2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar yet refreshed appearance, with updates to the grille and front bumper, and standard LED headlights across all trims. The addition of a gloss black spear with a chrome insert at the rear and new wheel designs for higher trims modernized its look. The Odyssey was available in five trims, with prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820, excluding destination charges. The Elite trim, priced at $48,940, featured perforated leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and new tri-color floor mats, enhancing its upscale appeal. The Odyssey Elite, with its 19-inch wheels and refined interior, aimed to position itself as a premium minivan option.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its age, offered a robust and spacious design. Introduced in 2007, it received a facelift in 2018, with minor updates for 2021, including a new Nightshade Special Edition. The Sequoia's large silhouette and multi-tiered center dash design reflected its mid-2000s origins. The standard 7-inch touchscreen appeared small against the expansive dash, but the cabin provided ample space, especially in the second row. The Sequoia was available in six trims, with the Nightshade edition featuring black 20-inch wheels and leather upholstery. Despite its dated design, the Sequoia's interior was comfortable and supportive, with plenty of headroom and legroom in the second row.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. This combination delivered smooth and effortless power, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow. The Odyssey's fuel efficiency was rated at 22 mpg combined, with an average of 21.8 mpg during testing. However, the lack of all-wheel drive was a disadvantage in snowy regions. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with well-weighted steering and firm suspension. However, the brakes showed signs of fade under heavy use, indicating a need for an upgrade.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia featured a 5.7-liter V8 engine generating 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided strong acceleration, even for a vehicle weighing up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia's driving dynamics resembled those of a truck, with a soft suspension and powerful brakes. It could tow up to 7,400 pounds, though it lagged behind competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe. The Sequoia's wide stance helped manage body roll, but its brakes could be touchy.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a well-organized interior with logical controls and ample storage. The driver's seat was comfortable and adjustable, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seat layout provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated adults and children comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 144.9 cubic feet with seats removed. However, removing the second-row seats was cumbersome.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a spacious cabin with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 120 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Sequoia's power-retractable rear window was a convenient feature for accessing cargo. While the front-row space could be better utilized, the Sequoia offered deep door pockets and a large center console for storage. Despite its age, the Sequoia provided ample space for passengers and cargo.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with the EX trim, featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and other connectivity options. Touring and Elite trims added navigation, WiFi, and a rear-seat entertainment system. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The Odyssey's CabinWatch and CabinTalk features allowed for easy communication with rear-seat passengers.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Our test model had a larger 9-inch screen, though it still felt small on the large dash. The Sequoia's older infotainment system was simple to use, with large hard buttons for easy navigation. While the digital trip computer was small, it was straightforward to operate.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard Honda Sensing suite, including adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey was expected to earn a Top Safety Pick recommendation from the IIHS, with top ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately, though not always smoothly.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and other driver-assistance features. While it lacked advanced tech like lane-keeping assist, the Sequoia provided a comprehensive list of standard safety features. However, its older platform resulted in a four-star rollover test rating from the NHTSA, with no further crash test ratings available.