Improved performance and some truly useful upgrades such - 2018 Honda Odyssey Review
0Odyssey or Pacifica? After 40,000 miles in the Odyssey, we determine that it depends on how much you value seating flexibility. And if you enjoy driving.
Whether by stigma, buyer preferences toward SUVs, or some sinister combination of both reasons, the minivan market has shrunk as if it's just waded into frigid water. Only a handful of players remain, and among those there is a clear division between the best—Chrysler's Pacifica and Honda's Odyssey—and the rest.
Running Costs Compared
Coincidentally, we're completing our 40,000-mile long-term test of Honda's latest Odyssey only a few months after wrapping up our identical test of a Chrysler Pacifica. (We've now also added a plug-in Pacifica hybrid to the fleet—because we like minivans, can't you tell?) With a combined 80,000 miles of seat time in the two vans, we've garnered extensive firsthand experience with what separates them (beyond the fact that the Pacifica earned our nod for a 10Best Trucks and SUVs award for Best Minivan two years running).
It isn't running costs: The Odyssey averaged 23 mpg during its stay with us, while the Pacifica was just behind it at 22 mpg. The Honda's $566 in service costs was almost identical to what we spent on the Pacifica: $572. The only out-of-the-ordinary service the Honda required was a pair of replacement rear window switches around 17,000 miles, which was covered under warranty, and an infotainment issue detailed below. If a built-in vacuum cleaner is a must-have, both the Pacifica and the Odyssey offer one, although the Pacifica makes you give up the spare tire to get it. Neither van represents particular value relative to the other—although the Honda comes standard with many active-safety features that are optional on the Chrysler—and both can be optioned to near $50,000. However, the Honda retains its value far better. According to ALG, after two years and 30,000 miles, an Odyssey that stickered at $45,000 is worth $9000 more than an equivalent Pacifica. And as we've mentioned, Chrysler offers a plug-in-hybrid version of the Pacifica; Honda offers no hybridized Odyssey equivalent.
HIGHS: Fine driving manners, powerful V-6, comfortable seats.
Where Each Excels
A few key subjective preferences are what separate the Honda and Chrysler atop the minivan pedestal. We can guarantee that your selection of one van over the other will come down to your desires surrounding handling, rear-seat comfort, and cargo-hauling flexibility—the three primary areas in which the Odyssey and Pacifica diverge. The good news? Should the Honda's alchemy not tickle your fancy, chances are the Pacifica's will. This is what makes the two minivans' battle so tit-for-tat: Each van trades competencies catering to different audiences.
Over 40,000 miles of testing, the Odyssey distinguished itself as the driver's choice in the minivan segment. It absolutely does not feel like a mail truck from behind the wheel, thanks to its well-sorted, firmly damped suspension; accurate steering; and athletic 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine. When new, the Honda laid down an impressive 6.7-second zero-to-60-mph time; at the end of 40,000 miles, its acceleration didn't change. The Pacifica was 0.6 second slower than the Odyssey when new, closing the gap by only 0.1 second by the end of its stay with us.
Because Honda and Chrysler seemingly refuse to shade each other's vans in any way save for their basic shapes, the two use different shifter layouts, each unique in their own ways. The Pacifica uses a large knob, while the Odyssey employs Honda's newfangled pushbutton controls. Since we've already experienced these buttons in our long-term Pilot—and, more recently, in our Accord sedan—most drivers were used to the arrangement, which escaped complaint throughout the test. To recap, park is activated via a button, reverse functions via a pull-back tab (sort of like a window switch), and neutral is another button, as is drive; these controls are organized in a line and follow the PRNDL configuration. There is no "low" setting, but pressing the drive button twice activates a Sport mode.
Dynamic problems were few. The Odyssey posts far longer braking distances from 70 mph than does the Chrysler, and its brake pedal swings through a squishier arc. Our van wasn't included in the recall to address soft brake pedals in Odysseys. We also recorded an average 0.77-g skidpad-grip figure, whereas the Pacifica posted a '90s-sports-car-like 0.89 g at the end of its test. Blame the Honda's rather narrow, comfort-minded Bridgestone tires; the Pacifica rides on a more aggressive set of Michelins. Drivers also complained that the Odyssey's accelerator pedal needed to be pressed rather far to wake up the V-6 and 10-speed auto powertrain combo (lesser models use a nine-speed), but once prodded, it proved spry enough to scoot the van into gaps in traffic. Overall, the Honda feels lighter on its feet and more willing to be driven