2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2023 Genesis GV70

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 with ease. Its cargo space was impressive, rivaling that of larger SUVs when the seats were folded or removed. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to incorporate a sense of style, particularly in the Touring trim with its dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2023 Genesis GV70 was a compact luxury SUV that exuded sophistication and elegance. Its design drew inspiration from the G70 sedan, featuring split-bar headlights and a strong chrome line that added a coupe-like flair. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with high-quality materials and a contemporary yet classic aesthetic. The dashboard housed a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly experience. The GV70's interior was well-appointed, with features like a panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather seating, and a Lexicon premium audio system available in higher trims.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by 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. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey offered a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During a test drive, the Odyssey averaged 10.4 L/100 km, showcasing its efficiency. However, the brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and noise, especially when the vehicle was fully loaded.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive. The GV70's performance was well-rounded, blending comfort and sharp handling. The Electrified GV70 variant featured dual electric motors with a combined output of 429 horsepower, which could be boosted to 483 horsepower for short bursts. It offered a range of 383 kilometres and supported fast charging, making it a compelling option for those seeking an electric luxury SUV.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided a spacious and versatile interior, with easy access thanks to its wide-opening doors and low ride height. The Touring trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing passenger comfort and safety. The third-row seat was notably comfortable, offering ample leg support and foot room. With 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with the seats removed, the Odyssey excelled in cargo capacity, rivaling larger SUVs.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 818 litres with them in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. The GV70's interior featured a hands-free power liftgate, large cupholders, and a centre console with a retractable lid. While the front seats were comfortable and adjustable, the rear seats had tighter legroom, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench could recline, providing some flexibility for passenger comfort.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. It included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies for monitoring and communicating with rear passengers. The rear entertainment system featured a 10.2-inch display with media playback options, but it was considered outdated compared to competitors. The Odyssey's infotainment system lacked a tuning knob and had a small screen, making it less user-friendly. Navigation relied on specific voice commands, often leading to frustration.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 boasted a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The interface was intuitive, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 included four USB ports, wireless charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An 18-speaker Lexicon audio system and a digital key were available. However, the rotary dial for the infotainment system was located near the vehicle's rotary shifter, which could lead to confusion.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings or taking abrupt actions. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive array of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and highway driving assist. Higher trims added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera. The Electrified GV70 included most of these features as standard. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.