Large Honda Odyssey MPV is being ignored by customers upon returning home

The production line of the Honda Odyssey large-sized MPV was halted in Japan in November 2021. By early December 2023, this MPV model has returned to the domestic market, but as a fully imported vehicle from China instead of being assembled in Japan as before.

However, it seems that the comeback of the Honda Odyssey is not being warmly received by Japanese customers. Some dealers in Japan reported that they have not signed any contracts to purchase the Honda Odyssey up to this point. Furthermore, customers haven’t even scheduled test drives or received catalogs for this model.

According to these dealers, they are struggling to sell the large-sized MPV of the Honda brand. As a result, dealers have had to proactively contact customers who already own a Honda vehicle to ask if they are interested in purchasing the Odyssey.

The dealers also gave some reasons why domestic customers are ignoring the new Honda Odyssey. The first reason is concerns about quality because this car model is fully imported from China. The second reason is that the Honda Odyssey only has one engine option, which is the hybrid e:HEV drivetrain. The third reason is that this large-sized MPV does not have a 4-wheel drive system. Additionally, the Honda Odyssey 2024 has not changed much in terms of design compared to the previous version, while its safety equipment is inferior to its sibling, the Step WGN.

Since this MPV is produced in China, the delivery time of the Honda Odyssey 2024 in Japan is extended to 3-6 months. Furthermore, because it is a newly launched vehicle, the Honda Odyssey 2024 does not have any special offers or significant discounts in the Japanese market. This may also be a reason why domestic customers are indifferent to the car.

The Honda Odyssey 2024 for the Japanese market is still part of the 5th generation that was introduced in 2013. In the Japanese market, this car model has 3 versions: e:HEV Absolute, e:HEV Absolute EX, and e:HEV Absolute EX Black Edition.

As the name suggests, the Honda Odyssey e:HEV Absolute EX Black Edition 2024 features many glossy black exterior details such as the front grille, horizontal front/rear garnish, center air intake, “L” shaped side air vents on the front bumper, mirror covers, dual 5-spoke alloy wheels, door handles, and taillight housing. In addition, this MPV also has features such as LED headlights, LED positioning lights, sequential front fog lights, 18-inch wheels, LED taillights, and hands-free power sliding doors.

Inside the Honda Odyssey 2024, there is a 3-row seating space with heated leather seats, a 3-zone automatic air conditioning system, and a folding table for the second-row seats. The car is also equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen integrated with the Honda Connect infotainment system, electronic shift buttons, and wireless phone charging.

The “heart” of this MPV is the e:HEV hybrid drivetrain with a 2.0L i-VTEC gasoline engine and 1 electric motor, producing a total output of 181 horsepower and a maximum torque of 315 Nm. The power is transmitted to the front wheels through an E-CVT gearbox.

Finally, there is the Honda Sensing active safety package, which includes new features such as short-range collision mitigation braking, automatic headlights, and cruise control.

The price of the Honda Odyssey 2024 in Japan currently ranges from 4,800,400 – 5,164,500 yen (about 806 – 867 million VND). This MPV model used to be sold in Vietnam but was discontinued in 2021.