2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV maintained a sleek and sophisticated appearance, indistinguishable from its non-hybrid counterparts except for a subtle “P400e” badge on the tailgate. The charging port was cleverly integrated into the grille, preserving the SUV’s clean lines and avoiding any unnecessary styling changes. This approach underscored Land Rover’s commitment to design, ensuring the PHEV remained visually appealing despite its higher price tag.

Inside, the Range Rover Sport PHEV exuded luxury with high-quality materials throughout the cabin. The test vehicle, priced at $93,200 with options, featured Firenze Red paint, a black roof, and 21-inch aluminum wheels, enhancing its already impressive presence. The interior offered excellent front-seat comfort with heated and ventilated seats, though the narrow inboard armrests were less comfortable. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a tall riding position and a panoramic glass roof, adding to the overall sense of luxury.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, with its familiar design theme, received subtle updates for the new model year, including a new grille, front bumper, and standard LED headlights across all trims. The top three trims also debuted new wheel designs, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretched across the taillights. These minor tweaks modernized the Odyssey’s look by reducing brightwork.

The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, priced at $48,940, featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome 19-inch wheels. The interior improvements extended to most 2021 Odyssey models, with better seating materials and design, and new tri-color floor mats. The Odyssey Elite’s luxurious interior and toned-down chrome brought it closer to being the Acura of minivans.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a 141-hp electric motor and a 13-kWh battery, producing a total of 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. Land Rover claimed an all-electric driving range of up to 31 miles, but the test vehicle struggled to achieve this, often switching to the gas engine prematurely. Despite this, the SUV averaged 41.9 mpg over a 28.4-mile stretch in EV mode and 25.5 mpg over a 60-mile loop, a notable improvement over previous models.

The Range Rover Sport PHEV offered quick acceleration and a comfortable ride, thanks to its adaptive air suspension and various driving modes. However, the regenerative brakes were grabby, making smooth stops challenging. The SUV retained its off-roading capability, with an 8-speed automatic transmission, permanent 4WD, and multiple traction settings. Recharging the battery took 14 hours using a standard household outlet, but the battery often failed to reach full capacity.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. The drivetrain included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, along with paddle shifters. The V6 and automatic transmission provided smooth, effortless power, with the EPA rating the Odyssey at 22 mpg in combined driving. The test vehicle averaged 21.8 mpg.

The Odyssey’s ride and handling were enjoyable, with perfectly weighted steering and firm but comfortable suspension. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, though the brakes struggled under heavy use during a heatwave. The Odyssey lacked AWD, putting it at a disadvantage in snowy regions, but its overall driving experience remained pleasurable.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV’s cargo space was compromised by the battery beneath the raised cargo floor, reducing the already tight 27.5-cubic-foot space behind the back seat. The SUV comfortably seated five people, with excellent front-seat comfort and a dual-glove-box design for storage. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a tall riding position and 4-zone automatic climate control, with a panoramic glass roof adding to the interior’s appeal.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey excelled in storage space, with logical controls and legible instrumentation. The Elite trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout offered various seating modes, and the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row tumbled, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system was complex and occasionally frustrating, even for tech-savvy users. Despite spending time setting up the system, it sometimes behaved unexpectedly, showing information not requested or reacting slowly to input. The lack of haptic feedback from the touchscreen added to the challenge, making the SUV’s technology a potential source of frustration.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with EX trim, featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and more. Touring trim added a navigation system, WiFi capability, and a CabinWatch interior camera. Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. HondaLink subscription plans offered additional features, though the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray player, and streaming apps, though the lack of a touchscreen disappointed some users.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with numerous advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), but the new steering-assist system in the optional Driver Assist Package could be distracting. The SUV’s heavy battery and electric motor helped lower its center of gravity, but it still suffered from head-toss over uneven pavement. The lane-keeping assist system worked too abruptly, leading the driver to shut it off. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the SUV’s nearly 5,500-pound weight provided a sense of security.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety with standard Honda Sensing ADAS across all trims. The system included low-speed follow capability, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. The adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning systems worked accurately but could be smoother. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, aside from a four-star score for rollover resistance.