2021 Toyota Venza vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey had a familiar look that was subtly updated for the new model year. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. New wheel designs were introduced 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. The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, was priced at $48,940, including the $1,120 destination charge. The Elite trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, giving it a more luxurious feel.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, shorter and closer to the ground than the Toyota RAV4, had a design that many critics said resembled a Lexus. From the grille to the elongated profile, it blurred the line between the brands, looking more like the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. Toyota offered the Venza in three trim levels: LE, XLE, and Limited, with a choice of seven paint colors. Standard equipment included a dual chrome-tipped exhaust, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The base LE model came with a wireless charging pad, 4.2-inch driver’s information display, leather-trimmed steering wheel, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, fabric-trimmed seats, and an 8-inch infotainment touch screen. The XLE trim added features like black bumper garnishes, silver roof rails, 19-inch alloy wheels, and heated front seats. The top-tier Limited trim included a digital rearview mirror, illuminated footwells, a backup camera washer, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, with the option to add the Star Gaze panoramic roof.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. The drivetrain was identical to the previous year's model, featuring Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 engine provided smooth, effortless power, aided by variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency. The EPA estimated 22 mpg in combined driving, and testing averaged 21.8 mpg. However, the lack of all-wheel drive (AWD) put the Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy regions. Honda added a new electronic brake booster for 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 firm but comfortable suspension and well-managed body motions. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during heavy use, indicating a need for a braking component upgrade.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system used an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential-shifting feature for regenerative braking. While the Venza's acceleration was smooth, it was accompanied by noticeable engine noise and road noise from the eco-conscious tires. The Venza's handling was confident and typical of a Toyota, with no surprises. The Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined, outperforming competitors like the Murano, Passport, and Blazer. Toyota backed the hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample 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 second-row Magic Slide seats provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row tumbled and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, removing and reinstalling the second-row seats was cumbersome.

The 2021 Toyota Venza's interior featured premium appointments, with a unique cabin design distinct from both Lexus and Toyota. The center stack included piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls, with a deep center console housing resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, drive mode buttons, and more. The front seats were accommodating, and the rear seats were comfortable for extended drives. The Venza offered more headroom and nearly equal shoulder and hip room compared to the RAV4, with a maximum cargo space of 55.1 cubic feet. While less than some competitors, the cargo space was sufficient for daily driving needs, with easy-to-use quick-flip releases on the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks.

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 a navigation system, 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. However, 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 disc player, wireless headphones, and built-in streaming apps, though the lack of a touchscreen was a disappointment for some users.

The 2021 Toyota Venza LE and XLE featured an 8-inch infotainment system, while the Limited trim had a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system, though improved, was not the best in the industry, with some functions requiring multiple menu trips. The Venza included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system as standard. A Wi-Fi hot spot was also standard, with a free trial period. The XLE and Limited trims offered a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system. Toyota connected services included Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect, with dynamic navigation available on models with the larger screen.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard inclusion of Honda Sensing on all trims. The system added low-speed follow capability to the adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. However, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning required upgrading to the EX trim. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star rating for rollover resistance.

The 2021 Toyota Venza included the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite on all trims, featuring eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. The suite added pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza's safety features performed well, though the lane-keeping assist tended to keep the SUV further to the right within the lane.