2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a top recommendation for families due to its practical sliding side doors, comfortable third-row seating, and impressive cargo space. Its design, while adhering to the classic minivan look, featured stylish elements like kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels on the Elite trim. The interior boasted quality materials, a low console, and a well-organized center stack, making it a functional and comfortable choice for family travel.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more aerodynamic rear bumper design. The ID.4, based on VW’s MEB platform, offered a minimalist and high-quality interior with leatherette upholstery and recycled fiber inserts. Despite its EV distinction, the ID.4 lacked the traditional SUV profile, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. However, it provided a spacious and practical interior, making it a strong contender in the affordable EV market.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was front-wheel drive only, with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. While it lacked the hybrid options of its competitors, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, offering quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to overheat on long descents, which could be a concern for some drivers.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered two battery pack options: a new 62-kWh pack for the base models and an 82-kWh pack for higher trims. The single-motor RWD models delivered 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor AWD models produced 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The ID.4 provided a comfortable and refined driving experience, though it allowed too much body roll for truly spirited driving. Its regenerative braking system offered a familiar driving experience, but lacked the one-pedal driving feature popular among EV enthusiasts.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured wide-opening doors, quality leather seats, and a tri-zone climate control system. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. With 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second row removed, the Odyssey offered impressive cargo capacity.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 provided more interior space than other affordable EVs, with ample legroom and headroom. It offered 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The ID.4 also had a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. VW made functional improvements to the interior for 2023, including a conventional lid for the center console and a better phone storage spot. Three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats were also available.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, including an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added navigation, CabinWatch, CabinTalk, and a rear-seat entertainment system. However, the infotainment system felt outdated, with a small screen and a lack of modern features like a tuning knob or advanced voice recognition.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, but the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel remained a concern due to their lack of physical feedback. The ID.Light feature added a unique touch, providing visual cues for navigation and drive modes.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS. However, some safety features lacked refinement, and the blind-spot monitoring system's warning light placement was suboptimal.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS for the 2022 model. It came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.