Honda Odyssey vs. Honda Pilot

Minivans were once the obvious choice for shoppers looking to seat more than five passengers. But times have changed and SUVs like the Honda Pilot can now seat eight passengers in comfort. With the Pilot's spacious interior, the SUV gets awfully close to being a minivan in a SUV body. Honda, though, continues to be one of the few automakers that offers a minivan with the Odyssey. Can the Pilot replace the need for a minivan?

See a side-by-side comparison of the Odyssey & Pilot »

What the Honda Odyssey Does Well

The first noticeable difference between the two vehicles is the price. The 2021 Odyssey is priced from $32,910, while the 2021 Pilot starts at $33,370 (both prices include the $1,120 destination fee). While not a staggering difference, that's $460 that can be put toward something else.

Both the Odyssey and Pilot can seat eight passengers, but it's the minivan that has a more spacious cabin. Passenger volume in the Odyssey measures in at 164 cubic feet, while the Pilot offers passengers a total volume of 152 cubic feet. The minivan also offers more front shoulder room, second-row hip room, second-row legroom, third-row legroom, and third-row shoulder room.

In addition to offering more interior space for the passengers, the minivan is the clear choice for those that prioritize cargo capacity. With all of the seats in place, the Odyssey has 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Stow the third row away and that figure expands to 89.2 cubic feet. Lastly, with all of the seats down, the Odyssey can hold 144.9 cubic feet of cargo. The Pilot's cargo capacity breakdown is 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and a total of 83.8 cubic feet.

What the Honda Pilot Does Well

As an SUV, the Pilot is more of a heavy-duty machine than the Odyssey. Because of the Pilot's more rugged qualities, it can be equipped with all-wheel drive, making it more capable in wintry conditions and rough terrain.

Surprisingly, the Pilot is the vehicle that gets the nod when it comes to fuel efficiency. Both vehicles are powered by a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. With a nine-speed gearbox, the Pilot is rated to get 20 miles per gallon in the city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. The Odyssey has a rating of 19 mpg city, 28 highway, and 22 combined with the nine-speed automatic.

It's All About Versatility

Despite two different vehicles, the Odyssey and Pilot line up extremely similarly on paper. The Odyssey has an ace up its sleeve, though, as its interior seats can be reconfigured to go from an eight-passenger configuration to one with seven seats. In addition to changing the amount of passengers the minivan can seat, the seats can also be reorganized to offer easier access to the back.

Our Verdict: Honda Odyssey

SUVs like the Pilot are awfully close to making minivans obsolete. But the Odyssey still offers passengers with more interior space and the ability to hold more cargo. The ability to customize the interior layout of the seats is also a helpful touch that you don't get in the Pilot.

Take a closer look at the Honda Odyssey »

Take a closer look at the Honda Pilot »

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