Is the Honda Odyssey a van or SUV?
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan (a family-oriented passenger van), not an SUV.
Across its generations, the Odyssey has been marketed and categorized as a minivan—a car-based people mover designed for easy access, flexible seating, and large cargo capacity. It competes with other minivans rather than with sport-utility vehicles.
Classification and design
The Odyssey sits in the minivan segment. Minivans are typically built on a unibody platform with sliding rear doors, a low step-in height, and a focus on interior versatility. By contrast, SUVs tend to emphasize higher ground clearance, rugged styling, and often hinged doors or a taller ride height.
- Body platform: minivans use a unibody car-like construction; many SUVs use a body-on-frame or higher ride-height chassis.
- Door configuration: minivans feature sliding rear doors for easier access in tight spaces; SUVs typically have conventional hinged doors.
- Access and seating: minivans emphasize easy seating for families and flat load floors; SUVs emphasize off-road capability and taller cargo areas.
- Drivetrain: many minivans are front-wheel drive (with limited all-wheel-drive options in some models); SUVs more often offer AWD/4WD and higher towing capacities.
In short, the Odyssey is categorized as a minivan, designed for family transport and interior flexibility, not a sport-utility vehicle.
The Odyssey in Honda's lineup
As of 2024–2025, Honda continues to market the Odyssey as its flagship minivan, distinct from Honda's SUVs such as the Pilot and Passport. It emphasizes passenger space, sliding doors, and family-friendly features rather than rugged styling or off-road capability.
Key features and configuration
Notable capabilities include up to eight-passenger seating, configurable second-row seating (including magic slide seats in some trims), built-in safety features like Honda Sensing, and a trim ladder that adds rear-seat entertainment and convenience options in higher grades.
- Seating: flexible arrangements for up to eight passengers
- Door access: wide sliding rear doors for easy entry
- Technology and safety: advanced driver-assistance systems and infotainment
Together, these elements reinforce the Odyssey's role as a people mover rather than a traditional SUV.
Summary
Bottom line: The Honda Odyssey is a minivan, not an SUV. It is built to maximize family comfort, interior versatility, and easy ingress/egress, with a car-based platform and sliding doors that set it apart from Honda's SUV lineup.
Why is Honda discontinuing the Odyssey?
As a refresher, Honda decided to discontinue the Odyssey in the Philippine market due to the closure of the automaker's Sayama production plant in Japan.
Which is bigger, Sienna or Odyssey?
The Honda Odyssey is bigger than the Toyota Sienna in terms of interior cargo and passenger space. While their exterior dimensions are very similar, the Odyssey offers more maximum cargo volume and greater legroom in the first and second rows.
This video compares the exterior and interior design of the 2025 Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna: 1mAuto DetailsYouTube · Jul 21, 2025
| Feature | Honda Odyssey | Toyota Sienna |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Cargo Space | Up to 155.8 cu. ft. | Up to 101 cu. ft. |
| First-Row Legroom | 40.9 inches | 40.3 inches |
| Second-Row Legroom | 40.9 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Passenger Volume | 163.6 cu. ft. | 162.5 cu. ft. |
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This video compares the powertrain and performance of the 2025 Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna: 1mCar ConfectionsYouTube · Aug 18, 2024
What is a Honda Odyssey classified as?
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan. It is known for its practicality as a family vehicle, featuring a spacious interior that can seat up to eight passengers, along with modern safety and technology features.
- Vehicle type: Minivan
- Key features: Seating for up to eight, a V6 engine, and a range of trims with varying levels of luxury and tech
- Purpose: Designed as a practical and modern family car, with features for both passenger comfort and cargo hauling
Is a Honda Odyssey a van or SUV?
A Honda Odyssey is a van, not an SUV. It is explicitly marketed and categorized as a minivan, designed with family-friendly features like three rows of seating, sliding doors, and spacious cargo areas.
- Van vs. SUV: Minivans like the Odyssey are built on a car platform with a lower ground clearance and a focus on passenger and cargo space, while SUVs are typically built on a truck platform with higher ground clearance, often offering four-wheel drive and a more rugged design.
- Key features: The Odyssey's features, such as its ability to seat many passengers and its versatile interior with features like Magic Slide seating, are hallmarks of a minivan.
- Honda's lineup: Honda itself distinguishes the Odyssey as a minivan in its lineup, alongside its SUVs like the CR-V and Pilot.
