2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2020 Cadillac XT4

The 2020 Cadillac XT4, with its Premium Luxury trim, presented a sophisticated yet sporty appearance. It featured front-wheel drive, Silver Radiant metallic paint, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, contributing to its visual appeal. The XT4's design was crisp and tailored, though it had a noticeable front overhang due to its front-drive platform. Inside, the cabin was mostly pleasant, with competitive quality materials, though some elements like the plain black trim around the power window controls detracted from its luxury feel. Despite these minor missteps, the XT4's interior was generally comfortable and well-appointed.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Odyssey maintained a familiar look with subtle updates for the new model year. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert at the rear. The Odyssey's design updates aimed to modernize its appearance by reducing brightwork. The test vehicle, in Lunar Silver Metallic with Elite trim, boasted perforated leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and new 19-inch wheels, enhancing its upscale feel. The interior improvements, including seating material upgrades and tri-color floor mats, added to the Odyssey's appeal as a luxurious minivan.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided a lively driving experience, with torque available from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. The nine-speed automatic transmission, while generally smooth, hesitated to downshift in Tour mode, a problem somewhat mitigated in Sport mode. The XT4's ride and handling were mixed, with good steering effort in Tour mode but an artificially heavy feel in Sport mode. The oversized wheels offered impressive grip, but the suspension struggled with speed humps and smaller bumps, affecting overall comfort.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivered 280 horsepower. This combination provided smooth and effortless power, aided by variable cylinder management for improved fuel efficiency. The Odyssey averaged 21.8 mpg in testing, slightly below the EPA's 22 mpg estimate. While lacking all-wheel drive, the Odyssey featured a new electronic brake booster, enhancing brake pedal feel and response. The minivan's ride and handling were enjoyable, with well-managed body motions and firm yet comfortable suspension. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during intense use, indicating a need for improvement.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 offered a comfortable interior for the driver and front passenger, with soft leather, padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. The rear passenger compartment felt roomier than many small SUVs, though the rear seat cushion lacked support. The XT4's air conditioning system was notably effective, quickly cooling the cabin even in hot conditions. The interior design was clean and minimalistic, with ample storage space, including umbrella holders and a wireless smartphone charger. However, cargo space was limited, with 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48.9 cubic feet with the seat folded.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey excelled in interior space and functionality, with logical controls and ample storage. The driver's seat was comfortable and adjustable, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seat layout offered versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, removing the second-row seats was cumbersome, despite improvements for 2021.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured an improved Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The system offered multiple interaction methods, including touchscreen, center console controls, and voice recognition. However, the screen size was small for a luxury vehicle, and the climate system was not integrated with voice commands. The optional 13-speaker Bose audio system provided a satisfying listening experience, though the test vehicle lacked features like a head-up display and rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with EX trim, included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Cabin Control app. Touring trim added navigation, WiFi, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk, while Elite trim featured an 11-speaker sound system and wireless charging. HondaLink subscription plans offered additional services, though the lack of a tuning knob and limited voice-recognition capabilities were drawbacks. Touring and Elite trims also included a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen and streaming apps, though the lack of a touchscreen disappointed some users.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 came with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian braking, and a Safety Alert Seat. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning and lane-change warning systems, while the Driver Awareness Package included lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance. However, adaptive cruise control required the Driver Assist Package. The XT4 received a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not completed all testing.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety with standard Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately, though the adaptive cruise control could be smoother. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score, and was expected to maintain its IIHS Top Safety Pick status.