2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that offered practicality and style, making it a popular choice for families. Its sliding side doors provided easy access, especially in tight parking spaces, and the spacious third-row seat ensured comfort for all passengers, including adults. The Odyssey's design, while adhering to traditional minivan aesthetics, featured stylish elements like kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels on the Elite trim. Inside, the Odyssey boasted a classic open-concept design with quality materials and a user-friendly layout, making it a comfortable and functional family vehicle.

In contrast, the 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a facelift, giving it a more aggressive appearance with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and dark gray vertical cladding. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold design. The Outback's interior, especially in the Touring trim, exuded luxury with Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery and a cohesive design. Despite some hard plastic elements, the interior maintained an upscale feel. The Outback's practicality was evident in its flat door sills and robust roof rack, making it a versatile choice for adventure seekers.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, it delivered a combined fuel economy of 22 mpg. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, offering quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to overheat on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and noise. Despite this, the Odyssey remained a delightful vehicle for daily driving, with a need for more robust brakes for mountain driving.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. While it offered a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, the engine felt underpowered, especially during passing and climbing. The Outback XT models, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, provided better performance but at a higher cost. The Outback's suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, and its AWD system, combined with X-Mode traction, made it capable off-road. However, the standard engine's lack of power and fuel efficiency were notable drawbacks.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a low ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The minivan provided ample storage space, including a handy floor tray and a center console tray. The Magic Slide second-row 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, expandable to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a robust roof rack and flat door sills. The Touring trim offered a comfortable interior with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats wrapped in premium Nappa leather. The Outback provided 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 75.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. While the Outback's interior was comfortable and practical, it could benefit from more storage space. The vehicle's design made it easy to enter and exit, and its high ground clearance added to its versatility.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. However, its infotainment features were considered outdated compared to rivals. The Touring and Elite trims included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies, enhancing communication with rear passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system, while functional, was behind the times. The Odyssey's infotainment system needed a major upgrade to remain competitive.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured an 11.6-inch Starlink touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included physical controls for essential functions, but the voice recognition system was lacking. The Outback offered a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, enhancing visibility. While the infotainment system worked well, the graphics and voice recognition needed improvement. The wireless smartphone connectivity was a welcome addition, reducing clutter and enhancing usability.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. However, the system lacked refinement, sometimes issuing invalid warnings or taking abrupt actions. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, highlighting its safety credentials.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight technology, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The system included new Automatic Emergency Steering and a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian and cyclist detection. While EyeSight was accurate, its operation felt artificial, affecting the driving experience. The Outback earned top safety ratings from the IIHS, showcasing its commitment to safety.