2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar yet refreshed appearance, with subtle updates to its styling. The new model year introduced a redesigned grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching across the taillights. The Touring trim debuted a new 19-inch wheel design, enhancing the minivan's modern appeal by minimizing brightwork. The interior received upgrades such as perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and tri-colour floor mats, contributing to a more luxurious feel. The Odyssey was available in four trim levels, with pricing ranging from $44,645 to $55,845, and an additional $300 for colours other than grey or silver.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its design with Nissan's new signature exterior style. The SUV featured a redesigned grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED headlights and taillights, maintaining its traditional robust and athletic body styling. The Armada was available in SL and Platinum trims, with the latter offering captain’s chairs as an option. The exterior updates included body-colour over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and a new Nissan logo. Despite these changes, the Armada retained its underbite, which quickly accumulated dirt and mud. The interior, while upgraded with new tech features, remained dated, with design choices that detracted from its overall aesthetic.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. The drivetrain remained unchanged from the previous year, offering smooth and effortless power. The engine featured variable cylinder management for improved fuel efficiency, with a combined consumption of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres, although testing showed an average of 10.8 L/100 km. The Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive, a disadvantage in snowy Canadian conditions. However, it included a new electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response, although the brakes showed signs of fade under heavy use.

The 2021 Nissan Armada came equipped with a 5.6-litre V8 engine and a 7-speed automatic transmission, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The SUV featured automatic four-wheel drive and was capable off-road, with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. The Armada's fuel efficiency was less impressive, with a combined consumption of 15.4 litres per 100 kilometres. The SUV offered a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,856 kilograms, but its handling and maneuverability were typical of a large SUV, with a wide turning radius and limited parking lot agility.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a well-designed interior with legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The driver's seat was 12-way power-adjustable, with heated front seats and mirrors standard in Canada. The Odyssey featured Honda’s Magic Slide second-row seat layout, allowing for various seating configurations. Cargo space was generous, with 929 litres behind the third row, expanding to 3,984 litres with seats removed. However, removing the second-row seats was cumbersome, despite improvements in seat folding.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as a full-size SUV, provided a spacious interior with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The dashboard featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, though some controls were out of reach. The front seats were 10-way power-adjustable, with optional second-row captain’s chairs in the Platinum trim. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 2,692 litres with seats folded. The high load floor made loading challenging, and small-item storage was limited, though the centre console offered deep storage.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and more. Higher trims added navigation, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. The Touring trim featured an 11-speaker audio system, wireless charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen and streaming apps, though it lacked a touchscreen interface.

The 2021 Nissan Armada boasted a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and rear-seat entertainment system. The Armada's steering wheel allowed limited control of the infotainment system, and while functional, it lacked the sophistication of competitors.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured Honda Sensing as standard, with enhancements such as low-speed follow capability, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey was expected to maintain its Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with top NHTSA ratings except for a four-star rollover score. The ADAS worked accurately, though not always smoothly, with some systems applying uneven braking or using less effective notifications.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating. The SUV came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and more. While the lane departure warning was overly sensitive, the automatic high beams were slow to activate. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system, though advanced driving assist technologies were not available.