The 2020 Honda Odyssey and Ford Expedition share more similarities than you might think. Both are spacious and accommodating vehicles that offer a ton of modern tech. But even though it’s not the “coolest” based on appearances, there are few reasons why you might want to get the Odyssey over the Expedition.

The Honda Odyssey boasts agility

Describing a minivan as agile might sound strange. But even so, the Odyssey is surprisingly athletic and fun to drive. And what may also come as a surprise is that the 2020 Odyssey offers a more agile experienced compared to the 2020 Expedition.

While critics like Consumer Reports say that Ford has made the Expedition a more comfortable ride, its large size doesn’t contribute to a responsive driving experience. The Expedition’s handling is clumsy, and its enormous size makes it harder to park. Furthermore, it doesn’t absorb road imperfections all that well.

Regarding performance, the Odyssey is able to shine in a few ways the Expedition does not. Not only does the Honda provide a sharper driving experience, but it’s also incredibly smooth. Road bumps aren’t a real problem for the Odyssey. It’s also easier to handle overall.

You’ll also want to consider the Odyssey over the Expedition if fuel efficiency is among your top priorities. The Odyssey features a 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine linked to a 10-speed automatic. This Honda returned 22 mpg overall in CR’s road test. According to CR, the Expedition only returned a combined 16 mpg. 

The Odyssey offers more family-friendly gadgets

It may be challenging to decide between getting an SUV or minivan. But if you’re a certain type of person, the minivan wins out. Some parents may try to avoid a minivan’s conventionality, but they’re hard to match when it comes to expertly accommodating growing families. That said, the Odyssey presents an array of passenger-focused amenities that the Expedition doesn’t, including an in-car vacuum and an in-car PA system. 

This Honda can carry up to eight passengers depending on the trim level you pick. It comes with spill-resistant cloth seats, but you can upgrade them with leather if you’d like. Additional amenities include power sliding doors and a driver seat with a memory function. 

As U.S. News highlighted, Honda’s touchscreen infotainment system is standard on every Odyssey trim except the base model. This infotainment system supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You can also add a wifi hotspot, navigation, and a Blu-ray entertainment system, and a wireless device charger. When it comes to advanced safety features, the 2020 Odyssey offers road departure warning and pre-collision braking. 

The Odyssey is more affordable too

Pricing also plays a significant role when choosing between the Odyssey and the Expedition. The 2020 Odyssey begins at $30,790; the 2020 Expedition starts at $52,810. The Expedition’s base price is high even for the large SUV class. You can get a top-of-the-line Odyssey Elite trim for about $5,000 cheaper than a standard Expedition. With this in mind, the Odyssey is the better value buy.