Honda Odyssey vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar design lineage that harked back to its 2011 predecessor, offering a well-worn aesthetic akin to a classic Dad joke. Its interior followed suit with a traditional layout of buttons, knobs, and physical switchgear, which, despite its old-school approach, was appreciated for its practicality. The controls were easy to locate and use, thanks to bright white markings on matte black backgrounds. In Canada, the Odyssey was available in Sport, Sport-L, Touring, and Black Edition trims, with the base price starting at $53,056 and the top-tier Black Edition costing $63,256. The U.S. equivalent of the Touring trim featured high-quality leather seats, although styling was not its primary selling point.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a conservative design, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that resembled a larger RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. Glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces were present, but the controls were logically arranged with matte black surfaces and white iconography. The climate system was straightforward, featuring large knobs for temperature adjustments, although the infotainment interface had a small volume knob and lacked a tuning knob.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was not designed for driving enthusiasts, but it delivered a rewarding experience for a minivan. It housed 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. The Odyssey lacked AWD and hybrid options, unlike some competitors. Its fuel economy was rated at 10.6 L/100 km combined, but real-world testing showed 13.2 L/100 km on an evaluation loop and 9.8 L/100 km during a highway-heavy road trip. Despite its fuel economy, the Odyssey offered a natural driving experience with responsive steering and braking, and nimble handling. However, it lacked a surround-view camera system, which could be a drawback in city driving.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 horsepower. It used a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning typical of CVTs. The Hybrid Max had a fuel economy rating of 8.8 L/100 km combined, with observed figures of 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city-highway route and 10.1 L/100 km on a mountainous loop. It could tow up to 2,268 kg, offering more capability than the standard hybrid. The powertrain provided confident acceleration, while the ride quality was soft and isolating. Handling was secure but limited, with early tire scrub and squeal. Visibility was excellent, aided by available camera systems, although the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey excelled in its primary role as a people and cargo carrier. It accommodated eight passengers and offered up to 3,973 litres of cargo space. The Odyssey featured power-adjustable front seats with standard heated seats and a heated steering wheel. The second-row Magic Slide seats provided flexibility, allowing for various configurations, although they lacked heating and ventilation. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults or children, with easy folding into the storage well. The Odyssey offered ample storage throughout the cabin, with features like an overhead conversation mirror and Cabin Talk intercom for parental convenience.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating across three rows, with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, offering a premium feel. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed for easy access to the third row, which was comfortable for adults and teens. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, with additional compartmentalized storage. Folding the third row expanded the space to 1,640 litres, suitable for family trips. The Grand Highlander’s rear doors required ample space to open, which could be challenging in tight parking spots.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey received a technology update with a new 7-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless charging available on higher trims. Despite improvements, the infotainment system had dated graphics and limited voice recognition capabilities. The rear-seat entertainment system required a personal device connection, which proved frustrating without the right cable. Pairing an iPhone for Apple CarPlay was seamless, but the native voice recognition was less intuitive.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel on Limited and Platinum trims. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various Toyota Connected Services. The system was user-friendly, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the user experience. The Platinum trim included advanced features like a head-up display and a surround-view camera system, with the JBL audio system delivering impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added parking sensors. The Odyssey performed well in NHTSA and IIHS safety tests, except for a "Poor" rating in a new IIHS evaluation.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including lane keep assist and Proactive Driving Assist. The safety tech operated accurately, though the PDA system was often turned off due to irritation. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA but missed the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and small overlap frontal-impact protection.