Honda Odyssey vs Lexus TX

The 2025 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar design that echoed its predecessors, offering a straightforward and practical aesthetic rather than a stylish one. Its interior followed suit with a traditional layout featuring buttons, knobs, and physical switchgear, which were appreciated for their ease of use. The bright white markings on matte black backgrounds made controls easy to locate and operate. In Canada, the Odyssey was available in Sport, Sport-L, Touring, and Black Edition trims, with the base price starting at $53,056. The Black Edition was the most expensive at $63,256. The U.S. equivalent of the Touring trim showcased high-quality leather seats, although the styling was not a primary selling point.

The 2026 Lexus TX offered a variety of packages depending on the powertrain, with the TX 350 featuring the Luxury package by default and options for Ultra Luxury, Executive, and F Sport 3 packages. The 500h hybrid started with the F Sport Performance 2 package. The TX's exterior design included a large grille reminiscent of the older spindle grille shape, sharp bi-LED headlights, and rear LED lighting spanning the vehicle's width. Interior colour options included standard grey, Birch, and Peppercorn, with ambient lighting adding warmth. However, the material quality was not up to luxury standards, with basic plastic present. The redesigned door handles were a unique feature, though not necessarily an improvement.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. It lacked AWD and hybrid options, which were available in other minivans. The Odyssey's fuel economy was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 13.2 L/100 km on an evaluation loop and 9.8 L/100 km during a week of travel. Despite its fuel economy trade-off, the Odyssey offered a natural driving experience with responsive steering and braking, and nimble handling. It excelled in comfort and quietness on highway trips, though it lacked a surround-view camera system.

The 2026 Lexus TX 350 featured a 275-horsepower 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the TX 500h hybrid boosted output to 366 hp. The gas model had an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the hybrid used a six-speed automatic. The TX 350 came with full-time AWD, while the TX 500h used Lexus's Direct4 AWD system. Drivers could choose between Normal, Eco, or Sport drive modes, with Sport mode enhancing throttle sensitivity. The 500h included adaptive suspension and rear steering for improved handling.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was designed to carry eight people and offered up to 3,973 litres of cargo space. It featured power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, leather and leatherette upholstery, and heated front seats. The second row had Magic Slide seats, allowing for various configurations, though they were heavy and awkward to remove. The third row was spacious enough for adults or children, with a 60/40-split folding seat. The Odyssey provided ample storage throughout the cabin and included features like an overhead conversation mirror and Cabin Talk intercom.

The 2026 Lexus TX included three-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats. The third row was spacious with a recline function and headroom for adults. A one-touch button facilitated entry to the third row, though folding the second row flat was more complicated. The front seats were roomy but lacked thigh support. The TX offered excellent cargo space, with 572 litres available with all seats in place, expanding to 2,747 litres with all rear seats folded. It could tow up to 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey received a technology update with a 7-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the infotainment system's graphics and voice recognition were subpar. The rear-seat entertainment system was frustrating to use, requiring a personal device connection via HDMI.

The 2026 Lexus TX featured a 14-inch touchscreen, though some features lacked polish. The steering wheel buttons were multi-functional but confusing. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though connectivity issues occurred. A subscription was needed for in-dash navigation and other features. The back-up camera was clear, and the Advanced Park system was available. The TX had seven USB ports and wireless charging, with an available 120-volt outlet in the second row.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey included Honda Sensing, with features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. It performed well in NHTSA and IIHS safety tests, though it received a "Poor" rating in a new IIHS evaluation.

The 2026 Lexus TX came with Safety System+ 3.0, including forward collision warning, lane tracing assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. Adaptive cruise control worked well, though it was slow to resume speed. The TX received five-star ratings from NHTSA and "Good" scores from IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" rating in the small overlap front crash test.