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- The 2025 redesign was incredibly minor. All you're getting is a new grill, new wheels, and a bigger infotainment system.
- The 2025 model still does not come in a hybrid option. It is now the ONLY minivan on the market that falls behind in this category.
- The 2025 model introduced CabinWatch and CabinTalk.
- All-wheel drive (AWD) is not offered as an option either.
- The second and third rows are still one of the best options out there when it comes to a flexible car seat setup. I don’t think it’s ever met a car seat it couldn’t accommodate.
- The trunk space (as always) is incredible!
The Exterior
From the outside, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the 2025 Odyssey apart from last year’s model. The redesigned front and wheels give it a slightly fresher look, but it’s nothing groundbreaking. If you’re hoping for a bold new design or significant changes, this isn’t the year for that.
Honda gave the Odyssey a HUGE redesign in 2017 and while we see refreshes when a new calendar year starts, you can expect the same solid family car from 2017 on (just with a few cosmetic tweaks depending on the specific year). For those interested in the Odyssey, this is a car I highly recommend shopping the pre-owned market for. You get all the incredible offerings it has for families, but at a more affordable price.
First Row
The first row is all about practicality and comfort. The door panels are packed with storage options—cubbies, cup holders, and even a door-mounted cup holder that’s surprisingly handy. The open bridge-style center console is another standout feature.
Comfort-wise, the Elite trim I had as a press car comes with heated and ventilated two-tone seats that feel upscale and supportive for long drives. Adjustable armrests are another nice touch—they’re simple but effective and keep things feeling like a classic minivan instead of trying to mimic an SUV. Storage in the first row is excellent, with plenty of compartments and cup holders, wireless charging capabilities, and even ports for rear entertainment systems.
The infotainment system has been updated with a slightly larger 9-inch screen this year. While it’s an improvement, it still feels small compared to what some other family cars offer today.
The system includes family-focused features like CabinWatch and CabinTalk. CabinWatch uses an interior camera to let you see what’s happening in the second and third rows—though its quality isn’t as sharp as similar systems in competitors like the Kia Carnival or Chrysler Pacifica. CabinTalk projects your voice through speakers or headphones in the back rows so you can easily communicate with passengers without shouting. While I think these tech upgrades are cool, the screen really should be larger.
Second Row
The second row is where the Odyssey really shines for families and makes it one of my go-to recommendations.
Starting off strong, Honda’s Magic Slide seats are a game changer—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.
Car seat compatibility is one of the Odyssey’s biggest strengths. It can handle multiple car seats in various configurations better than just about any other car on the market. Built-in sunshades add comfort for passengers, while generous legroom ensures everyone has enough space.
The only downside is that the air vents aren’t on the ceiling—they’re on the side panels instead. While this placement is better than having vents in the center console (as seen in some SUVs).
Third Row
With three tether anchors back here, this level of versatility is incredible for families with kids at different car seat stages or when transporting extra passengers.
Another thoughtful touch is the removable headrests in the third row, which is a rarity in a ton of cars on the market. 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.
Built-in sunshades help block out glare, while cup holders and USB charging ports on both sides ensure everyone has what they need for longer trips. Side-panel air vents provide ventilation, though ceiling-mounted vents would have been more effective for better airflow distribution.
Lastly, I want to mention the wide aisle leading to the third row which makes it easy to get in and out even when managing kids or bulky items. Overall, I really couldn’t ask for anything more back here.
Trunk
The trunk space is where minivans like the Odyssey really shine compared to SUVs. Its deep cargo area lets you stack items efficiently—perfect for strollers, groceries, or sports equipment. The third-row seats fold flat into the floor with a simple strap mechanism (no power assistance needed), creating a large cargo area when needed.
A fun bonus feature is “tailgate mode.” You can sit comfortably at the back of the van during outdoor events like soccer games or picnics while using built-in cup holders and charging ports—a thoughtful touch that really tells me Honda is thinking about the types of people using the Odyssey.
Safety
The 2025 Honda Odyssey lost its Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS in 2025. While previous years it was awarded a Top Safety Pick, it did not perform well enough in the updated moderate overlap frontal crash test to retain its award. There are no safety differences between 2018-2026 Odysseys it is just that the evaluation criteria became more challenging in 2025. Structurally the vehicle is the same as prior model years that did cinch awards.
The 2025 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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