Honda’s Odyssey minivan is getting a new, somewhat unexpected-for-a-minivan trim level for 2023: The Odyssey Sport. Is it actually any sportier than a regular Honda minivan? No, but it is sportier-looking, which counts for something in the increasingly style-focused minivan segment (that also includes the S-package-equipped Chrysler Pacifica with similar blacked-out trim and wheels, the wild-looking Toyota Sienna, and the pseudo-SUV-ish Kia Carnival).
The Sport slots into the middle of the 2023 Odyssey lineup, above the EX and EX-L and below the Touring and range-topping Elite. (The formerly entry-level LX model has been killed off.) To help the Sport stand out, Honda gives it Berlina black painted 19-inch wheels and a gloss-black finish for the grille, head- and taillight trim, door mirrors, and bumper accents. To help parents (or, hey, single minivan aficionados) feel a little racier, the interior is slathered in black leather with red-colored accent stitching, and Honda fits red-hued ambient lighting and dashboard backlighting for an extra pop of zest at night.
Beyond the blackout trim and the newly available Sonic Gray Pearl paint option (limited to the Sport, Touring, and Elite models), the Sport is otherwise equipped just like an EX-L. That means there is a sunroof, power tailgate, eight-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, and the Honda Sensing active safety suite (adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection). The Sport’s visual goodies up its price by $800 over the EX-L, for a total MSRP of $42,505 including destination charges.
If you figured the removal of the base LX trim pushes the Odyssey’s price higher, you’re correct. The least-expensive Odyssey, the EX, now starts at $38,635, $900 more than last year’s EX. For reference, the least-expensive 2022 Odyssey (the now-dead LX), cost just $34,730. There are no notable changes for 2023 that might justify the extra cost, save for perhaps the new Honda Service Pass, which includes two years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first) of scheduled maintenance. At least the EX remains as equipped as it was last year, making the effective price increase for that model almost a wash ($900 for two years of maintenance?). Other carryover Odyssey trims, from the EX-L to the Touring to the Elite, see their prices rise by $700.
But for van shoppers on a budget, the shift in prices northward won’t be welcome news, even if it’s in keeping with other minivans’ pricing trends. You can’t buy a Sienna for less than $36,555, and Chrysler’s Pacifica now starts at $38,690, right up there with the Honda. Only the Kia Carnival bucks the trend, for now, starting at a still-reasonable $33,595.
2023 Honda Odyssey Pricing
- EX: $38,635
- EX-L: $41,705
- Sport: $42,505
- Touring: $45,745
- Elite: $50,765
Keyword: Cheapest 2023 Honda Odyssey Minivan Is Dead, New Sport Trim Appears