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Honda, Chrysler, and Toyota remain the leaders in American minivans. All offer ample space for large families. Each model has some pluses and minuses. Here are our thoughts on the best versions of Honda in 2025.
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite – What is it?
The Odyssey is a minivan that seats up to eight people. Although it is a very large car, considering the passenger capacity, the height from the ground is lower than that of an SUV. It also makes better use of its interior space than an SUV. Elite is the most luxurious trim in the line.
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite – How much does it cost?
The Odyssey Elite is priced at $52,275, which includes Honda’s $1,395 shipping charge but excludes dealer documentation fees for additional dealer content. Normally I don’t talk about it in this section, but Odyssey is worth commenting on here. At around $52,000, this car is arguably the largest and most luxurious large family car one can buy. I think it surpasses the Toyota Sienna in terms of luxury and ride comfort. With small/midsize 5-passenger wagons like the Toyota Crown Signia pushing $50,000 and mainstream 5-passenger crossovers now costing almost a flat $40,000 in top trim, the Odyssey is a family favorite. For buyers, it offers a car that is much more expensive than most. other options.
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite – How does it drive?
The great thing about the 2025 Odyssey Elite is that we love driving it. Unlike an eight-seater SUV, this vehicle has a lower ground clearance like a larger car. This makes getting in and out more comfortable. When you step inside, you will feel a spacious and relaxing space. Since this is a Honda product, all the switches and buttons are exactly where they should be, function accurately, and feel better in the hand than most others on the market, regardless of segment.
The buttery smooth V6 engine is perfect for this mission. In conjunction with the geared transmission, it provides satisfying acceleration in all situations. Once you get going, the Odyssey’s drive feels smaller than it actually is. It feels like a large premium wagon. This is a family car, and when you drive it as such, it’s a comfortable and very enjoyable ride. We found it much easier to park and navigate around a parking lot than any eight-passenger SUV we’ve tested.
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite – Notable Features
Odyssey has it all. ‘Leather-trimmed’ seats with heating and ventilation. Heated steering wheel. It’s a great audio system. Power side doors that can be operated from the driver’s seat or key fob. Power and Aux connections to the rear seat entertainment system throughout the rear seat area.
Massive cargo space, even when using the tall low.
A compact spare tire fits neatly under the middle row floor. After all, you’d be crazy to buy a family car without a spare, right?
One really useful feature is a handbag or bag holder on the passenger seat.
Odyssey has a huge greenhouse with amazing views. But Honda wisely chose an easy-to-lift wiper design and the vehicle’s low ride height, making cleaning the glass easy.
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite – What’s missing?
It’s a shame there’s no hybrid option. If you want an Odyssey, don’t crunch the fuel cost numbers against the Sienna. AWD version not available. For my family in New England, the Honda Pilot would be a good choice, and it’s also a very good option. That’s all we could come up with. This vehicle has it all and more.
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite – Conclusion
The Odyssey has spent decades honing and honing it into the jewel of a large family car. If you can live without AWD, trust this veteran vehicle tester. The $52,000 Odyssey Elite is arguably the best front-wheel-drive luxury family car.
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John Goreham is an experienced New England Automotive Writers Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles and then spent 20 years working in high tech, biopharmaceutical, and automotive supply chains before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his 11 years at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews in American news organizations. He is known for offering his unfiltered opinions on automotive topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on X Channel. Please note that John’s signed articles are in no way generated by AI, but do use Grammarly grammar and punctuation software when proofreading.
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite image by John Gorham.
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