2021 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Toyota Venza, when introduced, was often likened to a Lexus due to its sleek design and elongated profile, reminiscent of the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. This SUV, available in three trims—LE, XLE, and Limited—offered a choice of seven paint colours, though not all were available across every trim. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, a wireless charging pad, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The Venza XLE added elements like 19-inch alloy wheels and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, while the Limited trim boasted a digital rearview mirror and a Star Gaze panoramic roof.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan designed with family convenience in mind. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, and it offered a comfortable third-row seat for additional passengers. The Odyssey's design included kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines, giving it a stylish edge. The Touring trim, which we tested, featured dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and a spacious interior with leather upholstery. The Odyssey's open-concept design provided ample storage and a low console between the front seats, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Toyota Venza was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. While not the most powerful in its class, the Venza offered smooth acceleration and confident handling. Its all-wheel-drive system ensured stability, and it excelled in fuel efficiency, achieving an estimated 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 6.1 L/100 km combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/240,000-kilometre warranty.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan used a 10-speed automatic transmission and averaged 10.4 L/100 km during testing. While it lacked the hybrid options of some competitors, the Odyssey offered a fun driving experience with responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and noise. Despite this, the Odyssey remained quick and composed on various road types.

Inside the 2021 Toyota Venza, the cabin featured premium appointments with a unique design. The centre stack housed capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls, while the deep centre console offered ample storage. The Venza provided comfortable seating for five, with more headroom than the RAV4. Its cargo space, at 816 litres, was sufficient for daily use, though less than some competitors. The quick-flip rear seatbacks made arranging cargo easy.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey excelled in interior space and versatility. Its wide-opening doors and low seating position made entry easy. The Touring trim offered quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. With 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with seats removed, the Odyssey provided ample room for family adventures.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system in the LE trim, while the XLE and Limited trims had a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune system, though improved, was not the most user-friendly. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a six-speaker audio system. The XLE and Limited trims included a nine-speaker JBL audio system. Toyota's connected services, such as Safety Connect and Remote Connect, were also available.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Touring trim added CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear entertainment system, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was considered outdated compared to rivals, with a small screen and limited voice command capabilities.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering features like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic emergency braking. It also included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venza received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.