Honda Odyssey vs Toyota bZ

The 2025 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar design that echoed its predecessors, offering a practical but uninspired aesthetic. Its interior followed a traditional approach with physical controls, which were appreciated for their ease of use. The Odyssey was available in several trims, with the Elite trim featuring a new Smoke Blue Pearl paint and high-quality leather seats. Despite its lack of stylistic innovation, the Odyssey's interior was functional and comfortable, aligning with its utilitarian purpose.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota bZ presented a more modern and refined appearance, especially with body-color trim options that improved its visual appeal. The interior boasted a cleaner dashboard and center console design, enhancing the sense of quality and organization. The XLE trim featured fabric seats with an upscale pattern, and the larger 14-inch touchscreen integrated climate controls, which, despite initial concerns, proved user-friendly. However, the digital driver display's placement and information density were less than ideal.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. It lacked AWD and hybrid options, which were available in some competitors. The Odyssey achieved an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined, with real-world tests showing slightly lower efficiency. Despite this, the V6 engine provided robust performance, and the minivan's handling was commendable, offering a natural driving experience with responsive steering and braking.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a single electric motor and a 57.7-kWh battery producing 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque. The optional 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 hp and extended the range to 314 miles. Dual-motor AWD models delivered 338 hp, with varying ranges and efficiency ratings. The bZ's regenerative braking system lacked one-pedal driving capability, but it was an agreeable urban vehicle with good visibility and standard parking sensors. However, its highway performance was less impressive, with a choppy ride on uneven surfaces and limited passing power.

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 power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, while the second-row Magic Slide seats provided versatile configurations. However, removing these seats to maximize cargo space was cumbersome. The third-row seat was spacious, and the Odyssey included thoughtful storage solutions and features like Cabin Talk and Cabin Watch for family convenience.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on an EV platform, offered easy access with 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, and the Limited trim added ventilation. Despite lacking a glove compartment, the bZ compensated with ample storage options, including a large center bin and dual wireless chargers. Rear passengers enjoyed good legroom, though foot space was limited. The bZ's cargo area offered 27.7 cubic feet of space, expandable to 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though the sloped rear window restricted maximum capacity.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey received a technology update with a 7-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the system's graphics and voice recognition were outdated. The rear-seat entertainment system, featuring Amazon Fire TV, was challenging to use, requiring additional cables for full functionality. Despite these shortcomings, the Odyssey's tech offerings were adequate for most users.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 14-inch touchscreen running the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. While generally user-friendly, the lack of a home screen and low-contrast daytime mode were drawbacks. The system supported wireless smartphone integration and offered several connected service plans. The Intelligent Assistant voice control worked well, enhancing the overall tech experience in the bZ.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, offering a suite of driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. While generally effective, the system's lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise control could be improved. The Odyssey received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, except for a "Poor" rating in a new IIHS evaluation.

The 2026 Toyota bZ included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring advanced safety technologies like Proactive Driving Assist and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist and other semi-autonomous features. However, the adaptive cruise control's performance was inconsistent, and the driver monitoring system was overly sensitive. The bZ received mixed safety ratings from IIHS, with high marks for front-crash avoidance but lower ratings for headlights and frontal-impact tests.