2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a popular choice for families, offering practicality and comfort. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces. The minivan's third-row seat provided ample space for passengers, making it ideal for carpooling or family trips. With a design that included kinked sliding doors and stylish 19-inch wheels, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style despite its utilitarian nature. Inside, the Odyssey featured a classic open-concept design with leather upholstery and a user-friendly centre stack, ensuring a comfortable and convenient driving experience.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda Pilot was redesigned with a more rugged and substantial appearance. It was larger than its predecessor, with an upright grille and boxier styling that emphasized its all-terrain capabilities. The Pilot's interior was more conventional, focusing on functionality and versatility. It offered heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a range of storage solutions. The Pilot's design prioritized function over form, providing a tidy and utilitarian aesthetic that appealed to families seeking both comfort and practicality.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey delivered a fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite its focus on family transport, the Odyssey offered a pleasant driving experience, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes tended to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Honda Pilot, on the other hand, featured an all-new 3.5-litre V6 engine with 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It came with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Pilot's acceleration was quick, and its brake pedal was easy to modulate for smooth stops. While it wasn't designed for sporty driving, the Pilot provided a comfortable and confident ride. The TrailSport trim offered increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities without sacrificing on-road comfort. The Pilot's towing capacity reached up to 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs), making it a versatile choice for families with adventurous lifestyles.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, it featured quality leather seats, a tri-zone climate control system, and ample storage space. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, while the third-row seat provided comfort for adults. With 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with seats removed, the Odyssey excelled in cargo capacity, making it ideal for family trips and errands.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's interior was more conventional, with a focus on practicality. It featured a dash shelf, a seven-inch or nine-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a range of storage solutions. The second-row centre seat was stowable, providing a pass-through to the third row. The Pilot offered generous space in the second row, while the third row was suitable for short trips. Cargo capacity ranged from 635 litres behind the third row to 3,219 litres with seats folded, surpassing many competitors. A power tailgate was standard, with hands-free operation on higher trims.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring trim was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, and smartphone connectivity. It featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies, a rear entertainment system, and a premium audio system. However, the infotainment system was considered outdated, with a small screen and limited voice command functionality. A major upgrade was needed to keep up with competitors.

The 2023 Honda Pilot offered a more advanced technology package, especially in higher trims. The EX-L trim and above featured a larger touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, and a wireless charger. The Touring trim added a multi-view camera system, head-up display, and digital instrument panel. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with quick responses and a logical layout. CabinTalk and a premium audio system were also included, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured a rear-seat reminder system and optional blind-spot monitoring. While the safety features were comprehensive, they lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings. The Odyssey received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2023 Honda Pilot also boasted a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added parking sensors and multi-view camera systems. The Pilot's safety systems performed well, with no false alarms during testing. It earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA ratings were not yet available.