2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey offered a comfortable third-row seat, making it ideal for family outings or carpools, with ample cargo space that rivaled larger SUVs when the seats were folded down. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, particularly in the Touring trim, which featured dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and leather upholstery that exuded quality.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition was a nod to the past with its retro body stripes and heritage grille design. It had a rugged, truck-based SUV look that appealed to those who appreciated a more traditional design. The interior, while solid and purposeful, was filled with plastic but felt of quality. The 4Runner's controls were straightforward and easy to use, even with gloves on, making it a practical choice for those who valued simplicity and functionality over modern aesthetics.

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 or a hybrid option, the Odyssey offered a fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During testing, it averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, but its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner came with a 4.0-litre V6 engine, producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. It featured a five-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The 4Runner's fuel economy was rated at 13.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, and it averaged 13.9 L/100 km during testing. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with features like Active Traction Control and optional off-roading technologies. However, its on-road performance was less impressive, with leisurely acceleration and heavy steering.

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, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey provided 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,452 litres with the third row folded, and up to 3,984 litres with the second row removed.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner had a unique feature with its rear window that powered down into the tailgate, providing excellent ventilation. The interior offered comfortable seating, dual-zone climate control, and various storage locations. The second-row seats were roomy, but the optional third-row seat was cramped and reduced cargo space. Without the third row, the 4Runner offered 1,337 litres of cargo space, making it a practical choice for those needing ample storage.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, and smartphone connectivity. It included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies for monitoring and communicating with rear passengers. However, the infotainment system felt outdated, with a small screen and limited voice command capabilities. The Odyssey's technology package needed a significant upgrade to compete with rivals.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It offered a navigation system and a JBL premium sound system as upgrades. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large knobs and buttons, and the voice recognition performed well. Despite its dated graphics, the system was functional and easy to use.

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 had a rear-seat reminder system and optional blind-spot monitoring. The Odyssey earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, but its safety features lacked refinement and could be overly sensitive.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner included Toyota Safety Sense, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. The 4Runner's adaptive cruise control performed well, but its lane-departure warning could be annoying. It received a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with lower scores for front passenger protection and rollover resistance.