2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar yet refreshed appearance, with updates to the grille, front bumper, and taillights, alongside standard LED headlights across all trims. The Touring trim introduced a new 19-inch wheel design, enhancing its modern appeal. The interior boasted perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, contributing to an upscale feel. The Odyssey's design tweaks aimed to reduce brightwork, giving it a more sophisticated look, while the new dashboard ambient lighting added a touch of luxury. Despite these updates, the Odyssey maintained its reputation as a practical and stylish minivan.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse underwent a light restyle, featuring new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with redesigned aluminum wheels. The RS trim, with its blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, stood out for its appealing aesthetics. The Traverse's design was marked by crisply tailored lines and tasteful details, offering a restrained yet attractive look. Inside, the RS trim featured black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, creating a sleek and modern cabin. Despite some hard plastic surfaces, the Traverse's interior was logically laid out, with user-friendly controls and a focus on practicality.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This combination delivered smooth and effortless power, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, Eco, and Snow. The Odyssey's fuel economy was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, and it averaged 10.8 L/100 km during testing. While the Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive, it featured an electronic brake booster and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow capability. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with well-weighted steering and firm yet comfortable suspension. However, the brakes showed signs of fade under heavy use.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a 3.6-litre V6 engine generating 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse's tow rating was 2,268 kilograms, with driving modes for Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided adequate power, and the Traverse achieved a fuel economy of 11.3 L/100 km in combined driving. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, with good road feel and handling. On the highway, it excelled, though road and wind noise were noticeable. The Traverse's suspension limited body roll, providing a flat cornering attitude, but the all-season tires and softer ride at higher speeds affected its overall performance.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a spacious and practical interior, with legible instrumentation and logical controls. The driver's seat was comfortable and adjustable, with heated front seats and mirrors standard in Canada. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seat layout provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 929 litres behind the third row, expanding to 3,984 litres with seats folded. However, removing the second-row seats for maximum cargo volume was cumbersome.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a roomy interior with power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row captain's chairs offered a wide pass-through for easy access to the third row. The Traverse's Smart Slide function allowed for convenient entry and exit, even with child safety seats installed. Cargo space was ample, with 651 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,781 litres with seats folded. The Traverse's hidden storage compartments added to its practicality, though folding the third-row seats required sliding the second-row chairs forward.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and more. The Touring trim added a navigation system, CabinWatch interior camera, and CabinTalk PA system. 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 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The RS trim included a Bose premium sound system, though it was not particularly impressive. The Traverse's voice recognition system was responsive and accurate, enhancing the user experience. The available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera improved visibility, while the Teen Driver technology provided added safety for young drivers.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing as standard, offering advanced driving assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though the adaptive cruise control's braking could be smoother.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse included Chevy Safety Assist as standard, with features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received Good ratings from the IIHS, though its LED headlights and seatbelt reminders were rated Poor.