When it comes to choosing a minivan, the Honda Odyssey stands out as a top contender in terms of style, comfort, and performance. If you’re considering the Odyssey, you may have noticed two popular trims: the Touring and the Elite. While they share many similarities, there are key differences that set them apart. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the details of the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims, providing you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Engine Performance
Under the hood, the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims are powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 engine. This robust engine delivers impressive performance and ensures a smooth and responsive driving experience. However, the Elite trim offers a slight edge when it comes to transmission. It is equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring trim comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The extra gear in the Elite trim allows for more precise shifts and improved fuel efficiency. Whether you prioritize power or fuel economy, both trims provide excellent performance on the road.
Touring Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Touring’s nine-speed automatic transmission offers seamless gear shifts, providing a balanced combination of power and efficiency. This transmission optimizes performance, allowing the Odyssey to effortlessly accelerate and merge onto highways. The Touring trim also features paddle shifters, giving you the option to manually control gear changes for a more engaging driving experience.
Elite Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Elite takes the transmission game up a notch with its 10-speed automatic transmission. This advanced transmission offers even smoother gear changes, optimizing power delivery and fuel efficiency. The additional gear ratios enable the Elite to maintain optimal engine speed across various driving conditions, resulting in improved fuel economy. Whether you’re cruising on the highway or navigating through city streets, the Elite trim’s transmission ensures a refined and efficient drive.
Interior Comfort and Convenience
Step inside the Honda Odyssey Touring, and you’ll find a spacious and luxurious cabin designed to prioritize comfort and convenience. The Touring trim features leather-trimmed seats that add a touch of elegance to the interior. The front seats are power-adjustable and offer heating functionality for those chilly winter mornings. The second-row seats are versatile, allowing you to configure them in multiple ways to accommodate passengers or create extra cargo space. Additionally, the Touring trim includes tri-zone automatic climate control, ensuring everyone in the vehicle can customize the temperature to their liking.
Touring Trim:
In the Honda Odyssey Touring, you’ll find a range of thoughtful features that enhance your overall driving experience. One standout feature is the HondaVAC, a built-in vacuum cleaner located in the rear cargo area. This convenient feature allows you to easily clean up crumbs, dirt, and other messes without having to search for a vacuum or make a trip to the car wash. The Touring trim also includes a power moonroof, letting in natural light and fresh air to create an open and airy atmosphere.
Elite Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Elite takes interior comfort and convenience to the next level. The Elite trim comes equipped with premium leather upholstery, adding a touch of luxury to the cabin. The front seats are not only heated but also ventilated, providing a comfortable driving experience in any weather. The second-row seats are equally impressive, featuring captain’s chairs with armrests for added comfort. Rear passengers can also enjoy the available advanced rear entertainment system, which includes a 10.2-inch display screen, Blu-ray player, and wireless headphones. This entertainment system ensures that everyone on board can enjoy their favorite movies, shows, or games during long journeys.
Safety Features
Safety is a top priority in any vehicle, especially when it comes to transporting your loved ones. The Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims come equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies designed to enhance safety on the road. These technologies include collision mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation. While both trims offer these safety features, the Elite trim goes a step further by adding additional safety enhancements.
Touring Trim:
In the Honda Odyssey Touring, you can drive with confidence knowing that you have a comprehensive set of safety features at your disposal. The Touring trim includes Honda LaneWatch, a unique system that uses a camera mounted on the passenger-side mirror to display live video on the infotainment screen. This feature provides a clear view of your blind spot when changing lanes, giving you added peace of mind on the road. The Touring trim also comes with a multi-angle rearview camera, allowing you to choose between normal, top-down, and wide-angle views to assist with parking and maneuvering.
Elite Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Elite takes safety to a new level by adding even more advanced features. One notable enhancement is the blind-spot information system (BSI) with cross-traffic monitor. This system uses sensors to detect vehicles in your blind spot and alerts you with visual and audible warnings. The cross-traffic monitor also provides additional assistance when reversing by detecting approaching vehicles from the sides. With these added safety features, the Elite trim offers an extra layer of protection to help prevent accidents and keep you and your passengers safe on the road.
Exterior Design
The Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims both feature a sleek and modern exterior design that exudes confidence and style. However, the Elite trim incorporates a few additional design elements that enhance its overall aesthetics and functionality.
Touring Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Touring comes equipped with LED headlights and taillights, which not only provide better visibility but also add a touch of sophistication to the vehicle’s front and rear profiles. The Touring trim also features integrated turn signals in the side mirrors, ensuring that other drivers can clearly see your intentions when changing lanes or making turns.
Elite Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Elite takes exterior design to the next level with the addition of several premium features. LED headlights with auto-on/off functionality not only offer improved visibility but also contribute to the Elite trim’s upscale appearance. The Elite trim also features LED fog lights, which provide enhanced illumination in inclement weather conditions, ensuring that you can navigate safely through fog, rain, or snow. Another notable feature of the Elite trim is the power-folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals. These mirrors automatically fold in when the vehicle is parked, protecting them from potential damage. The turn signals integrated into the side mirrors provide an additional visual cue to other drivers, increasing safety on the road.
Technology and Connectivity
In today’s digital age, staying connected and entertained on the go is essential. The Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims offer a range of technology features to keep you and your passengers engaged and connected throughout your journeys.
Touring Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Touring is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that serves as the central hub for all your entertainment and connectivity needs. This system includes features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, allowing you to seamlessly integrate your compatible smartphone and access your favorite apps, music, and navigation. The Touring trim also comes with HondaLink, a smartphone app that allows you to remotely control various vehicle functions, such as locking and unlocking the doors, checking fuel level, and even starting the engine.
Elite Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Elite takes technology and connectivity to the next level with its advanced features. The Elite trim boasts a larger 10.2-inch display, providing a more immersive and visually appealing infotainment experience. It also features a premium 11-speaker audio system, ensuring that you can enjoy your favorite music in crisp and clear sound quality. Additionally, the Elite trim includes a wireless phone charger, allowing you to conveniently charge your compatible smartphone without the need for cables or adapters. With these advanced technology features, the Elite trim keeps you connected, entertained, and charged up on the go.
Pricing and Value
Price is an important consideration when choosing a vehicle, and the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims come with different price points based on their features and enhancements. Understanding the pricing and value of each trim will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your budget and priorities.
Touring Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Touring trim offers a balance of features and affordability. It provides a wide range of luxury amenities, advanced safety technologies, and connectivity options at a competitive price point. The Touring trim is an excellent choice for those seeking a well-rounded minivan that offers a high level of comfort, convenience, and performance without breaking the bank.
Elite Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Elite trim represents the pinnacle of luxury and sophistication in the Odyssey lineup. With its premium features, advanced safety enhancements, and additional technology upgrades, the Elite trim comes at a higher price point compared to the Touring trim. However, the value you get from the added amenities and enhancements may justify the higher cost for those who prioritize luxury and top-of-the-line features.
Warranty Coverage
Warranty coverage is an important aspect to consider when purchasing any vehicle. Honda offers the same comprehensive warranty package for both the Touring and Elite trims of the Honda Odyssey, providing you with peace of mind and protection for yourinvestment.
Touring and Elite Trims:
Both the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims come with a limited warranty that covers the vehicle for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This warranty provides coverage for any defects in materials or workmanship during the specified period. In addition, both trims are backed by a powertrain warranty that lasts for five years or 60,000 miles, ensuring that major components of the engine and transmission are protected.
Honda’s warranty coverage reflects the brand’s commitment to quality and reliability, giving you added confidence in your purchase decision. Whether you choose the Touring or Elite trim, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your Odyssey is covered by a comprehensive warranty.
Fuel Efficiency
Minivans are often associated with lower fuel efficiency due to their larger size and increased cargo capacity. However, the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims offer respectable fuel efficiency considering their class and performance capabilities.
Touring Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Touring trim comes equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which helps optimize fuel economy. With this transmission, the Touring trim achieves an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. These figures are impressive for a minivan of its size and power, allowing you to enjoy long journeys without worrying too much about frequent visits to the gas station.
Elite Trim:
The Honda Odyssey Elite trim, equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, offers similar fuel efficiency to the Touring trim. The Elite trim achieves an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. While the additional gear ratios in the transmission provide a smoother and more efficient drive, the fuel economy remains comparable to the Touring trim. This means that whether you choose the Touring or Elite trim, you can expect similar fuel efficiency without compromising on performance.
Seating Capacity and Versatility
One of the standout features of the Honda Odyssey is its spacious interior and versatile seating options. Whether you have a large family or frequently transport passengers, the Odyssey’s seating capacity and flexibility make it an ideal choice for those in need of ample space.
Touring and Elite Trims:
Both the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims offer seating for up to eight passengers, allowing you to accommodate your entire family or a group of friends comfortably. The second-row seats are designed with Honda’s Magic Slide technology, which enables easy access to the third row and provides multiple seating configurations. This means you can adjust the second-row seats to create extra space or configure them to accommodate different passenger needs, such as providing a center aisle for easier access to the rear seats.
In addition to the seating capacity, the Honda Odyssey also offers generous cargo space. With all seats in place, the Odyssey provides a spacious cargo area behind the third row. If you need more room for luggage or larger items, both the second and third-row seats can be folded down to create a flat loading floor. This versatility allows you to adapt the interior space to suit your specific needs, whether it’s a family vacation or a trip to the hardware store.
Exterior Color Options
Expressing your personal style and preferences is made easy with a range of exterior color options available for both the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims. Honda offers a variety of colors, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your taste and complements your individuality.
Touring and Elite Trims:
Both trims offer a selection of classic and contemporary color choices. Classic options include Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl, which provide a timeless and sophisticated look. For those looking for a more vibrant and eye-catching appearance, options like Deep Scarlet Pearl, Pacific Pewter Metallic, and Obsidian Blue Pearl offer a bold and distinctive presence on the road. Whether you prefer a subdued or attention-grabbing exterior, Honda has you covered with its range of color options for the Odyssey Touring and Elite trims.
In conclusion, the Honda Odyssey Touring and Elite trims offer exceptional minivan options, each with its own unique features and advantages. From engine performance and interior comfort to safety features and technology, the differences between these trims allow you to choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences. Whether you prioritize luxury and advanced entertainment options or are more focused on value and affordability, Honda’s Odyssey lineup has a trim level that will meet your expectations. Ultimately, the choice between the Touring and Elite trims comes down to your personal preferences and budget. Whichever trim you choose, the Honda Odyssey is sure to provide a comfortable, reliable, and enjoyable driving experience for you and your family.
