2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Ford Bronco

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar yet refreshed appearance, with subtle updates to its decade-old styling theme. 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 reducing brightwork. The interior upgrades, including perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, ambient dashboard lighting, and tri-colour floor mats, contributed to a more upscale look and feel, positioning the Odyssey Touring as a luxurious option within the minivan segment.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Bronco captivated with its retro styling and rugged, go-anywhere attitude. The Bronco's lineup expanded with the introduction of the Everglades and Bronco Raptor models, designed for extreme off-road adventures. The Everglades model, equipped with an intake snorkel, Warn winch, and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires, was built for swamp trekking and deep water challenges. The Bronco's design emphasized off-road capabilities, with short overhangs, low-profile bumpers, and a tall ride height enhancing its approach and departure angles. The utilitarian appearance was complemented by features like large recovery hooks, removable fender flares, and a full-size spare mounted to the tailgate, making customization easy and appealing to its enthusiastic fan base.

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. This combination provided smooth and effortless power, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, Eco, and Snow, and paddle shifters for manual control. The Odyssey's fuel efficiency was supported by variable cylinder management, achieving an average of 10.8 L/100 km in testing. However, the lack of all-wheel drive put the Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy Canadian conditions. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, although the brakes showed signs of fade under heavy use.

The 2022 Ford Bronco offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 2.7-litre V6 engine with 330 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Bronco's seven-speed manual transmission, available with the four-cylinder engine, featured a crawl gear for low-speed, high-torque driving. All models came with four-wheel drive and an electronic two-speed transfer case. The Bronco excelled in off-road performance, with models like the Everglades conquering challenging terrains with ease. On-road, the Bronco provided a smoother ride and more precise steering than its direct rival, the Jeep Wrangler, making it a versatile choice for both off-road adventures and highway travel.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a spacious and well-organized interior, with legible instrumentation and logical controls. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, standard in all but the base trim, provided comfort with inboard adjustable armrests. Heated front seats and outboard mirrors were standard in Canada, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available in higher trims. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with a maximum volume of 3,984 litres, although removing the second-row seats was necessary to achieve this capacity.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's boxy design contributed to its spacious interior, offering ample headroom and legroom for passengers. The two-door model provided 634 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,481 litres with the seats folded. The four-door model increased these figures to 1,008 litres and 2,197 litres, respectively. Clever storage solutions included netted door pockets, a rubberized phone tray, and accessory rails atop the dash. The Bronco's utility was further enhanced by external hard mounting points and removable fender flares, making it a practical choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and satellite radio. Higher trims added a navigation system, CabinWatch interior camera, and CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. The Touring trim offered an 11-speaker premium audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were notable drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, and wireless headphones, though the absence of a touchscreen disappointed younger passengers.

The 2022 Ford Bronco integrated technology to enhance its off-road capabilities, with G.O.A.T. modes optimizing drivetrain and chassis settings for specific terrains. The forward-looking trail camera provided confidence in navigating challenging paths, while the Trail Turn Assist feature improved maneuverability in tight spaces. The Sync 4 infotainment system offered quick responses, sharp graphics, and helpful off-road apps, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration standard across all models.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey's structural integrity earned it top ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star score for rollover resistance. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning systems could be smoother in operation.

The 2022 Ford Bronco offered standard safety features like hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional packages added features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Bronco received a four-star rating for frontal crash protection and a three-star rating for rollover protection from the NHTSA, while the IIHS awarded it top scores in most categories. The Bronco's safety systems functioned reliably, with no false alarms or glitches.