2024 Honda Odyssey EXL Review
The car tour on deck today is the pinnacle of my craft! Minivans have a special place in my heart because it’s truly a vehicle made for families. The 2024 Honda Odyssey EXL is the latest addition to the Minivan Showdown and I cannot wait to show you all the features.
If you’re new here - hey! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a certified child passenger safety tech, mom of three, and car lover, I take my reviews of cars for families seriously. By the end of this post, you’ll learn everything to love about the newest Honda Odyssey.
Before you dive in and start car shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course!
2024 Honda Odyssey EXL Exterior
The Honda Odyssey did get a redesign in 2018, so this one to be honest isn't much different. Looking at the exterior, it’s your typical minivan silver bullet. Looking at the side, this is a three row SUV so it’s nice and long and has the tracks inside the window. When it comes to the vehicle itself, the Honda Odyssey is missing a few key features, such as all-wheel drive and hybrid options. To see a complete breakdown of every minivan on the market, read my Minivan Showdown here.
2024 Honda Odyssey EXL First Row Details
First of all, I'm loving the mocha interior and what I like about the design element is they include that mocha leather color, but in a hard plastic variety. It's cost effective but also still gives me a nice two-tone kind of look. The door panel's got it going on, plus cubbies cubbies cubbies! This vehicle’s got storage.
Infotainment System
Looking at the command center of this spaceship, we have a half digital dash and standard Honda display in the Odyssey. All of our climate control is very nicely pulled out making it very easy to operate. The Honda Odyssey has great crash prevention technology that's found on all trim levels and is an IHS Top Safety Pick Plus, which is the highest award by the IHS.
2024 Honda Odyssey EXL Second Row Details
While I know so many of you are here to see the car seat capabilities of the 2024 Honda Odyssey EXL, let me start by breaking down the passenger amenities. I will say, Honda moved the air vents from the ceiling to the side and I see this as a negative for any rear-facing kids.
Second row amenities include:
Excellent knee and head clearance
Two USB ports
Power door
Leather back pocket
Built-in sun shades
Climate controls on ceiling (easier use for mom)
Now that we’ve got amenities out of the way, let’s break down the car seat set up. As far as hardware is concerned, we have lower and tether anchors in every seat in the second row. Let me get this out of the way- I compare every other second row bench seat to the Honda Odyssey when reviewing cars for families. It’s Best in Class for good reason, primarily because there are three separate seats making up the second row bench. This means each can work and operate independently so you can stagger access to the third row.
Now here is the crazy thing about the second row bench: you can remove the middle seat. Want captain’s chairs? Want a bench? You get both. It opens up to reveal a really nice, wide aisle that leads to excellent third row access.
Honda Odyssey LATCH Details
2024 Honda Odyssey EXL Third Row Details
Before we jump back into the third row, let’s talk about how you get there. The Honda Odyssey has a trademarked Magic Slide which provides the best third row access you could imagine. No matter the seat you have installed in the second row, there’s a car seat friendly tilt that will work with it.
In the third row, we have lower anchors on both outboard seats and tether anchors across the back. This is incredible and totals up to five sets of lower anchors and six tether anchors in this vehicle.
As a passenger, it’s comfortable in the third row. No chargers or sun shades on the EXL trim level I will say, but the leather back pockets are a nice touch. Good knee and head clearance, but the easy get in and get out is the real star of the show.
2024 Honda Odyssey EXL Trunk Details
I just love minivan trunks. We used a Mockingbird stroller to test the size and it’s so deep you can fit it and have a ton of extra storage left. When I talk about cubic feet when it comes to trunk space, you have to remember a cubic foot is sometimes the air, so it doesn't always equal more space. What's great about a minivan when it comes to cubic feet is because it's so deep and high, you have similar measurements to a full-size SUV.
The Odyssey also has one of the most iconic features,a one of a kind Tailgate Mode. This makes a sofa in your minivan, at the soccer game, or trunk or treating. These are the kind of features that make a minivan so worth having.
2024 Honda Odyssey EXL Wrap Up
I think it goes without saying the 2024 Honda Odyssey EXL is an excellent choice for a family vehicle. She’s car seat friendly, reliable, safe, and makes for an excellent ride to all your weekly activities. To see a complete breakdown of every minivan on the market, don’t forget to check out my Minivan Showdown.
For a complete walkthrough of the 2024 Honda Odyssey EXL, click here.
What do you think of minivans? Please let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest family vehicles on the market, check out my recent car tours:
