2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

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, and the spacious third-row seat comfortably accommodated additional passengers like grandparents or carpool buddies. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering the same volume as a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded and the second-row seats were removed. Despite its utilitarian design, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim. The interior was open and airy, with a low console and plenty of storage space, although the switchgear placement seemed haphazard at first glance.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 maintained its rugged, truck-like appearance, especially in the Trail trim, which featured a more aggressive grille, blacked-out wheels, and orange interior accents. The RAV4 offered a range of trim levels, from the budget-friendly LE to the more luxurious Limited, with prices starting just over $35,000. The interior of the RAV4 was practical, with convenient storage options and a sense of ruggedness, thanks to features like the lever-style gear shifter. While the RAV4's back seat was narrower than some competitors, it provided ample headroom and legroom for rear passengers. The cargo space was competitive, offering 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded.

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 and a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. 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 testing, the Odyssey averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The minivan was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, but its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4, on the other hand, came standard with all-wheel drive and a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the RAV4's performance was more "unobjectionable" than exciting, with noticeable engine noise. The RAV4 Trail trim featured 19-inch wheels and a suspension system similar to other RAV4 models, providing a comfortable ride but not excelling in off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Touring trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey's interior was designed for family use, with numerous storage options and the innovative Magic Slide second-row seats, which allowed for flexible seating arrangements. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the cargo space was generous, with 929 litres behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with the second-row seats removed.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five passengers and provided 958 millimetres of headroom in the front row and 1,001 mm in the back seats. While it offered less headroom for front passengers compared to some competitors, it provided more for rear passengers. The RAV4's interior featured convenient storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets. Cargo space was competitive, with 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Touring trim also included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a small screen and limited voice command capabilities.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 featured a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, and a 10.5-inch touchscreen for the Limited trim. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and voice command. The Limited trim also included an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system and a 12.3-inch driver-information display.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing as standard, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. However, the safety features lacked refinement, with some systems responding too sharply or abruptly.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was equipped with the TSS 2.5 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with top scores in crash-testing.