2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a clever adaptation of the Impreza hatchback, designed to capture the growing interest in crossovers. By incorporating rugged aesthetics, all-wheel drive, and a higher driving position, Subaru successfully transformed the Impreza into a more SUV-like vehicle. The Crosstrek stood out with its black body cladding, model-specific alloy wheels, and increased ground clearance, which gave it a more adventurous character compared to the base Impreza. The vibrant colour options, such as Plasma Yellow Pearl, added to its appeal. Despite these changes, the Crosstrek retained the same Subaru Global Platform, ensuring a level of refinement and polish consistent with other Subaru models.

Inside, the Crosstrek's interior remained largely unchanged from the Impreza, offering functionality but lacking in visual flair. The Outdoor grade featured unique interior accents, though some elements, like the simulated carbon-fibre trim, appeared less premium. The water-repellant upholstery was a practical addition for outdoor enthusiasts. Overall, the Crosstrek managed to balance its SUV-like appearance with the practicality and comfort of a hatchback, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a versatile vehicle.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made loading children into car seats a breeze, and the spacious third-row seat provided comfort for additional passengers. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering ample room for gear and groceries without the risk of items tumbling out when the liftgate was opened. Despite the minivan's practicality, it faced competition from the growing number of crossover SUVs, which often overshadowed its convenience with their more appealing image.

The Odyssey's design incorporated stylish elements, such as kinked sliding doors and character lines, giving it a touch of flair. The Touring trim level featured dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, adding to its visual appeal. Inside, the Odyssey offered a classic open-concept design with quality leather upholstery and a well-organized centre stack. The expansive windshield and small front quarter windows provided excellent visibility, enhancing the driving experience. Overall, the Odyssey combined practicality with a sense of style, making it a strong contender for families in need of a spacious and comfortable vehicle.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrain options. The Outdoor and Limited trims featured a new 2.5-litre boxer-four engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Other trims continued with the 2.0-litre boxer-four engine, producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The boxer engine's design, with cylinders parallel to the ground, contributed to a lower centre of gravity, enhancing handling. However, the SUV-like ride height somewhat negated this benefit. A six-speed manual transmission was available with the 2.0-litre engine, but most buyers opted for the CVT, which was standard on Sport and Limited trims. All trims came with standard AWD, a rarity among small crossovers. The Crosstrek's X-Mode, with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes, provided some off-road capability, though it was primarily suited for on-road use. The new 2.5-litre engine offered improved power, but the difference in performance was not dramatic, with acceleration remaining adequate.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The front-wheel-drive minivan featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer AWD or an electrified powertrain. Its fuel consumption was estimated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. While not as fuel-efficient as hybrid rivals, the Odyssey provided a more engaging driving experience. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 10.4 L/100 km on a varied driving route. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill grades led to pedal vibration and audible grumbling, a concern when the van was fully loaded. Despite this, the Odyssey remained quick and responsive, offering a pleasant driving experience. However, its brakes needed improvement to handle the demands of carrying multiple passengers on challenging roads.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek shared its front and rear legroom with the Impreza hatchback, while offering slightly more rear headroom. Cargo space was competitive, with 588 litres available with the rear seats in place and 1,565 litres with the seats folded. This made the Crosstrek comparable to other small crossovers in passenger space, though it lagged behind some rivals in cargo capacity. The CVT-equipped models featured a rear-seat reminder system, though its effectiveness was debatable. Up front, the Crosstrek provided a convenient cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports, though rear-seat passengers had limited access to charging options. Storage space was minimal, but bottle holders in the doors were a practical touch. The driving position was higher than the Impreza's, offering good outward visibility, though it didn't provide the commanding view of traditional SUVs.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Touring trim featured quality leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey excelled in storage space, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. Second-row seats provided ample legroom and could be configured for various needs, thanks to the Magic Slide feature. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, with good leg support and foot room. Behind the third-row seat, the Odyssey offered 929 litres of cargo space, doubling that of many midsize crossovers. Folding the third-row seat created 2,452 litres of space, while removing the second-row seats expanded it to 3,984 litres. However, the seats were heavy and challenging to reinstall.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek featured the Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Higher trims received an 8-inch touchscreen, with navigation standard on the Limited trim. Subaru's use of a secondary screen above the main touchscreen was somewhat redundant. The 8-inch touchscreen was user-friendly, with large analog knobs and buttons for essential functions. The steering wheel featured chunky buttons for EyeSight driver-assistance features, enhancing usability.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. Navigation was standard on EX-L Navi and Touring trims, with HondaLink connected services available on Touring. The Odyssey's CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies allowed the driver to monitor and communicate with rear passengers. The rear entertainment system, standard on Touring, included a 10.2-inch display and wireless headphones. However, the system was outdated compared to rivals. The Touring trim also featured an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system's 8-inch screen felt small, and the lack of a tuning knob was a drawback. The embedded navigation system required specific voice commands, making smartphone connectivity a better option for navigation.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. EyeSight driver-assist features were standard on CVT-equipped models, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. EyeSight's cameras were well-protected but could be obstructed by wipers or sunlight.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured Honda Sensing as standard, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on Touring trim. Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with some features responding too sharply. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.