2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a typical SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior mirrored the exterior's simplicity, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while adhering to the classic minivan design, had a sense of style, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Odyssey's kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines added a touch of drama to its clean flanks. The interior was spacious and practical, with quality leather, supportive front seats, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seats and comfortable third-row seats made it a versatile choice for families. The cargo space was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel as powerful as expected, though it had enough grunt for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well but occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, but it lacked agility on twisty roads. The AWD system, which had to be manually activated, could send up to 50% of torque to either front wheel or 85% to either rear wheel, but its impact on handling was minimal. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, which was average for the segment.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey didn't offer AWD or an electrified powertrain, resulting in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg combined. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on mountain roads. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill grades led to pedal vibration and an audible grumble. Despite this, the Odyssey remained a delightful vehicle to drive, with a smooth and comfortable ride.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. However, interior storage options were limited compared to minivans.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey made entry easy with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The Elite trim featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. Storage space was abundant, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The Magic Slide second-row seats and comfortable third-row seats added to the Odyssey's versatility. Cargo space was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, the second-row seats were heavy and challenging to reinstall.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen was user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had 2 USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment features were becoming outdated. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. The Odyssey Touring and Elite featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. However, the 8-inch touchscreen felt small, and the embedded navigation system was less user-friendly than smartphone-based options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it had "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact crash tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with many features only available as options.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim. While Honda Sensing lacked refinement and could respond too sharply, the Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.