The new 2021 Honda Odyssey, boasts a new exterior design, significantly upgraded features and Honda Sensing Advanced Safety technology now standard on all grades.

Following on from the naming convention of Honda’s evergreen CR-V, the Odyssey adopts a new Touring specification grade.

This replaces the S grade of the outgoing model spec though leather is not specified in Touring which retains the cloth trim.

Safety systems have seen a significant upgrade, with blind spot monitoring, cross traffic warning system and walk-away auto locking complementing the Honda Sensing advanced safety suite.

There’s a new generation infotainment system with an eight-inch screen which integrates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and you now get dual one touch power sliding doors.

The range topping L model gets a name change to ‘Premium’ grade.

With this comes a hands-free power tailgate with a kick sensor, gesture-controlled power doors, key linked driver’s memory seats, extended courtesy lighting and electrostatic climate control panel for the second-row passengers. Those passengers, incidentally, get independent Captain’s seats.

Improved ride quality comes about through increased sound suppression and 17-inch alloys across both grades.

There is a new look to the front end and under the new bonnet is a 2.4-litre V-TEC engine, equipped with idle stop, producing 129 kW of power at 6200 rpm and 225 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.

This goes to the wheels via stepped continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters.   

Pricing is Honda competitive at $49,990 +ORC for the Touring and $59,990+ORC for the Premium.