Many of the features on the 2023 Honda Odyssey minivan have been carried over from its 2022 model year, so it’s easy to assume that there’s not much to discuss. However, there have been a few notable changes, such as the addition of new standard features, which will make many Odyssey owners very happy. Still, the people who will be the most thrilled are the passengers sitting in the second row. 

There’s a lot to love about the 2023 Honda Odyssey

For those who aren’t into minivans, you may be wondering what the big deal is. They were once seen as the ideal vehicle for parents, but with the rise of SUVs, minivans have lost much of their popularity. However, the 2023 Honda Odyssey has some great new standard features, and the price is more than affordable.

Consumer Reports was highly impressed with the quiet interior cabin, which keeps out a lot of road sounds, even when you don’t have the radio blaring. An intercom system also makes communicating with passengers in the back convenient, especially if you’re going on a road trip.

Even though the driving experience was less than stellar, the review site was still pleased that the ride was smooth. This is thanks in large part to the 280-hp V6 engine. The brakes also do their job well, so you don’t feel your heart pounding in your chest every time someone in front of you taps the brakes.

The Honda Sensing package now comes standard on all trim levels, which will be most welcome news to minivan lovers. Features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning are standard, just as they were on the 2022 model. What many potential owners will be more interested in learning, however, is that rear cross-traffic warning and blind spot warning now come standard as well. 

Rear seat comfort is the best feature of the 2023 Odyssey

Like most modern-day minivans, comfort is integral to the design. Unlike sports cars which can rely on their good looks to get drivers into the front seat, even if that means having to twist and turn so much you worry about throwing your back out, minivans make their seating extra special.

One area that is often neglected in most vehicles is the passenger seats. Drivers are often treated to heated seats that can be arranged in several ways and reclined to just the right spot. On the other hand, passengers tend to get stuck with hardback seats, which aren’t bad for short trips to the salon but can be agonizing on long road trips.

The 2023 Honda Odyssey has decided to tackle this issue head-on, and now drivers may be left wondering if they can somehow drive from the back.

The second-row seats have taken a page from the driver’s seat, and are now designed to be reclined, moved forward, or backward to allow for more legroom, and there’s plenty of room to stretch out for adults who are on the taller side. 

Honda’s magic seats

So how did Honda manage to make the second row of the Odyssey comfortable again? It’s a little something the Japanese automaker likes to call the Magic Slide. 

Car and Driver reports, “Honda’s inventive second-row Magic Slide seats slide both side to side and fore and aft, allowing for multiple configurations.”

The only bad news is that this is not available on the third row, and there’s a sound reason for this decision. The third-row seats are designed to be recessed into the floorboard, meaning you have more room for cargo. 

This does mean you may have a fight on your hands as everyone now fights to sit in the second row, but that’s something you’ll have to work out on your own as Honda hasn’t developed an app for that yet.