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Minivans are one of the most underrated automotive segments. Even at the minivan’s height of “popularity,”  they were still seen as “mom-mobiles.” Aside from the blatant sexism, pigeonholing the minivan is simply dumb. Minivans and pickup trucks are the most utilitarian and practical vehicles on earth. With that being said, here are three major advantages of picking one of the giants of the van world, the Honda Odyssey, over the midsize three-row Honda Pilot. 

A silver gray 2023 Honda Odyssey minivan parked near a sports field where children are playing soccer
2023 Honda Odyssey | Honda

The Honda Odyssey outranked the Honda Pilot on Consumer Reports

Since we are in Q3, 2022 and 2023 models are both hitting review sites simultaneously. Interestingly the 2022 Honda Odyssey landed in fourth place for Consumer Reports best minivans, but the 2023 Odyssey landed in the top spot. The dynasty continues. 

The Honda Pilot, on the other hand, while still a solid SUV offering some similar features and room, placed far further down the list of midsized three-row SUVs. While the score for the two Hondas isn’t far off, the Odyssey still beat the Pilot. 

Is the Honda Odyssey good on gas? 

A gray Honda Odyssey minivan is parked outside.
The Honda Odyssey | Honda

Gas prices demand our full attention these days when buying a new ride. Despite the Honda Odyssey’s immense size and sharing the same powertrain as the Pilot, it gets slightly better gas mileage. 

It’s not dramatic, but it’s something. The 2022 Honda Pilot pulls down 20 mpg overall from the 280-hp 3.5-liter V6. However, on the highway, the Pilot can pull down 28 mpg on average. 

The 2023 Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, earns 22 mpg overall from the same 3.5-liter V6. But on the highway, the Odyssey is a mileage machine. Consumer Reports says the 2023 model returned 33 mpg on the open road. Considering this minivan has nearly 300 hp, TVs built into it, and about any other safety and luxury features you could want, 33 mpg is fully insane. 

How much space does the 2022 Honda Pilot have? 

2022 Honda Pilot Black Edition
2022 Honda Pilot Black Edition

The Honda Pilot can fit eight people. Even adults can fit in the third row, but not super comfortably. With all three rows in use, there isn’t tons of storage, but the cargo area has a removable panel allowing for a deeper storage well. With the third row folded down, the Pilot becomes enormous, able to fit bikes or smaller kayaks. Lastly, with the Elite trim, Pilot customers can get Captians’ chairs in the middle row. This does eliminate one seat but makes more useable space in the cabin. 

As big as the Pilot is, it can’t hold a candle to the mobile operating base that is the Honda Odyssey. Honda’s legendary minivan offers openness by the bucket-full. The front seats are huge and plush. The middle row has a removable middle seat allowing the outside seats to function as captains’ chairs. They can also swivel, providing more room for them and the third row. Not only is there tons of room inside the van, but it also has incredible storage compartments. There are cupholders littering the cabin and secret storage cubbies that can hold anything from fishing gear to the entire third-row bench for more cargo space. The Honda Odyssey is nearly infinite. 

Is the 2023 Honda Odyssey a nice van? 

Honda isn’t really known for its luxurious interiors, offering cutting-edge tech and comfort. This just isn’t what Honda does. While still a nice SUV, the Honda Pilot is fairly plain on the inside. It has everything you need, yet it might leave you wanting a bit. The Honda Odyssey couldn’t offer much more if it tried. 

The Odyssey sports several screens for infotainment and even an optional Blu-Ray/DVD player. In the higher Touring and Elite trims, USB ports dot the interior liberally. It has something called “CabinWatch,” which allows drivers to utilize two cameras facing the cabin to keep an eye on the youngsters. There is also an intercom system for the third-row kids. Again, for Elite models, you can even stream videos from your phone to the entertainment screen. 

As you can see, the Honda Odyssey has more features than most anything on the road. It is a remarkable vehicle. 

If you need utility, you must go with the Odyssey. The Pilot is a great SUV. This isn’t a critique of it, but it’s like a really good high school basketball player trying to play 21 against Kevin Durrant; it’s simply out of its league. 

The Honda Odyssey offers better gas mileage, cargo space, and an endless list of safety, comfort, and utility features.

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Staff Writer

Peter Corn

Peter Corn joined MotorBiscuit as an Autos Writer in 2020 and brings his quippiest Southern drawl to our table. Having, in his words, “helped” rebuild his dad’s 1959 MGA as a small child, Peter grew up loving vintage cars and trucks, adding motorcycles and all things 4×4 as he went.

Peter earned a Bachelor of Archeology and Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and has since melded his love of driving with storytelling. His voice, full of pleasantries and witticisms, can be enjoyed in The Gentleman Racer, The Vintagent, Gear Patrol, Iron & Air Magazine, and Classic Car Club Magazine.

Peter is a co-founder of both The Colloquial Magazine and The Fire Escape, the official podcast of The Colloquial. In an effort to increase his abilities in “ramping anything with wheels,” Peter has taken track training from Classic Car Club Manhattan and attended Rally School at Monticello Motor Club, where he was coached by eight-time Performance Rally motorsport champion Chris Duplessis.

On a lucky day, we get to hear Peter tell the story of his first car, a jewel of a 1958 Ford Fairlane, into which he dumped more time and money than made sense, but he has no regrets.