplar, Nuna Exec and a variety of infant car seat bases. The Chicco MyFit also fits when the outboard seats are in place.
Head Restraints
Every seating position is equipped with a removable head restraint.
This feature makes it much easier to install forward-facing car seats or high-back boosters without interference—something that’s often an issue in competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica, where fixed headrests can cause compatibility problems.
Three Across Considerations
You may run into third-row access issues when trying to fit three across the second row. The second-row center seat is extremely narrow. When you try to tilt and slide an outboard seat to climb into the third row, the outboard seat will hit the center car seat in most scenarios.
While access to the third row is possible with some very narrow infant car seats and ultra-narrow convertible car seats, boosters don't work. (Booster mode of the Graco SlimFit3 LX and Chicco Fit3X do work.)
When installing the center narrow car seat, be sure to first put the outboard armrest down on the side of the van you wish to use tilt/slide for access. This will give enough space for the outboard seat to tilt and slide without getting stuck on your center car seat.
Three across the third row is possible with the most narrow seats as well, like the Graco SlimFit3 LX 3 in 1.
So while you can absolutely fit 6 kids in car seats, like any vehicle this becomes a challenge to access each individual car seat with each seat filled.
Third Row Access
Access to the third row is unique because of a feature called Magic Slide. When the center vehicle seat is removed, the outboard seat can slide to the center in its place. The seats move side-to-side on tracks, making it easy to access the third row even when car seats are installed. What sets these seats apart is that their seat belts are attached directly to them, so you can still use Magic Slide whether car seats are installed with LATCH or seat belts.
Removing the second-row center seat and using Magic Slide to create an aisle to the third row is best for third-row access.
Now if you need to access the third row with three car seats installed in the second row you’re going to run into some challenges. In order for the vehicle seat to slide forward the seatback also must tilt forward. This is a problem if a car seat is installed, no matter the installation method.
The seat will tilt and slide forward without disturbing the car seat’s installation in only a handful of scenarios. This works with some infant car seat bases and some boosters that have loosely attached lower anchor connectors like the Chicco KidFit or Joie Basil booster.
Rear-Facing and Legroom
There is ample legroom to rear-face even bulkier rotating car seats in the second row. The third row can also accommodate a variety of rear-facing seats, though more compact seats will be needed if you also have a rear-facing seat in the second row. The Evenflo Revolve360 Slim 2 in 1 is a good choice for the third row if you need to fit a rear-facing car seat.
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