2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2020 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 had a bold and angular appearance, a significant departure from its traditionally cute and compact design. The redesign aimed to enhance its rugged look, aligning with its proven durability. The Adventure trim, introduced in the previous year, improved off-roading capabilities with a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, multiple driving modes, and downhill assist control. The new TRD Off-Road trim for 2020 took these features further with smaller, lighter matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and a special TRD suspension setup. The TRD Off-Road trim was distinguishable by its unique wheels, tires, and badges, and the Lunar Rock gray paint with an extra-cost white roof was particularly compelling.

Inside, the 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road featured TRD logos on the front-seat head restraints, rubber floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat, making it well-suited for dirt and off-road conditions. The interior boasted quality construction with plush center-armrest padding, soft-touch upper door-panel trim, and rubberized surfaces, contrasting sharply with some inexpensive-looking plastic. The TRD Off-Road trim was near the top of the RAV4's trim-level ladder, offering a blend of equipment and value, especially in the XLE trim with the top option package. The test vehicle, fully loaded with factory and dealer-installed accessories, was priced at $42,902.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar look with minor tweaks for the new model year, including a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. New wheel designs debuted for the top three trim levels, modernizing the Odyssey by reducing brightwork. Buyers could choose from five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820, excluding destination charges. Certain paint colors required an additional $395.

The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Odyssey with Elite trim, was priced at $48,940, including the destination charge. The Elite trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and improved seating material and design. The handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, along with a more luxurious interior, brought the Odyssey Elite closer to being the Acura of minivans.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 was equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The RAV4 Hybrid model, which was not available in the TRD Off-Road trim, delivered 219 horsepower and up to 40 mpg in combined driving. The non-turbo, non-hybrid powertrain of the test vehicle provided good performance, especially in Sport mode, though a turbocharged engine would have been preferable for high-altitude driving. The 8-speed automatic transmission generally performed well but occasionally struggled with gear selection.

The TRD Off-Road model featured a torque-vectoring AWD system with fuel-saving driveline disconnect technology, multi-terrain select settings, and downhill assist control. With 8.6 inches of ground clearance, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road handled off-road trails with ease. In urban settings, the TRD suspension smoothed out speed humps, and the 360-degree surround-view camera system made parking easy. The test vehicle averaged 23.4 mpg, slightly below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 engine and automatic transmission provided smooth and effortless power, with variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency. The Odyssey averaged 21.8 mpg in combined driving, close to the EPA estimate of 22 mpg.

The Odyssey's FWD setup was a disadvantage in snowy and icy conditions compared to competitors offering AWD. However, the new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, supporting the adaptive cruise control's stop-and-go capability. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with well-weighted steering and firm but comfortable suspension. The brakes, however, struggled under heavy use, particularly during a heatwave, indicating a need for a braking component upgrade.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 offered easy entry and exit, with a low and sporty driving position in the 8-way adjustable driver's seat. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but provided good thigh support. The TRD Off-Road trim featured SofTex upholstery, which could trap sweat on hot days, but the Weather Package added heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided generous legroom, air conditioning vents, and USB ports for passengers.

Interior storage was ample, with a dashboard shelf and a cargo space of 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down. The test vehicle also had a robust roof rack with crossbars and an optional hands-free power liftgate.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured legible instrumentation, logical controls, and abundant storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, standard in all but the base LX trim, was comfortable with inboard adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but provided good thigh support.

Storage space was excellent, with shelves in the front doors and a center console top tray. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for various seating configurations, including Wide Mode, Buddy Mode, and Super Mode. The second-row seats offered plenty of support but lacked adjustable armrests. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, expandable to 88.8 cubic feet with the seat tumbled into the cargo well, and a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. The second-row seats folded flatter for increased utility but still required physical removal for maximum cargo space.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 featured a user-friendly infotainment system with a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen display, depending on the trim level. The 8-inch system in the TRD Off-Road trim suffered from glare but was otherwise easy to use. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and multiple connected services packages. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was free for three months or 2GB of data usage. The TRD Off-Road's infotainment system impressed with its superb voice-recognition technology and optional Technology Package, which included wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with 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. Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging.

Touring and Elite trims offered HondaLink Security, Remote, and Concierge subscription plans, with varying free trial periods. The Odyssey's infotainment system lacked a tuning knob and had subpar voice-recognition technology. The rear-seat entertainment system in Touring and Elite trims included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, wireless headphones, and built-in streaming apps. The How Much Farther app was not well-received by children due to the lack of a touchscreen.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included advanced driving assist safety features such as Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, front and rear parking assist with automated braking, and blind spot assist with rear cross-traffic alert. The systems operated smoothly and accurately, encouraging drivers to keep them activated. Toyota also included a free 1-year subscription to Safety Connect services. The RAV4 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, but only for models with full LED, curve adaptive headlights.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard inclusion of Honda Sensing across all trim levels. Honda Sensing added low-speed follow capability to the adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button for easy access to ADAS settings. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning required upgrading to EX trim. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother in operation. The Odyssey was expected to retain its impressive IIHS ratings, aside from the updated headlight performance, and received top five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star score for rollover resistance.