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- I love the second-row setup. The Odyssey’s bench is best in class because all three seats work independently, each with their own lower and tether anchors. I truly compare every other second row to this one.
- 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.
- The car seat hardware is as good as it gets, with lower anchors and tether anchors everywhere you’d want them, including the third row.
- The trunk and tailgate mode seal the deal. Deep cargo space fits a full-size stroller with room to spare, and tailgate mode is basically a built-in sofa for sports, park days, and trunk-or-treat.
The Exterior
On the outside, it looks like a minivan — and honestly, that’s fine. I do love that Honda hid the sliding door track in the window instead of along the side because it cleans up the profile so much. You’re not buying the Odyssey for looks, you’re buying it because it works.
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First Row
Up front, the Odyssey is all about function. Everything is easy to see, easy to reach, and laid out in a way that just makes sense when you’re driving with kids. I love the physical climate controls, heated seats, and all the open storage — between the center console, cubbies, and cup holders, there’s a place for everything. It feels practical without feeling overwhelming, which is exactly what I want in a family car.
Second Row
This is where the Honda Odyssey really earns its reputation. When I review cars for families, I compare every second-row setup to the Odyssey — and there’s a reason for that. It’s not just flexible on paper. It actually works in real life, with real car seats, in all the messy seasons of parenting.
- Best-in-class second-row bench: All three seats work independently, each with their own lower anchors and tether anchors.
- Removable middle seat: This is a total game-changer. I can switch between an eight-seater and captain’s chairs depending on my season of life, and it’s ridiculously easy to remove — without sacrificing car seat compatibility.
- Magic Slide (and yes, it’s iconic): I can slide an outboard seat inward even with a rear-facing car seat installed. No uninstalling, no gymnastics. It solves one of the biggest pain points families have with three-row vehicles.
- Car seat hardware everywhere you want it: Lower anchors and tether anchors throughout the second row, plus lower anchors on both outboard third-row seats and tether anchors across the back. That’s five sets of lower anchors and six tether anchors total — as good as it gets.
- Built for longevity: This setup grows with your family. Whether you’re rear-facing, forward-facing, doing three-across, or rotating kids in and out of the third row, the Odyssey keeps working instead of forcing compromises.
The Odyssey isn’t a hybrid, but what you give up in fuel efficiency you gain back in best-in-class car seat flexibility and family-friendly features you can’t get elsewhere.
Third Row
The third row in the Honda Odyssey doesn’t feel like an afterthought, and that’s a big deal for families who actually use all three rows. Whether it’s kids, adults, or car seats back here, the Odyssey makes the third row usable instead of just “there.”
- Easy third-row access: Between the removable middle seat and Magic Slide, getting back here doesn’t require uninstalling car seats or crawling. You can actually access the third row with real-life setups.
- Solid comfort for kids and adults: I’m comfortable back here, even with the second-row seats pushed all the way back. Knee room is good, headroom is solid, and it doesn’t feel cramped for longer drives.
- Car seat–friendly hardware: The third row has lower anchors on both outboard seats and tether anchors across the entire row. That gives you real flexibility for forward-facing and booster setups.
- Thoughtful kid features: Cup holders, USB ports, headphone jacks, and removable headrests make this space practical for daily use and road trips.
- Sunshades included: Built-in sunshades in the third row are such an underrated win, especially for younger kids and long drives.
- Honest callout on vents: The side-mounted vents aren’t my favorite — I much prefer ceiling vents for kids in car seats — but overall airflow is still decent for most families.
The big takeaway: this is a third row families will actually use. It works with car seats, it works for bigger kids, and it doesn’t force you to choose between access and safety.
Trunk
This is where the Honda Odyssey really seals the deal for families. The trunk is deep, wide, and incredibly usable, which is exactly why minivans just work so well for real life. I can fit a full-size stroller back here with room to spare, plus groceries, bags, or sports gear, and it never feels like I’m playing trunk Tetris. The loading height is low and flat, so getting heavy items in and out is way easier than in a three-row SUV, and the extra hidden storage underneath is perfect for things like diapers, wipes, or anything you want tucked away but still accessible.
And then there’s tailgate mode, which is honestly one of those features you don’t realize you need until you have it. The third row flips around and turns the back of the Odyssey into a built-in sofa, which is perfect for soccer games, park days, trunk-or-treat, or just hanging out while kids play. It’s peak minivan energy in the best way, and it’s one of the reasons families fall in love with the Odyssey once they actually live with it.
Safety
The 2024 Honda Odyssey is an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
The 2024 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.
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.
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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