2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey offered a spacious and comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpool groups without hassle. With ample cargo space, it could transform into a cargo hauler by folding down or removing seats, rivaling the capacity of larger SUVs. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey maintained a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels on the Elite trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 presented a more rugged and stylish appearance, with a blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield. It exuded a sense of adventure with its fender swells, cladding, and skid plates. The CX-50's design elements, including a black grille and 20-inch wheels, contributed to its appealing look. Inside, the CX-50 featured a driver-focused design with quality materials and a mix of analog and digital gauges. The interior was comfortable, with heated and ventilated seats, and the back seat offered ample room for adults. The CX-50's cargo space was adequate, though narrower between the wheel wells compared to the Odyssey.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey offered a respectable EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, it averaged 22.6 mpg. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options. The 2.5 S model had a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the 2.5 Turbo variant featured a turbocharged version producing up to 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo provided smooth acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. It offered various driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing, with G-Vectoring Control technology for natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50's ride quality was slightly firmer, and it exhibited a hint of torque steer during acceleration.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, it featured quality leather seats, tri-zone climate control, and ample storage space. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat expanded the cargo area to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats created a massive 144.9 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered a comfortable interior with power-adjustable heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and adequate storage space. The back seat was roomy, and rear doors opened wide for easy access. The CX-50 provided 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, with a long load floor but narrower width between the wheel wells. Maximum cargo space measured 56.3 cubic feet. While the CX-50's cargo capacity was less than the Odyssey's, it offered practical features like side bins and hooks for securing items.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims included navigation, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk technologies. The rear-seat entertainment system featured a 10.2-inch display, but it was considered outdated. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was criticized for its small screen and lack of a tuning knob.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base model had an 8.8-inch display, while higher trims offered a 10.25-inch display. Mazda Connect's user interface was not touchscreen-friendly, but the CX-50 allowed touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The CX-50 also offered an Active Driving Display, projecting data within the driver's line of sight.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings or taking abrupt actions. The Odyssey received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to perform well in safety tests, though the IIHS had not yet rated it. It offered a comprehensive package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The CX-50's systems generally worked well, but the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in.