NOTE: Information in this document is preliminary, subject to change without notice, and intended for media use–not for consumers. For final information, visit automobiles.honda.com.
The Honda Odyssey is well known and highly regarded for its packaging efficiency, versatility, functionality and comfort. The fifth-generation 2018 Odyssey builds on that legacy with innovative design and engineering that elevates interior usability and style, while extending the paradigm of smart, connected technology.
As you would expect, the Odyssey’s spacious interior can comfortably accommodate up to eight passengers, and offers versatile seating flexibility that lets owners quickly reconfigure the interior to suit just about any mission. Ingenious new available Magic Slide™ second-row seats each adjust laterally to any of five different positions – in addition to sliding fore and aft – so finding the perfect layout for kids and car seats is quick and easy. Third-row seating access has been improved as well.
Technology has advanced radically in the new Odyssey, with smart new instrument displays and an available all-new, faster, more powerful and intuitive Display Audio system that puts a wide range of apps and features at your fingertips. An all-new available Rear Entertainment System (RES) can play Blu-ray™ discs and streaming content via new in-vehicle 4G LTE or via the user’s own smartphone and data plan (operating as a hotspot).
Additional innovative and family-friendly available technologies include the HondaVac® (which is now standard in both Touring and Elite trims) and new CabinTalk™ in-vehicle public address system, CabinWatch™ day-or-night camera system, and new smartphone-based CabinControl™ app with Social Playlist. These new features and technologies combine to make the new Odyssey more connected and capable at satisfying every family member’s information and entertainment needs than ever before.
New Available Interior Features
- Magic Slide 2nd-row seats* ^
- Multi-function center console*
- Wireless phone charging*
- Shift-by-wire gear selector*
- 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) instrument display*
- Walk Away Door Lock*
- CabinTalk™ in-car PA system* ^
- CabinWatch™ rear seat monitor camera* ^
- CabinControl™ phone interface system* ^
- HondaLink and HondaLink App
- HondaLink Assist*
- New 8-inch touchscreen Display Audio system with Android operating system*
- New-generation “2.0” SiriusXM® Radio*
- Apple CarPlay*
- Android Auto*
- Siri Eyes Free*
- 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot* ^
- Next generation Blu-ray™/DVD/CD Rear Entertainment System (RES)* ^
- “Smart TV” type content streaming to RES* ^
- Wireless streaming from Android devices to RES* ^
- HondaVac (now available on Touring and Elite)
* First for Odyssey
^ First for Honda
Interior Package
Design
The new Odyssey interior takes Honda’s family-friendly minivan to a new level with a spacious premium look featuring lean, strong and substantial styling touches, and high-quality, soft-touch materials applied liberally throughout. The Odyssey offers greater amenities than ever before, with best-in-class intuitive technology and sedan-like comfort and quality.
The instrument panel is highlighted by a striking new high-contrast Thin Film Transistor (TFT) instrument display in all grades, and a large 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen (EX grade and above). Fit, finish and materials have received close attention, and soft leather seating is standard on EX-L and higher trims, with perforated leather front seating in the Odyssey Elite. Piano black interior accents and LED accent lighting further distinguish the Elite.
Interior Packaging Concept
The Odyssey interior packaging aims to provide a generous space for both people and cargo with three rows of adult-sized seating comfort. For 2018, seating dimensions and passenger volume are largely unchanged, and the Odyssey maintains its best-in-class low step-in height. Length of the cargo space behind the third row of seating has increased by 50 mm, for greater loading versatility. The second and third row ceiling’s air conditioning outlet ductwork has been repositioned under the floor through the door pillars to conveniently located outlets. The new layout creates a passenger cabin with a more open, airy feel.
Note regarding interior volumes: During development of the 2018 Odyssey, Honda adopted revised methodology for measuring interior volume that is more consistent with the customer experience. Although the specification tables indicate significant differences between the previous model and the 2018 in some areas—in particular an apparent loss of 10 cu. ft. total passenger volume—the vehicles are in fact much closer (within about 4 cu. ft.) when the revised measurement method is used for both vehicles.
2017 Odyssey vs. 2018 Odyssey Interior Dimensions
(See the Specifications and Features section for all data.)
Interior Colors
The Odyssey’s interior palette is sophisticated and coordinated and is offered in Mocha, Gray or Beige colors – fabric in the LX and EX, leather in the EX-L, EX-L NR and Touring, and perforated leather (first row only) in the Elite.
(See the Exterior section for more information and color chart.)
Seating
Front-Row Seating
The two front bucket-style captain’s chairs are designed to offer supportive comfort combined with secure lateral support during cornering. Rounded seatback shoulders help provide a feeling of cabin spaciousness. The seats use padding tuned for ride comfort and isolation from road vibration and feature in-board fold-down armrests. Odyssey LX and EX models feature soft spill-resistant fabric upholstery. EX-L models and above have anti-soil leather seating surfaces. In the Elite model with ventilated front seats, the front leather seating surfaces are perforated. Non-perforated second- and third-row seating surfaces were selected for easier cleaning and reduced tendency to trap dirt and crumbs.
The Odyssey LX driver’s seat provides supportive 8-way power assist. The passenger seat on all Odyssey models now offers 4-way power adjustment. Odyssey EX and above driver’s seat adds a 4-way power adjustable lumbar support along with seat heaters with low, medium and high settings. Odyssey EX-L and above trims add leather seating surfaces, and a 2-position memory feature for the driver’s seat settings and side mirrors that can be stored in a pair of user profiles – one for each of the two key fobs that come standard with the Odyssey.
Second-Row Seating
Honda engineers designed the new Odyssey to be easy-to-use in people’s everyday lives and in the ways that people use minivans on a daily basis, in particular the use of child seats. Experience in designing and developing previous generations of Odyssey and extensive study of how customers use their minivans guided every aspect of the new Odyssey design, none more so than the available new Magic Slide™ second-row seating system.
All EX trim and higher 2018 Odysseys feature the new Magic Slide™ second-row seating with two full-size captain’s chairs, each with a pair of padded fold-down armrests. The seats slide fore and aft and recline, and feature integrated seatbelts. If the Odyssey needs to be converted for maximum cargo capacity, the captain’s chairs are removable without tools
Odyssey EX and above models are also equipped with a comfortable and versatile removable center seat, which allows the Odyssey room to accommodate seven or eight passengers. The center seatback can fold down to create a large center armrest with three beverage holders and a tray, or it can be removed entirely to allow for maximum flexibility in the positioning of the outboard seats.
The key to the Magic Slide™ second row seats is the ability of each outboard seat to adjust laterally to any of five positions positioned at intervals of 3.2 inches (82 mm), with a total lateral travel of 12.9 inches (328 mm). This means that when the center second-row seat is removed, the captain’s chairs can be quickly positioned to suit the needs of the passengers. The slide release mechanism is a large, easy to use handle located low on the outboard side of the seat base.
Use modes include:
- Easy Access mode – with the center seat removed, the outboard seats slide laterally through five selectable positions, allowing for easy access to the third row even with one or two rear-facing child seats installed in the second row. And with the center-most seat slid forward, a child is put within easy reach of the front seat occupants.
- Super mode – like Easy Access mode but with the driver’s side seat set to walk-in position (slid full forward with the seatback tilted) for maximum access to the third row.
- Wide mode – with the center seat removed and two outboard seats in their outer most positions, providing a wide center walkthrough to the third row (and no more “Dad, he’s touching me again!”).
- Buddy mode – with the center seat removed and two outboard seats abutting one another in the center of the vehicle, putting two people in close proximity and within easier reach of the front seat occupants.
Third-Row Seating
With its complete redesign, the Odyssey now has best-in-class visibility for third row passengers, with the largest visible area forward of the third-row occupant’s eye point. The window’s bottom edge relative to the eye point is also the lowest in the class. Both factors contribute to a comparatively open feel in the Odyssey’s third row of seating. The third row seating is roomy and accommodating, with reclining seatbacks and adjustable headrests for greater comfort.
The Honda third row Magic Seat® set the standard for third-row functionality in the minivan world. Honda introduced the concept of third-row fold-down seating to the industry with the 1995 Odyssey and has improved upon it ever since. The third row features a 60/40 split and offers top levels of convenience for operation thanks to its one-motion operation that makes access to the cargo area simple and fast.
The 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat can be folded down into the large recess in the cargo floor by pulling a single strap on each side, creating a flat-floor cargo area. The system is spring-loaded and the headrests can remain in the seats. The hinges for the seat are designed to lie flat, making it easier to stack items like plywood panels.
Storage/Access
Multi-Function Center Console
The Odyssey interior offers a range of convenient storage features for the driver and passengers and is engineered to offer tremendous versatility and utility. On top, the Odyssey’s new center console has a smartphone tray and four cupholders. On the Elite trim, the tray includes a wireless charger pad that can keep compatible devices charged without the need for messy cables. Two available 2.5A USB charge ports and an HDMI connection are located on the back of the console for second row passenger use.
The console’s main storage compartment is topped by a new groove-less sliding tambour door that mostly disappears from view when opened, instead of getting in the way as a hinged lid might. When closed, it creates a large, rigid and flat surface upon which items, like a purse, can be placed. A roomy tray directly in front of the console can also accommodate a purse. Inside is a sliding smartphone tray, along with USB and auxiliary jacks. Eliminating the grooves normally found in a typical tambour door minimizes the accumulation of dirt and crumbs on the surface and eases cleaning.
On EX-L N/R and above trims, a sliding media drawer at the bottom of the console opens toward the front, revealing substantial room for DVDs and other items.
Side Doors
To improve access to the second and third rows of seating, the dual side sliding doors open farther than ever before. In EX models and above, the side doors are power operated.
New software logic makes the operation of the power doors more intuitive. If a door is given multiple commands to open in a short time (for example to driver pushing the “Open” button on the instrument panel within 0.5 second of someone pulling on the outer door handle), the door will open. In the previous generation Odyssey, the door would stop operation and an alert beep would sound in the same situation.
Cargo Versatility
For 2018, the Odyssey’s rear tailgate opening has more “squared off” corners, making it easier to maneuver bulky cargo into the opening than with the more rounded corners of the previous generation Odyssey. The One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat® allows the Odyssey to quickly and easily adapt between passenger and cargo duties.
The 3rd-Row Magic Seat can accommodate up to three passengers and still provide 38.6 cubic-feet of cargo volume behind the seats, or fold completely flat into the floor to create 91.0 cubic-feet of cargo volume while still maintaining room for five passengers (four passengers on LX). With the second-row seats removed, total cargo volume expands to 155.8 cubic-feet. The cargo floor can accommodate two ¾-inch thick 4 ft. by 8 ft. sheets of plywood with the rear tailgate closed, or additional sheets with the tailgate left ajar.
Instrumentation and Controls
Control Layout
All important systems and controls in the Odyssey are positioned within easy reach of the driver. Controls for the systems used most frequently – audio, cruise control, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, available navigation system with voice recognition and Multi-Information Display – are conveniently positioned on the steering wheel. A physical volume knob is just to the right of the steering wheel, adjacent to the center display. The main instrumentation is an easy-to-read, high-contrast, 7-inch TFT display. Typical of Honda interior design, the soft-touch switchgear of the Odyssey is engineered to deliver a high-quality feel and positive action.
Steering Wheel
The Odyssey’s new steering wheel design, leather-wrapped on EX-L and above trims, incorporates the most commonly used controls, allowing the driver to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. In all trims, the steering wheel offers manual tilt and telescopic adjustment. A new generation of Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, audio system and Multi-Information Display (MID) controls are located on the left side of the steering wheel. The addition of dedicated new “Home” and “Back” buttons simplifies the navigation of various menus and functions. Cruise control switches are on the right side, and trims with Honda Sensing® have LKAS and ACC controls located on the right side of the steering wheel as well. Within fingertip reach are a pair of paddle shifters that allow for manual operation of the 9-speed (LX, EX, EX-L and EX-L NR) or 10-speed transmission (Touring and Elite). A heated steering wheel is standard in the Odyssey Elite.
Transmission Controls
For the first time, in all 2018 Odyssey models, the conventional console-mounted shift lever is replaced with a fully electronic, shift-by-wire gear selector. Park, Neutral, Drive and Sequential are selected with the push of a button. See the Powertrain section for more information.
Instrumentation
All Odysseys benefit from all new instrumentation comprised of a colorful 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display that offers an expanded range of informational content. In addition to normal vehicle functions, the TFT instrumentation has customizable features and can display phone and audio information, turn-by-turn route guidance (when equipped with navigation) a compass (also with navigation) and much more.
The gauge package progressively illuminates to give the driver a welcoming feel upon entry. When the door is first opened, the instrument lighting illuminates and then brightens progressively to 100-percent illumination when the ignition is switched on. The illuminated instrument panel then comes alive, indicating that the car is ready to go. At the end of the drive, the instrument lighting dims progressively.
Multi-Information Display (MID)
The Odyssey instrument panel provides important vehicle information and infotainment system content via an integrated Multi-Information Display (MID) positioned centrally in the instrument display. Controls positioned on the steering wheel allow the driver to cycle the MID display through multiple screens of information from sources including trip computer, phone, audio, maintenance and more. The Maintenance Minder™ system alerts the Odyssey driver of upcoming maintenance needs via the MID and should a fault occur with the vehicle, specific warning information will appear. The display indicates when to change the oil, air cleaner, transmission fluid, spark plugs or coolant, as well as when to rotate the tires.
Multi-information Display Features
Instrumentation