2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, and the spacious third-row seat provided comfort for additional passengers like grandparents or carpoolers. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering the same volume as a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded down and the second-row seats were removed. Despite its practicality, the Odyssey's minivan image deterred some buyers, although it did possess a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 presented a modern take on the SUV, with subtle styling changes that included gloss black trim on the front bumper and a squared-off rear bumper for improved aerodynamics. The ID.4's design was distinctively EV, lacking the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. However, it was based on VW's MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs, and offered a minimalist interior with quality materials. The ID.4's interior space was generous, surpassing other affordable EVs in legroom and headroom, and it provided a practical cargo capacity that rivaled gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in a fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite this, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling, especially when the vehicle was fully loaded.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a choice between a 62-kWh battery pack for the base model and an 82-kWh pack for the Pro model, with options for rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The single electric motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor AWD powertrain increased output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The ID.4's regenerative braking system allowed for energy recovery while decelerating, but it did not support one-pedal driving. The ID.4's driving dynamics were comfortable and refined, though it allowed for more body roll than some might prefer on twisty roads.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height compared to most SUVs. Inside, the Touring trim featured quality leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey excelled in storage space, with numerous compartments and a centre console tray. The Magic Slide second-row seats provided flexibility for child seat installation and access to the third-row seat, which was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey boasted 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,452 litres with the third-row seat folded, and up to 3,984 litres with the second-row seats removed.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 delivered ample interior space, with more legroom and headroom than competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf. It offered 858 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded. The ID.4 also provided some towing capability, with a capacity of 1,000 kilograms for RWD models and 1,225 kg for AWD models. Interior updates for 2023 included a conventional lid for the centre console and improved phone storage. The ID.4's three-zone climate control system featured rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system was becoming outdated compared to rivals. It included an 8-inch touchscreen display, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Touring trim added CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. However, the infotainment system's small screen and lack of a tuning knob were drawbacks, and the embedded navigation system required specific voice commands.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.4's user interface featured sharp graphics and natural-language voice recognition, though the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were less intuitive. The ID.Light system provided ambient lighting and navigation cues, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the Honda Sensing system lacked refinement, occasionally issuing invalid warnings or taking abrupt actions. The Odyssey received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. While IIHS ratings for the 2023 model were not available, the 2022 model received a Top Safety Pick+ rating. The ID.4 came with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.