2020 GMC Acadia vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2020 GMC Acadia was marketed as a premium SUV, positioned between Chevrolet and Cadillac in terms of luxury. Built on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared many components with its siblings. The Denali trim, which was the test vehicle, featured all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and a Technology Package, bringing the price to $52,385. The 2020 model saw design changes, particularly in the front with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille, giving it a more upscale appearance. Inside, the cabin had minor updates, including new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. However, despite the leather upholstery and wood trim, the interior still had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, lacking a truly premium feel.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, with a design theme dating back a decade, received minor updates for the new model year. These included a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. New wheel designs were also introduced for the top three trim levels. The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, was priced at $48,940. The Elite trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome new 19-inch wheels. These updates brought the Odyssey closer to being considered the Acura of minivans.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims came with a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLT trim featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali trims included a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine, which was also available in other trims. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Acadia was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), except for the AT4, which had a standard dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine and nine-speed automatic provided smooth and refined power, with a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. The test vehicle averaged 20.1 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA rating of 21 mpg. The Acadia's ride and handling were finely tuned, offering a comfortable driving experience, though it lacked a memorable driving character.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, producing 280 horsepower. The transmission included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 engine provided smooth and effortless power, with variable cylinder management to conserve fuel. The EPA rated the Odyssey at 22 mpg in combined driving, and the test vehicle averaged 21.8 mpg. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer AWD, which could be a disadvantage in snowy regions. The 2021 model featured a new electronic brake booster, improving brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with well-weighted steering and firm but comfortable suspension. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during extended use in hot conditions, indicating a need for a braking component upgrade.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim level and configuration. The Denali trim provided six-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, though a bench seat was available as a no-cost option. The front seats were wide and supportive, with 10-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and comfortable, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet for rear passengers. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, though the cargo space behind it was limited to 12.1 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seat down increased cargo space to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 79 cubic feet.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered excellent storage space and logical controls, though it lacked a tuning knob for the stereo. The driver’s seat was 12-way power-adjustable in all but the base LX trim, with the Elite trim adding a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but was still comfortable. The Odyssey featured Honda’s Magic Slide second-row seat layout, allowing for various seating configurations. The second-row seats were supportive but lacked adjustable armrests. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space behind the third-row seat was 32.8 cubic feet, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat tumbled into the cargo well. The maximum cargo volume was 144.9 cubic feet, though the second-row seats needed to be removed to achieve this.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with essential infotainment features, including Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, a simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle included navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that generally worked well. Additional technology upgrades for 2020 included new USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror providing an unobstructed wide-angle view.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with the EX trim, featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. The Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. The Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging. HondaLink Security, Remote, and Concierge subscription plans were available, offering various safety and convenience features. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were notable drawbacks. The Touring and Elite trims also included a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, and built-in streaming apps.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with standard safety features, including a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Standard GMC Connected Services included automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling, though the free trial period was short. The base Acadia SL and up had a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. However, forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were only available on SLT or AT4 trims as part of a Driver Alert Package. The Denali trim offered an enhanced automatic emergency braking system. The Acadia received 5-star ratings in most NHTSA crash tests and high marks from the IIHS, though it lacked complete data for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection for the front passenger.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning was available starting with the EX trim. The Odyssey’s ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother in operation. The Odyssey received top five-star ratings from the NHTSA for all assessments except rollover resistance, which earned a four-star score. The IIHS ratings were expected to carry over from the previous year, with improvements in headlight performance.