2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Ultimate Calligraphy stood out with its distinctive grille pattern, revised exterior lighting, and unique 20-inch alloy wheels. It featured additional lower body trim and upgraded interior detailing, including a simulated suede headliner. The standard LED headlights added a modern touch to the Palisade's appearance. Inside, the cabin was adorned with quilted and stitched premium Nappa leather, making it feel more luxurious than its price suggested. The Palisade's unconventional styling drew mixed reactions, but it undeniably appeared more expensive than it was.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Odyssey maintained a classic minivan design with a sense of style. Its kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines added a touch of flair to its otherwise clean flanks. The Touring trim level featured dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Odyssey offered quality leather upholstery and a classic open-concept design. The centre stack, though cluttered, was user-friendly, and the expansive windshield provided excellent visibility. The Odyssey's design was practical and family-friendly, with a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a robust 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. It offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, Snow, and a Lock function for improved traction. The Palisade achieved a fuel efficiency of 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Its firmer suspension provided excellent body-motion control, making it enjoyable to drive, though not necessarily fun. The Palisade's towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms, and it featured a new seven-pin trailer pre-wiring connector.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was front-wheel drive only, lacking all-wheel drive or hybrid options. The Odyssey's fuel consumption was estimated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. While not designed for spirited driving, the Odyssey was enjoyable during daily commutes. However, its brakes exhibited pedal vibration and grumbling when descending hills, especially when fully loaded. Despite this, the Odyssey remained quick and responsive, offering a pleasant driving experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior space and comfort. It featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and separate climate controls for third-row passengers. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and slid for easy access to the third row. The Palisade offered 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,447 litres with the seats folded. Its hands-free Smart Liftgate added convenience, though it could be disabled if desired.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower hip point. Inside, it featured quality leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a tri-zone climate control system. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey provided 929 litres of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat created 2,452 litres of cargo space, while removing the second-row seats expanded it to 3,984 litres. The Odyssey's interior was spacious and versatile, ideal for family use.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems, with an 8-inch or 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Both systems supported Bluetooth pairing for two smartphones, but only the 8-inch setup offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, navigation, and Blue Link connected services. Additional features included wireless smartphone charging, a Driver Talk intercom system, and a head-up display. The Palisade's technology package was comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system felt outdated compared to rivals, lacking a larger screen and a tuning knob. The embedded navigation system required specific voice commands, making it less intuitive than smartphone-based navigation. Overall, the Odyssey's technology package needed an upgrade to remain competitive.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety, with features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping systems. It included a rear occupant alert system and a Blind View Monitor. The Palisade's Highway Driving Assist provided smooth and sophisticated adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance. It earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, ensuring excellent protection for occupants.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, occasionally issuing invalid warnings or taking abrupt actions. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, ensuring strong crash protection.