2021 Honda Odyssey: America's Most Popular Minivan Gets a Makeover Including an Industry-First Rear Seat Reminder with Integrated Camera
07/29/2020
Honda
Refreshed exterior design plus new utility and available luxury refinements inside
Honda Sensing(R), now standard on all trims, also adds new capabilities
Odyssey has been America's retail #1 best-selling minivan for 10 years
Going on sale August 3, the refreshed for 2021 Honda Odyssey receives numerous updates to styling, along with upgraded technology and safety features to further strengthen its position as America's retail best-selling minivan for the past 10 years, the top choice of American families looking for the ultimate fun family vehicle. Prices for the 2021 Odyssey start with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $31,7901 (not including $1,120 destination and handling charge).
A restyled grille and front bumper fascia, revised front lighting and new black trim under the rear window give Odyssey a fresh exterior look. Inside, Odyssey offers upgrades to functionality and luxury: The second-row seats on all Odyssey trims now fold nearly flat, making them easier to remove while enhancing cargo-carrying options, and expanding on the flexibility of Odyssey's exclusive Magic Slide(TM) second-row seats.
Odyssey EX and higher trim levels also get restyled seats and new tri-color floor mats, while EX-L and above receive and power lumbar support for the front passenger seat and contrast seat stitching. Odyssey Touring and Elite also get new piano black trim on the dash, doors and front door handles, while Elite receives additional luxury touches.
A new Rear Seat Reminder system is standard and can also be integrated with the available CabinWatch(R) child viewing system, an industry first. For the first time, Odysseys equipped with CabinTalk(R) and CabinWatch(R) can use both systems simultaneously, and the upgrade will be retroactively applied to similarly-equipped 2018-2020 model Odysseys through an over-the-air update.
Also, important upgrades to Honda Sensing(R) add Low-Speed Follow, Pedestrian Emergency Braking, and Traffic Sign Recognition to the newly standard suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies.
As America's best retail-selling minivan 10 years running, American consumers have purchased more than 1.1 million Odyssey minivans during that time, and Odyssey has consistently set the standard for family-friendly features, space and sporty driving performance in a minivan. Odyssey was the first to introduce minivan innovations such as third-row seats that fold into the floor, the first built-in vacuum cleaner, HondaVAC(R), and the first in-cabin rear seat viewing system, CabinWatch(R).
The 2021 Honda Odyssey is made exclusively at Honda's Lincoln, Ala. auto plant, alongside Pilot, Passport, and Ridgeline, using domestic and globally-sourced parts. Its V6 engine is also manufactured in Alabama, with its 10-speed automatic transmission manufactured exclusively at Honda's Tallapoosa, Ga. facility.
2021 Honda Odyssey Pricing & EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
Model / Trim MSRP1 MSRP1 Including $1,120 Destination Charge EPA Mileage Rating (City/Hwy/Combined)2
Odyssey LX $31,790 $32,910 19/28/22
Odyssey EX $35,190 $36,310 19/28/22
Odyssey EX-L $38,460 $39,580 19/28/22
Odyssey Touring $42,500 $43,620 19/28/22
Odyssey Elite $47,820 $48,940 19/28/22
Exterior Design Changes
All 2021 Odysseys now feature more powerful and efficient LED headlights as part of a new front-end design that includes a new front bumper fascia with redesigned fog light housings, and a bold new blackout grille topped by a chrome strip. The design is echoed in the rear with new gloss-black trim under the rear window, accented by a chrome strip. Odyssey Touring gets 19-inch wheels for the first time, while the Odyssey Elite receives newly styled, machined and painted Shark Gray 19-inch alloy wheels. For the 2021 model year, the premium colors Platinum White Pearl, Deep Scarlet Pearl, Pacific Pewter Metallic, and Forest Mist Metallic are available for $395.
Interior Upgrades
With its exclusive Magic Slide(TM) seats, available in EX and higher trim levels, Odyssey offers the ultimate in second-row seating flexibility, and for 2021 that flexibility is expanded with outboard seats that fold nearly flat, making them easier to remove for maximum cargo space. The standard three-across mode offers enough room to fit three child seats, and each second row position is equipped with lower anchors and upper tethers. Remove the center seat, and you have Wide Mode, which creates a wide pass through to the third row. With the click of a handle mounted on the outboard seats, the two can be pushed together at the middle for Buddy Mode, or moved to either side for Super Mode, allowing easy outboard access to the third row.
Odyssey's cargo management is further improved for 2021 with the addition of grocery bag hooks on the back of the third-row seats in the rear cargo area, and an updated center console with slots to help manage charging cords for smartphones or other devices. Also for EX and above trims, the Cabin Control(TM) app has been redesigned with an easier-to-use interface.
Odyssey EX and above trim levels come standard with new tri-color floor mats that not only give Odyssey a more upscale look, but help maintain that look by hiding dirt better. Odyssey EX-L and up add new contrast stitching on the leather seats in all three rows, new storage pockets on the second row outboard seatbacks, and the front passenger seat receives adjustable lumbar support.
For Odyssey Touring and Elite, there's new piano-black interior trim and a new USB charging port in the third row, for a total of five throughout the vehicle. Also, the CabinWatch(R) and CabinTalk(R) features have been more seamlessly integrated in the Display Audio system, and two additional parking sensors in front expanded the sensing zone.
The 2021 Odyssey Elite receives additional exclusive updates, giving owners a more luxurious driving experience. These include perforated leather for the first and second rows seats, with contrast stitching and piping on all three rows. Elite trims also feature exclusive dash trim with a deeper metallic look, plus newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels and auto-dimming side mirrors.
Honda Sensing(R) controls have been simplified with the use of a single integrated system switch to control Collision Mitigation Braking System(TM) and Lane Departure Warning, rather than separate controls for these functions. The single switch also controls the blind spot information system. Mounted on the dash to the left of the driver, a single press opens a menu on the Odyssey's TFT meter display, where the driver can then turn functions on and off using steering wheel controls.
Powertrain
Odyssey drivers benefit from the confidence-inspiring power of a standard 3.5-liter V6 i-VTEC(R) engine producing 280 horsepower (SAE net), mated to Honda's refined and responsive 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel efficiency is aided by Variable Cylinder Management(TM) (VCM(R)), with the capacity to seamlessly switch between three- and six-cylinder operation, helping Odyssey receive EPA fuel economy ratings of 19/28/22 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Powertrain Specs
All Trims
Engine
3.5-liter V6 24-Valve SOHC i-VTEC
Transmission
10-speed automatic
Horsepower @ rpm (SAE net)
280 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque @ rpm (lb.-ft., SAE net)
262 lb.-ft. @ 4,700 rpm
Recommended fuel
Regular Unleaded
CARB emissions rating
Tier 3 Bin 70 / ULEV 70
Tune-up interval
100K +/- Miles No Scheduled Tune Ups
(does not include fluid and filter changes)
Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies
In addition to becoming standard across the lineup, Odyssey's Honda Sensing(R) suite is updated with expanded features and capability: a more advanced front radar unit enables Pedestrian Emergency Braking; Traffic Sign Recognition is newly added; and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) now includes Low-Speed Follow, which extends the automatic following capability to stop-and-go traffic situations down to 0 mph. The new Electric Brake Booster that enables ACC also enhances pedal feel for more confident braking.
Odyssey's new Rear Seat Reminder system alerts drivers to check their rear seating area when exiting the vehicle after placing children, pets or other precious cargo there. When the vehicle is switched off, a chime sounds, and a message to check the rear seating area appears on the instrument panel. On Touring and Elite trims, the Rear-Seat Reminder system is integrated with the CabinWatch(R) rear-seat camera system, the first integration of a rear-seat camera into a Rear Seat Reminder system in the industry. When activated, in addition to the audible and text warnings, the Rear-Seat Reminder uses the CabinWatch(R) camera to display the rear seating area on the center console's Display Audio screen.
Tragically, every year in the United States dozens of children die in vehicles from heat-related illnesses. In 2019, Honda joined other major automakers in pledging to install RSR systems in all of their vehicles by 2025, and Honda expects most of its models to feature the system by 2022.
The 2021 Odyssey earns a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA and is targeted to receive a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, including the highest available rating of "Good" in all IIHS collision tests thanks to its second-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE(TM)) structural design, and a "Superior" rating for frontal cash prevention. Also, the updated standard LED headlights have been designed to provide improved illumination, and are anticipated to achieve a score of "Good" in the rigorous IIHS headlight standard.
Trim Level Summary
LX
Honda Sensing
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF)
Collision Mitigation Braking System(TM) (CMBS(TM)) with Pedestrian Detection
Traffic Sign Recognition
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
Rear Seat Reminder
Cargo Area Seat Back Hooks
LED Headlights
LED daytime running lights
Audio System with 7 Speakers
Color LCD Screen and Multi-View Rear Camera
TFT Meter Display
Bluetooth(R) HandsFreeLink(R)
USB Audio Interface
Push-Button Start
Automatic Climate Control with Air Filtration System
Driver's 8-Way Power Seat
Front Passenger 4-Way Power Seat
Tilt & Telescopic Steering Column
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
Fold-Flat Second Row Seat
60/40 Fold-Down Third Row
Floor Mats
18-inch Alloy Wheels
235/60 R18 All-Season Tires
Power Door Mirrors
LED Taillights
Rear Privacy Glass
Remote Entry w/ Security System
EX - adds or replaces
LED Fog Lights
Magic Slide(TM) Second Row Seats
Second Row Center Seat
Display Audio
Apple CarPlay(R)/Android Auto(TM) Integration
SiriusXM(R) Satellite Radio
HD Radio(TM)
HondaLink(R) with Smart Phone Integration
USB Ports - All 2.5A and Illuminated
CabinControl(TM) Capability
Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control
Driver's 12-Way Power Seat
Heated Front Seats
Second Row Sunshades
Dual Power Sliding Doors
Blind Spot Information System (BSI) w/ Cross Traffic Monitor
Auto High-Beam
Auto-On/Off Headlights
Heated Power Door Mirrors with Turn Indicators
Chrome Outside Door Handles
Body-Color Door Mirrors
Smart Entry System
Remote Engine Start
Walk Away Auto Lock
EX-L - adds or replaces
Front Passenger Seat Power Lumbar
Second-Row Seatback Pockets
Leather-Trimmed Interior with Contrast Stitching
4 USB Ports
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
Driver's 12-Way Power Seat with 2-Position Memory
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
HomeLink System
1-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature
Power Tailgate with Remote
TOURING - adds or replaces
Third-Row USB Port
19-inch Alloy Wheels
Front and Rear Parking Sensors (two front sensors added)
Rear Seat Reminder System with CabinWatch(R)
Rear Seat Entertainment System (RES)
Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(TM)
235/55 R19 All-Season Tires
CabinWatch(R) and CabinTalk(R)
Mobile Hotspot Capability
Third Row Sunshades
ELITE - adds or replaces
Auto-Dimming Side Mirrors
Instrument Panel Ambient Lighting
Seat Piping (all rows)
Perforated Leather Seat Inserts (first and second rows)
19-inch Alloy Wheels with Shark Gray Finish
Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate
Premium Audio System w/ 11 Speakers
HondaVAC(R)
Wireless Phone Charger
Heated Steering Wheel
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
Gloss Black Trim Pieces
Rain Sensing Wipers
Power-Folding Door Mirrors
New items in bold
About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda's electrified vehicle lineup includes the Insight hybrid-electric sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, and the Clarity series.
Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2019, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
For More Information
Additional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of all 2020 Honda models is available at hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.