2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar design with subtle updates for the model year. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert across the taillights. The Touring trim introduced a new 19-inch wheel design. These changes aimed to modernize the Odyssey by minimizing brightwork. The interior boasted perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and ambient lighting, enhancing its upscale appeal. The Odyssey Touring, with its refined wheels and toned-down chrome, approached the luxury of an Acura minivan.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid maintained a distinctive look with its blunt, bulbous nose and black windshield pillars, creating a floating roof effect. Its swollen haunches balanced the design, though the flared quarter panels could overwhelm. Offered in LE, XLE, Limited, or Platinum trims, the Highlander Hybrid's styling required an acclimation period. The Platinum trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, surround-view camera, and electronic AWD. Despite its quality execution, some interior elements, like the instrument-panel shroud, felt cheap. The two-tone cabin with leather upholstery added an upscale touch, though reflections on the screen were an issue.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower. It offered smooth power delivery and included variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency, averaging 10.8 L/100 km in testing. However, it lacked all-wheel drive, a disadvantage in snowy Canadian conditions. The Odyssey featured a new electronic brake booster, enhancing adaptive cruise control and brake pedal feel. While enjoyable to drive, the brakes struggled under heavy use, especially during a heatwave, indicating a need for upgrades.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid switched to a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 243 horsepower and achieving 6.7 L/100 km in combined driving. While more efficient than its predecessor, the Highlander Hybrid's performance was lacklustre, with strained acceleration and a noisy drivetrain. The steering felt lifeless, and the ride was soft, leading to unwanted body movement. On smooth roads, it handled well, but rough terrain revealed its shortcomings. The Highlander Hybrid excelled in urban settings with immediate electric motor torque and a quiet freeway ride, though it lacked driving enjoyment.

Inside the 2021 Honda Odyssey, drivers enjoyed legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat was comfortable, with heated front seats and mirrors standard in Canada. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout offered versatile configurations, though removing the second-row seats for maximum cargo space was cumbersome. Cargo capacity was impressive, with 929 litres behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres overall.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum provided roomy accommodations with a 10-way power driver’s seat and heated, ventilated front seats. The second-row bench seat increased capacity to eight but felt narrow for three adults. The third-row seat was uncomfortable, with limited legroom and headroom. Storage was adequate but less generous than before, with a wireless charger blocking access to the centre storage bin. Cargo space measured 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,387 litres with seats folded.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Cabin Control app. Higher trims added navigation, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk systems. The Touring trim offered an 11-speaker audio system and Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice recognition were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen and streaming apps, though it lacked a touchscreen interface.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The Platinum trim boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen, JBL audio system, and navigation. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large knobs and shortcut buttons. The JBL sound system's performance varied, and the Driver Easy Speak feature projected the driver’s voice to rear passengers. A video rearview mirror provided a clear view behind the vehicle.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with standard Honda Sensing, including adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score. The adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning systems were effective but could be smoother.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, with automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, and emergency steering assistance. The Platinum trim included a surround-view camera. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance were effective but occasionally uneven. The Highlander earned a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star frontal-impact ratings.