The iconic minivan continues to provide a safe, convenient option for busy families that need a little more people-moving capability out of their vehicles and don’t necessarily want to cross over into a full-size SUV. Sure, it’s easy to pick on the minivan for its practicality. However, practical is the name of the game in this category, and considering thousands are still choosing minivans over other alternatives, there’s probably more to the story. Today’s minivans are surprisingly attractive––both inside and out––with cleaner exterior profiles and upgraded interior finishes. They’re comfortable to drive and full of space. If you’re shopping for a minivan, be sure to look at Honda vans for sale, specifically the wildly popular Odyssey.
Before we try and convince you, take a minute to reframe what you think you know about minivans. We get that it is mostly associated with busy soccer moms and their multi-talented progeny, but there’s a fundamental reason why this is true: minivans kind of rock and they’re the no-brainer choice when convenience and practicality occupy spots #1 and #2 on a buyer’s must-have list. They’re so completely practical that they simply make life easier. Who doesn’t want an easier life? Sign me up.
Some new car buyers shy away from the minivan because of what it represents, but in doing so, they actually deny themselves the conveniences they’re truly seeking. It’s the ultimate form-over-function decision. Why do we do this to ourselves? Could it be vanity? We get it, and we concede that we might not be able to make the minivan completely cool by the end of this article, but we will make a strong argument that 1) cool is what you make it, and 2) minivans remain popular because they’re pretty amazing.
Without further ado, we provide irrefutable evidence that minivans rock, particularly the versatile 2020 Honda Odyssey. Let’s do this!
It’s Pretty and Loaded With Cool Features
Take a closer look at the Odyssey. It is hands-down, the most elegant and sleekest minivan in the category. Honda accurately describes the Odyssey’s styling as “ultra-modern,” and it achieves this by offering cool exterior styling touches like the wrap-around rear windows that completely conceal the sliding door track, darkened windows, and available 19-inch wheels. These features are commonly seen on vehicles that focus more on looks than practicality, but Honda’s attention to detail in the looks department pays dividends because the Odyssey stands out. Also available are LED headlights, fog lamps, and taillights, which give the front end an aggressive look. Yes, aggressive. Stay with us.
The Odyssey’s interior is really where choosing a minivan becomes much easier. That’s because there is so much space and available infotainment and connectivity technology that it’s easy to keep wiggly kids comfortable and occupied and busy parents connected while driving all over town.
Accessing the cabin is easy with the Odyssey’s power sliding doors. They’re so powerful that they can be opened from as far away as 50-feet. Third-row passengers don’t need to perform acrobatics in order to get in and out thanks to the Magic Slide 2nd-Row Seats, which can slide left-to-right and front-to-back, a much-needed assist when loading up the gang.
When the car is loaded with passengers, it’s hard to get a word in edgewise. Chatter and distance combine to make communication frustrating and futile. It’s also hard to break up a scuffle between siblings sitting in the back row without risking getting distracted. Honda knows this and comes to the rescue with its CabinWatch and CabinTalk functions. CabinWatch gives you an interior camera so you can monitor the shenanigans from the comfort of your driver’s seat, no pulling over required. CabinTalk gives you the opportunity to chat––or, ahem, scold––by sending your voice through the rear speakers or connected passenger headphones.
Seating is another feature that gives minivans an edge over SUVs. This is no truer than with the Odyssey, which offers seating for up to 8 and a variety of configurations that are bound to keep everyone comfortable. Starting with the EX, heated front seats are standard. The next level EX-L and Touring trim lines add leather, and the high-end Odyssey Elite provides ventilated front seats too. A power tailgate makes an appearance as standard on the EX-L, and a hands-free version is present on the Touring and Elite.
Infotainment Keeps Everyone Happy and Entertained
The name of the game on a busy day is efficiency, but even the most efficient families trip over the drag of their daily routines. Commuting to-and-from school, racing to activities, and running errands can grow tedious. What’s a busy mom or dad to do? Quell the boredom with the Odyssey’s amazing in-vehicle entertainment options that keep kids occupied and provide drivers with a mini-escape from the doldrums of chauffeuring.
Starting with a 7-inch Driver Information Interface, your smartphone will seamlessly link via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, allowing you to display your apps, take phone calls, and display directions for easy navigation. The Odyssey even offers an available Wi-Fi hotspot for wireless streaming that will keep the kids occupied throughout your journey. Honda’s satellite-linked navigation system takes route guidance to the next level, with 3D terrain maps, lane guidance, and a live search function.
Maybe the coolest interior feature (no pun intended) is the CabinControl app, which allows passengers to access and adjust the vehicle’s climate-control system via a smartphone app. The app also includes a social playlist feature that allows everyone in the vehicle to add songs to a family playlist.
HondaLink is Honda’s subscription-based driver support service, and it includes some unique and fun features. First, the Key by Amazon In-Car Delivery feature actually allows you to receive Amazon packages inside your car. Crazy, but helpful, especially on rainy days or at times when a package contains an item you need urgently. HondaLink also includes remote start and access to trained agents who can render aid if the vehicle is involved in a collision.
Depending on the trim of your Odyssey, Honda offers this service at multiple price levels, starting with the basic package on up to the Concierge level. This provides an on-demand concierge to make hotel, restaurant, and airline reservations and send navigation information directly to your system. Fancy! The Basic and Link levels are complimentary, while the upper-level subscription packages require an annual fee.
The 2020 Honda Odyssey offers an available 11 speaker Premium Audio system that turns your cabin into a concert venue, and if the kids pick “their” music, you have the option to send the sound all the way to the rear, keeping your area blissfully quiet. There are plenty of USB ports throughout the vehicle, so passengers don’t have to fight over the charger.
Safety and Driver Assist Features Have Your Back
Honda has built so many safety features into the Odyssey that drivers can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Whether common features like airbags or technologically-advanced whole-vehicle systems like blind spot monitoring and varying camera angles, Honda’s goal is to support drivers and protect passengers by providing the safest ride possible.
There are sensors set in the rear that monitor your blind spots and alert you when a vehicle is present that you may not see on your own. This Blind Spot Information System works in tandem with your diligence to provide added peace-of-mind. The onboard Multi-Angle Rearview Camera is so intelligent that it lets you choose from three different angles: normal, top-down, and wide, giving you a clear and unobstructed view of what’s behind you before you start backing up.
Additional safety features are part of Honda’s Honda Sensing Suite and include a Collision Mitigation Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes when a frontal collision is determined to be imminent. A Road Departure Mitigation System is included that senses when you drift across lanes and alerts you. This system also can provide steering assistance and braking to keep you in your lane. Adaptive Cruise Control automatically keeps you spaced safely behind the vehicle you’re following. And finally, Lane Keeping Assist will nudge your steering back to a centered position within the lane and is especially helpful during long highway rides. These safety systems are standard on all trims except the base LX.
Have we convinced you yet? As they say in the infomercials, But wait! There’s more! The Odyssey offers unparalleled fuel economy for its size, coming in at 19 MPG city / 28 MPG highway.1 With its 280 horsepower V6 motor, you won’t sacrifice performance for great fuel efficiency. Cargo volume is vast as well, with up to 158 cubic feet of space available. That’s a whole lot of space for all of your weekend projects and gear-hauling requirements.
We admit it: minivans will never be the sexiest choice, but they deserve a closer look because when practicality and convenience matter, there is no better vehicle. This is exemplified in the clever and surprisingly chic 2020 Honda Odyssey, with its myriad refinements, interior appointments, and aggressive styling. The bottom line is that it’s no longer a compromise to choose a minivan. Smart buyers know that the minivan’s utility and features will support a busy family’s lifestyle and make managing your family’s transportation needs a little easier and much more exciting.