2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors were a standout, making it easy to load children into car seats even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey offered a spacious and comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpool groups without hassle. Its cargo space was impressive, with the ability to fold down seats to rival the capacity of a Chevrolet Suburban. Despite the minivan's practicality, its image was often overshadowed by the more stylish crossover SUVs, though the Odyssey did attempt to inject some style with its kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim. Inside, the Odyssey featured a classic open-concept design with quality leather upholstery and a user-friendly centre stack, though the placement of switchgear initially seemed haphazard.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, on the other hand, had evolved from its origins as a "cute ute" into a mature crossover SUV, often topping sales charts. Its exterior design was in line with current crossover trends, with angular flourishes and expressive headlights giving it a playful yet aggressive look. The RAV4's interior boasted a layered dash with contrasting textures and colours, and a well-placed touchscreen interface for minimal distraction. The design details, such as a circuit-board-inspired geometric pattern, tied the cabin together, and the 19-inch matte gray alloy wheels added to its appeal. The RAV4's fit and finish reflected Toyota's commitment to quality, making it a popular choice among drivers seeking a reliable and stylish crossover.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in a fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite this, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes were prone to heating up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling. This issue was more pronounced when the vehicle was fully loaded, highlighting a need for more robust braking performance.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered three powertrain options, with the gasoline-only model featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on higher trims. The RAV4's fuel economy ranged from 8.8 to 9.5 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, depending on the drivetrain. The RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime offered even better fuel efficiency, with the Prime capable of running up to 68 kilometres on electricity alone. The RAV4's handling was car-like, with a four-wheel independent suspension and dynamic torque vectoring on AWD models, enhancing its performance on various road conditions.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, it featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone climate control system. The Odyssey excelled in storage space, with numerous compartments and a centre console tray. Its Magic Slide second-row seats offered flexibility for child seat installation and access to the third row. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey boasted 929 litres of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo capacity to 2,452 litres, and removing the second-row seats expanded it to 3,984 litres, rivaling larger SUVs.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, classified as a small SUV, offered 1,059 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 1,977 litres with the seats folded flat. It had a healthy payload capacity and towing capabilities, with Trail and TRD Off-Road models able to tow up to 1,588 kilograms. Inside, the RAV4 provided ample space for four adults, with comfortable front seats and a roomy centre console. The second-row bench seat was less desirable for the middle passenger but still functional. The RAV4's interior featured numerous storage options, including cupholders, bottle holders, and a spacious glove compartment.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system lagged behind competitors. It included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. The Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink services, and a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies allowed the driver to monitor and communicate with rear passengers. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was criticized for its small screen size and lack of a tuning knob, and its navigation system required specific voice commands.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered a robust technology package, with a 7-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, and smartphone integration as standard. Higher trims featured a 9-inch touchscreen, 11-speaker JBL audio system, and additional connectivity options. The RAV4 Prime showcased advanced technology, including multiple USB ports, auxiliary power outlets, and ambient lighting. Top trims offered a wireless charging pad, bird’s-eye view camera, digital rear-view mirror, and head-up display, enhancing the RAV4's appeal to tech-savvy buyers.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also included automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing was noted for its lack of refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 featured Toyota’s Star Safety System, including stability control, traction control, and anti-lock braking. It also had Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, with pre-collision systems, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure alert. In Canada, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. The RAV4 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.