2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, aligning its design more closely with other models like the 2021 Nissan Armada and Rogue. The front featured a bold, snubbed nose with a distinctive "double V-motion" grille, combining chrome and piano black elements. The Kicks SR trim boasted LED multi-reflector headlights and fog lights, enhancing its sporty appearance. The rear received a new bumper and LED taillights, giving it a proportionate look reminiscent of the Nissan Leaf. The model offered a variety of paint options, including new colors like Electric Blue Metallic and Scarlet Ember Tintcoat, with a two-tone paint job available for most colors. The interior saw improvements in material quality, drawing inspiration from the 2020 Nissan Sentra, and offered features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob in the SR trim. Buyers could further customize their Kicks with numerous color combinations and accessories.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while adhering to the traditional minivan design, offered a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim, which was tested, featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Odyssey lineup included trims from LX to Elite, with prices ranging from $33,040 to $48,770. The interior was designed with an open-concept layout, providing ample storage and easy access to controls. The Odyssey's large windshield and small front quarter windows offered an expansive view, enhancing the driving experience. The Elite trim included leather upholstery, a tri-zone climate control system, and an onboard vacuum cleaner, making it a practical choice for families. The Magic Slide second-row seats and comfortable third-row seating added to its family-friendly appeal, offering flexibility and comfort for passengers.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. The Kicks' electric power-assisted steering and independent strut stabilizer bar suspension contributed to its nimble handling, making it easy to maneuver in various driving conditions. Despite being low-powered, the Kicks offered a good power-to-weight ratio, providing adequate performance for its size. The Kicks SR trim included features like an integrated dynamic-control module and adaptive cruise control. The EPA rated its fuel economy at 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient subcompact crossovers available.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls and was front-wheel drive only. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer an electrified powertrain or all-wheel drive. The Odyssey's driving character was enjoyable, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill drives could lead to pedal vibration and noise. The Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg during testing, slightly below its EPA estimate of 22 mpg combined. Despite some brake issues, the Odyssey remained a delightful vehicle to drive, offering a balance of performance and practicality for families.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a compact cabin with easy-to-reach controls and good small-item storage. The climate controls were user-friendly, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks featured a D-shaped steering wheel, adjustable front seats, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. It boasted best-in-class front seat legroom, though hip room was limited for larger drivers. The rear seats accommodated adults comfortably, and the available tonneau cover provided hidden storage in the cargo area.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The Elite trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The tri-zone climate control system and onboard vacuum cleaner added convenience. The Odyssey offered impressive storage options, including a center console tray and second-row Magic Slide seats for flexible seating arrangements. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the cargo space behind it measured 32.8 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seat expanded cargo capacity to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats provided a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth as standard. The Kicks SV added features like Nissan Intelligent Key and automatic climate control. The SR Premium Package included a Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers, providing an immersive audio experience. The Kicks also offered a surround-view monitor and a WiFi hotspot for added convenience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. The Odyssey featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display and wireless headphones. However, the infotainment system was considered outdated compared to competitors, with a small screen and limited voice command functionality.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot warning. It was equipped with 10 airbags and had a strong history of few recalls. The 2020 model received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model was expected to improve with new headlights.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured Honda Sensing as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. The Odyssey received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. However, some safety features lacked refinement, and the blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was not ideally placed.