When it comes to the Honda Odyssey, it doesn’t matter which model year you’re referring to, this minivan remains one of the best family vehicles in South Dakota thanks to responsive handling, impressive fuel economy, flexible seating configurations, and an upscale cabin that offers a wealth of useful features. But Sioux Falls car shoppers probably want to know what the difference is between the 2021 Honda Odyssey and 2020 Odyssey. Luckily, Vern Eide Honda is here with the latest 2021 Odyssey changes.
Odyssey’s interior takes center stage for the 2021 model year refresh, not only adding new styling elements throughout the cabin but creating more cargo-hauling possibilities as well. Every 2021 Odyssey now features second-row seats that fold almost completely flat, making them easier to remove and allowing more configurations for the Magic Slide™ second-row seats. Honda has also upgraded the Odyssey base model to include the following standard features:
Most exciting for 2021, perhaps, is the industry-first Rear Seat Reminder. After the Odyssey is shut down, the system will alert drivers with an audible warning and visual notification on the instrument panel, making it nearly impossible to forget your children or pets in the rear seats. On Touring and Elite trims, the Rear Seat Reminder is integrated with the CabinWatch® rear-seat camera system.
What’s new for the 2021 Honda Odyssey Elite model? The minivan’s top trim level has added luxurious touches to an already top tier driving experience. Exterior updates are minimal, yet significant, with machined and painted Shark Gray 19-inch alloy wheels and auto-dimming side mirrors. Inside, the Odyssey Elite features perforated leather upholstery in the first and second rows, while all three rows of seating receive contrast stitching and piping. Other highlights of the 2021 Odyssey Elite interior include an exclusive, deep metallic dashboard trim, new piano-black accents, and a newly-added USB port in the third row.
“The Honda Odyssey is a great minivan that hits all the right notes. It has one of the nicest cabins in the segment, with comfortable and roomy seats, even in the third row, an intuitive infotainment system, and clever features that allow parents to communicate with their kids in the back row while driving. This van also earns praise for being one of the most fun-to-drive family-haulers out there, and it earns good fuel economy estimates to boot.” 1
“The 2021 Honda Odyssey continues the winning ways of the best-selling minivan in the United States. During its lifetime where more than 1.1 million have found homes on American driveways, the Odyssey has become a Kelley Blue Book favorite, winning our Minivan Best Buy award in 2018, 2019 and 2020, Best Resale Value award in 2020, plus a 5-Year Cost to Own Award and Best Family Car award in 2019. The Honda Odyssey provides family transport for up to eight occupants that’s user-friendly, well thought out, and with a certain class.” 2
“Your choices are relatively limited if you’re in the market for a minivan. Luckily for you, the 2021 Honda Odyssey is so much better than the rest that your search can start and end here. The Odyssey does all the minivan stuff well — there’s plenty of passenger and cargo room, and its V6 has plenty of sauce to move this eight-passenger vehicle with authority.” 3