Honda Odyssey vs Chevrolet Suburban

The 2025 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar design that echoed its predecessors, offering a straightforward and practical aesthetic. Its interior followed suit with a traditional layout featuring buttons, knobs, and physical switchgear, which many found to be a blessing for ease of use. The Odyssey was available in EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, and Elite trims, with the base EX trim discontinued, resulting in a higher starting price. The Elite trim, with its Smoke Blue Pearl paint and two-tone leather seats, provided a touch of class, though styling was not the primary draw for minivan buyers.

In contrast, the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban underwent a careful restyling to maintain its iconic status while modernizing its appearance. The exterior changes included a new front fascia and lighting signatures, while the interior saw significant upgrades. The Suburban's trim lineup remained consistent, with options ranging from the basic LS to the luxurious High Country. The interior improvements included a more sophisticated dash and a larger touchscreen display, enhancing the overall user experience. Despite these updates, the Suburban maintained its reputation for spaciousness and capability, appealing to those seeking a large, versatile SUV.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey offered a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. While lacking AWD or hybrid options, the Odyssey delivered a satisfying driving experience for a minivan, with responsive steering and nimble handling. Its fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, though real-world tests showed slightly lower figures. Despite its limitations compared to hybrid rivals, the Odyssey's performance and handling made it a compelling choice for those who valued driving dynamics.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban provided a range of engine options, starting with a 5.3-liter V8 delivering 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The 6.2-liter V8, available on higher trims, offered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. A standout option was the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel, which saw a power increase to 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Suburban's engines offered impressive towing capabilities and a smooth driving experience. The diesel engine, in particular, provided excellent fuel efficiency, making it an attractive choice for long-distance travel.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey excelled in maximizing interior space, accommodating up to eight passengers and offering 140.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The Elite trim featured comfortable power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, though taller drivers might find the seating position slightly cramped. The second-row Magic Slide seats provided flexibility, allowing various configurations for passenger and cargo needs. However, removing these seats to maximize cargo space could be cumbersome. The third-row seat offered ample room for passengers and folded easily into the storage well, enhancing the Odyssey's practicality.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban boasted an expansive interior, with 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and a maximum of 144.7 cubic feet with all seats folded. Its towing capacity was impressive, especially with the Max Trailering Package, making it ideal for families with trailers. The diesel engine's fuel efficiency further enhanced its appeal for long journeys. The Suburban's interior space and versatility made it a top choice for those needing ample room for passengers and cargo.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey received a technology update, featuring a 7-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system was an improvement, it still lagged behind competitors in terms of graphics and voice recognition. The rear-seat entertainment system, though equipped with Amazon Fire TV, proved challenging to use, requiring additional cables for full functionality.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban made significant strides in technology, introducing a 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in, offering seamless integration of Google Maps and other apps. The user interface was visually appealing, though some aspects, like customizing the driver information display, were less intuitive. Despite these minor issues, the Suburban's tech upgrades represented a substantial improvement over the previous model, making it a more attractive option for tech-savvy buyers.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of driver-assistance features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. While generally effective, some features, like the adaptive cruise control, could be overly sensitive in traffic. The Odyssey received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and performed well in most IIHS tests, though it struggled in a new evaluation.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review. However, it included a comprehensive list of standard safety features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. The availability of GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology on higher trims added to its safety credentials, though it was not available at launch.