Generation history
The Honda Odyssey has been through 4 generations, starting in 1995, 1999, 2005 and 2011. The gaps were 4, 6, 6 years, an average of 5.3. Redesigns come quickly on this model. The current generation began in 2011. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2015 through 2017, centered on 2016. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: Honda presented the 2011 Odyssey Concept in early 2010 at the Chicago Auto Show and officially released it for sale on June 17, 2010; with a larger, wider body, a lower roofline and revised styling. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Honda Odyssey model page.
Every generation
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | RA | 1995–1999 | The 1995 Odyssey was introduced in 1994 as Honda's first minivan. |
| Second generation | RL1 | 1999–2005 | The second generation North American market Odyssey was first assembled in Canada as a 1999 model mainly for North America between 1998 and 2004 — and exported to Japan as the LaGreat between 1999 and 2004. |
| Third generation | RL3/4 | 2005–2011 | Honda introduced the third generation of the Odyssey for the 2005 model year. |
| Fourth generation | RL5 | 2011–present | Honda presented the 2011 Odyssey Concept in early 2010 at the Chicago Auto Show and officially released it for sale on June 17, 2010; with a larger, wider body, a lower roofline and revised styling. |
The Honda Odyssey spent 5.3 years per generation on average. The current one is 15 years old. Treat 2015 to 2017 as a range, not a date.
Source: Honda Odyssey (North America) (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Honda Odyssey model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
The 1995 Odyssey was introduced in 1994 as Honda's first minivan. It was based on the Accord platform, with a 4-cylinder engine, all-disc anti-lock braking, all wishbone suspension, and a four-speed automatic transmission with a steering-column-mounted shifter and a hill-hold feature marketed as Grade Logic. This class of vehicles would subsequently become known as Compact MPV.
The second generation North American market Odyssey was first assembled in Canada as a 1999 model mainly for North America between 1998 and 2004 — and exported to Japan as the LaGreat between 1999 and 2004. The television ad campaign for the new Odyssey evoked moments from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, particularly the extended space-station docking and lunar landing sequences to the soundtrack of The Blue Danube waltz.
Honda introduced the third generation of the Odyssey for the 2005 model year. It grew in width and weight but retained the previous generation's length and interior space. Honda introduced the ACE body engineering to the third generation Odyssey, which was later used on the eighth generation Civic. Side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control are included in all models.
Honda presented the 2011 Odyssey Concept in early 2010 at the Chicago Auto Show and officially released it for sale on June 17, 2010; with a larger, wider body, a lower roofline and revised styling. Compared to its predecessor, the fourth generation Odyssey is 0.8 in (20 mm) longer, 2.1 in (53 mm) wider and 0.4–0.6 in lower. The body is constructed using 59% high strength steel, ranging from 390 to 1,500 MPa yield strength. Trim levels included the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Touring Elite.
Generation notes adapted from Honda Odyssey (North America) (Wikipedia).
Today's Honda Odyssey
NHTSA rated the 2025 Honda Odyssey overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Owners filed 379 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Honda Odyssey, most often about electrical system (203), engine (199), unknown or other (99).