Honda Odyssey VS Kia Rondo
Honda Odyssey
Likes
- Handsome styling
- Plush first- and second-row seats
- Frugal fuel usage
Dislikes
- Lacklustre engine
- Dull CVT
- Foot-operated park brake
Kia Rondo
Likes
- Giant boot
- Cavernous cabin
- Practical interior
Dislikes
- Engine could do with more grunt
- Styling is a bit dull
- Display screen is tiny
Summary
Honda Odyssey
Nearly every car brand has jumped well and truly onto the SUV bandwagon in 2021, offering models in small, medium and large varieties for buyers of all budgets and lifestyles.
Honda Australia is a notable exception here however, and while it has the HR-V and CR-V to satisfy small- and medium-crossover buyers, there is nothing for those after a large SUV that seats seven.
To try and fill that gap, Honda has updated its Odyssey people mover with fresh looks, more safety and new tech to not only compete against the Kia Carnival and Toyota Prius V, but also the likes of the Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-8 and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Can Honda’s Odyssey still cut it in a world that has gone SUV crazy? Let’s find out.
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.4L |
| Fuel Type | Regular Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 8L/100km |
| Seating | 7 seats |
Kia Rondo
It's rare to see a Kia Rondo on the road. Spotting one is like when you get a commemorative 50-cent coin in your change, only not as exciting. Yup of the 219,270 cars sold so far this year 59 of them were Rondos. But the more I've driven the base-spec Rondo S - the more I think 219,211 people may have missed out on something quite good.
So what is a Rondo? Is it a van? Is it a hatch? Is it a wagon? Well, Kia calls it a people mover, but while the top-spec Rondo Si has seven seats, the five-seater Rondo S which arrived late in 2016 only has seating for five. Is that enough people to count as a people mover?Â
As for rivals to the Rondo S, well there's the Citroen C4 Picasso, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class and the BMW 2 Series… aaaaaaand that's about it.
So what is it about the Rondo S that makes me think that many of the 220,000 people may have the wrong choice and bought a SUV when what they really needed was a Rondo, but just never knew it? Oh and what is it about the Rondo that dogs really like? And what's bigger about the five-seater Rondo S than the seven-seater Rondo Si?
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.0L |
| Fuel Type | Regular Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 7.9L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Honda Odyssey7.1/10
The Honda Odyssey isn’t a bad choice for those looking to ferry around a large gaggle of people, but its far from the best option.
The first two rows are great and are supremely comfortable for those four occupants, but third-row usage will depend on how much those passengers are susceptible to motion sickness.
However, the Odyssey’s biggest weakness might be its sluggish engine and mundane CVT, with rivals like the new Kia Carnival and even Toyota Prius V offering better performance and better economy, respectively.
Still, the Honda Odyssey, and people movers in general, remain a solid option for those that don’t want another SUV or value the practicality and space afforded.
Kia Rondo7.4/10
If you're thinking of getting an SUV because you like to sit a little higher up and want a car with plenty of room and a big boot, but don't head off-road ever, then you may be better off in a Rondo S which drives more like a car and has much of the benefits of an SUV.
Design
Honda Odyssey8/10
Gone are the days where people movers could be considered daggy or uncool. No, please, don’t click away, we’re serious!
The 2021 Honda Odyssey features a new front grille, bumper and headlights that combine for a much more imposing and aggressive front fascia.
The chrome highlights look especially good against the 'Obsidian Blue' paintwork of our test car, at least to our eyes, and between this and the new Kia Carnival, people movers might just be cool again.
In profile, the 17-inch wheels do look a little small next to the massive doors and huge panels, but they do feature a funky two-tone look.
The chrome touches also follow along the Odyssey’s flanks and are found in the door handles and window surrounds to break things up a bit.
From the rear, the Odyssey’s large dimensions are hard to hide, but Honda has tried to jazz things up with a roof-mounted rear spoiler and more chrome around the tail-lights and rear fog light surrounds.
Overall, the Odyssey looks handsome and confident without straying into the ‘trying too hard’ or ‘over the top’ territory, and if anything, at least it’s not another high-riding SUV, which are quickly overtaking streets and car parks the world over.
Step inside and the Odyssey’s layout is nothing special, but gets the job done.
The first- and second-row seats are plush and comfortable, while the dashboard also features woodgrain touches to lift the interior ambience.
The 8.0-inch multimedia screen sit proudly in the centre stack, while the shifter is on the dashboard to maximum interior space.
Kia Rondo7/10
The Rondo has a mini-people mover shape with a horizontal and high roof, an upright back and a heavily raked windscreen and pointy nose. The headlights look too big for its face but that's kind of cute in a manga-cartoon way.
Take a look at the dimensions for the Rondo S - it's bigger than you might think. Â At 4525mm end to end it's 45mm longer than a Kia Sportage mid-sized SUV, and 35mm shorter in height at 1610mm tall. It's 35mm narrower than the Sportage, too, at 1805mm across.Â
Clearance is about the same as a regular car at 151mm but the driving position is higher – though not as high as the Sportage's.
Inside the dashboard and steering wheel are low, the windscreen is enormous and those A-pillars either side of it are long.
On the outside you can tell a Rondo S from the top spec Rondo Si by the wheels – the S has plastic hubcaps and the Si has alloys. You can spot a Rondo S from the inside by the tiny media screen and the chunky plastic steering wheel – the Si gets a bigger screen and sleeker looking wheel.
The cabin is stylish with the brushed aluminium look trim and dark materials. The CarsGuide photographer told me he liked its '80s retro look – thing is I'm pretty sure the designers weren't trying to go for an ironic retro feel.
Practicality
Honda Odyssey9/10
Measuring 4855mm long, 1820mm wide, 1710mm tall and with a 2900mm wheelbase, the Honda Odyssey is not just an imposing behemoth on the outside, but also a spacious and practical people mover on the inside.
Up front, occupants are treated to plush and comfortable seats with electronic adjustment and individual fold-down armrests.
Storage options abound, with deep door pockets, a dual-chamber glove box, and a tricked-out centre storage console that can retract into the centre stack and features two hidden cupholders.
Because of the compact engine and transmission package, and the fact the centre console tucks away, there is actually just empty space between the two front occupants, which is a missed opportunity.
Maybe Honda could have put another storage bin there, or even a cooled box for chilled drinks on long road trips. Either way it’s a notable, unexploited cavity.
The second-row seats are probably the place to be in the Odyssey, though, with its two captain’s chairs offering supreme comfort.
Adjustability is also plentiful, with forward/backwards, recline and even left/right positioning available.
However, while there are cupholders and roof-mounted climate controls present, there really isn’t much else to keep second-row occupants, well, occupied.
Would be nice to see some charging ports or even entertainment screens to keep kids and adults placated on long journeys, but at least the head, shoulder, and legroom is generous.
In the third row, it’s a tighter squeeze, but I managed to get my 183cm (6'0") frame comfortable.
The three-row bench is the least comfy place to be, but there is a charging outlet and cupholders back there.
Those with child seats also take note, the second-row captain’s chairs top-tether anchor point is very low down on the seat back, meaning you might have to max out the strap length to get it there.
Also, because of the captain’s chairs, the top tether strap can be knocked off quite easily, as the inner shoulders of the seats are smooth offering nothing for the strap to catch onto if pushed towards the middle of the car.
And you can’t even install the car seat in the third row because the bench seat doesn’t feature any ISOFIX points.Â
With all seats in place, the boot will happily swallow 322 litres (VDA) of volume, more than enough for groceries, school bags or even the stroller.
With the third-row folded, though, that cavity is filled in and the Odyssey features a completely flat floor then able to take on 1725L of volume.
Honda has even found a place for the space saver spare wheel, though it’s not underneath the car or tucked into the boot floor as you'd expect.
The spare is under the two front seats, and requires the removal of some interior carpets and trim to access.Â
It’s not in the most convenient of places, but props to Honda for getting one in there when other seven-seaters just opt for a puncture repair kit.Â
Kia Rondo9/10
The Rondo has enormous rear doors that are light and easy to swing open and when they do you have a wide and tall entrance which makes getting in and out easy. That's good news if you're not as agile or young as you used to be or if you're a parent putting kids into car seats. I find I almost double over when putting my toddler into his car seat in small cars, but the Rondo's seat height is elevated enough that there's less of a bend needed. The step to get in is low, too.
The second row is made up for three individual seats rather than a single bench seat. The legroom in all of them is excellent and even at 191cm tall I can sit behind my driving position with two finger-gap between my knees and the seatback.
Headroom is outstanding and even with my big hair I still have about 20cm of clearance.
The cargo volume of the Rondo S is 536 litres, and that's 44 litres more than the boot space in the seven-seater Rondo Si which loses luggage capacity because of the foldable third row seats and 130 litres more than the Sportage's boot.
Under the boot floor is like a giant bento box of storage compartments with three equal-sized large rectangular areas big enough for handbags, shoes and laptops, a smaller shoe boxed-sized area and a tiny hidey hole big enough for my phone. Also in the boot on the right-hand side wheel are elasticised straps for – picnic blankets or whatever else you don't want flapping about in there.
There's shoe-boxed sized storage under the floor in the second row, on both sides, too.
The centre seat in the back folds flat and being hard-backed can act as a table, it also has three cup holders moulded into it. There's another two cup holders up front and giant bottle holders in all doors.
The Rondo is just as practical as many SUVs if not more so.
And here's a random Rondo fact for you – the Rondo is pretty popular with dog owners because the height of the roof means their hounds can stand up and turn around. Yup dogs love the Rondo.
Price and features
Honda Odyssey8/10
The 2021 Honda Odyssey range kicks off at $44,250, before on-road costs for the base Vi L7, and extends to $51,150 for the top-spec Vi LX7, which we have here.
Compared with the likes of the Kia Carnival (from $46,880) and van-based Toyota Granvia (from $64,090), the Honda Odyssey is more affordable, but doesn’t skimp on equipment to bring its price down.
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As standard, the 2021 Odyssey is fitted with 17-inch alloys, keyless entry, push-button start, second- and third-row air vents, and a powered rear passenger door, while new for this year’s update is a 7.0-inch customisable tachometer, fresh leather-wrapped steering wheel and LED headlights.Â
Handling multimedia duties is a new 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and a USB input.
Stepping up to the top-spec Vi LX7 nets buyers tri-zone climate control with second-row controls, powered tailgate, gesture controls to open/close both rear doors, heated front seats, a sunroof and satellite navigation.
It’s a good list of equipment, but there are some notable omissions such as a wireless smartphone charger and rain-sensing wipers, while the handbrake is one of those old-school foot-operated ones, which is a shame to see in 2021.
Nevertheless, even the top-spec Vi LX7 we have on test here is still relative affordable compared to rivals, and offers plenty of space for the price.
Kia Rondo8/10
The Rondo S lists for $26,990. The $40,990 Citroen C4 Picasso is the closest in price to the Rondo S, while the Mercedes-Benz B180 is $42,400 and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer starts at $49,100.
It has to be said, the Rondo S isn't a prestigious as those rivals and the standard features aren't as extravagant. Still the basics are covered with a 4.3-inch touch screen with reversing camera, rear parking sensors, six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, CD player, cloth seats, auto headlights, tinted glass, cruise control, and air conditioning with vents in the second row.
That screen is pretty small – like business card small, and that means the image for the reversing camera is a bit hard to make out at times.
The Rondo S is still good value though at this price.
Under the bonnet
Honda Odyssey5/10
All 2021 Honda Odysseys are powered by a 129kW/225Nm 2.4-litre ‘K24W’ four-cylinder petrol engine, which drives the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Peak power is available at 6200rpm, while maximum torque is on stream from 4000rpm.
Honda diehards might note the K24 engine designation and be reminded of the rev-hungry 2.4-litre unit of the Accord Euro from the early 2000s, but this Odyssey’s powerplant is built for efficiency rather than performance.
Compared to the likes of the Kia Carnival (which is available with a 216kW/355Nm 3.5-litre V6 or 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel) the Odyssey is noticeably down on power.
The Australian Odyssey also doesn’t feature any form of electrification, such as the Toyota Prius V, which would excuse the lower outputs and push the Honda people mover more into green territory.
Kia Rondo6/10
There's one engine in in the Rondo range – it's a 122kW/213Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and it comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. A manual gearbox isn't available.
You may hear the engine called a GDI, don't let then name throw you – it's not a diesel. The acronym stands for Gasoline Direct Injection.
Efficiency
Honda Odyssey7/10
The 2021 Honda Odyssey, regardless of grade, will return a fuel consumption figure of 8.0 litres per 100km, according to official figures.
This betters the fuel economy of the petrol-powered Kia Carnival (9.6L/100km), as well as the Mazda CX-8 (8.1L/100km) and soon-to-be-replaced Toyota Kluger (9.1-9.5L/100km).
In our week with the Odyssey Vi LX7, we managed an average of 9.4L/100km in a mix of inner-city and freeway driving, which isn’t too far off the official figure.
Though the fuel consumption isn’t too bad for a naturally aspirated petrol engine, those who want to save costs at the bowser should look to the petrol-electric Toyota Prius V hybrid, which sips just 4.4L/100km.
Kia Rondo6/10
Kia says the Rondo's average combined fuel consumption is 7.9L/100km or 10.8L/100km if you're keeping it urban. Our test vehicle was thirstier and was driving at a rate of 10.1L/100km according to the trip computer over a week of highway and urban use, while our city commuting saw usage jump to 17.4L/100km.
Driving
Honda Odyssey7/10
Though the Honda Odyssey looks like a bus on the outside, it doesn’t feel like one behind the wheel.
The Odyssey drives differently to an SUV, which is a good thing, feeling more hunkered down and connected to the road compared to the wallowy and bouncy nature of some high-riders.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t Honda’s best handling model, but there is certainly enough feedback in the steering wheel to know exactly what’s happening underneath, and the Odyssey always feels predictable, regardless of road condition.
And because visibility is excellent all around, the Honda Odyssey is just an easy, no-fuss car to drive.
The second-row is also great while on the move, and might actually be the better place to be.
The seats do a great job at soaking up little bumps and road imperfections, and there is plenty of room to stretch out and relax while someone else handles driving duties.
It’s a shame, then, that there isn’t more going on in the second row to keep passengers happy.
The third-row seats, though, are nowhere near as comfortable.
Maybe it’s the fact they are positioned right over the rear axle, or it’s the thick and vision-obscuring C- and D-pillars – or a combination of both – but time in seats five, six and seven, aren't ideal for those prone to motion sickness.
Maybe kids, or those with stronger stomachs can get comfortable in the third row, but for us, it was not a pleasant experience.
Kia Rondo7/10
You know what? The Rondo was already so impressively practical and roomy that it could have been terrible to drive and it still would be worth buying, but its on-road performance was pretty impressive.
Look, the brakes can be a bit bitey, acceleration on take-off is sharp and then the engine seems to run out of oomph and just get noisier at higher speeds, but those are my only real complaints, because the ride is composed and comfortable, the steering feels smooth and light, while the handling is impressive. I took the Rondo through the same test loop as all my test cars and it performed better than many in this price range.
Being lower to the ground gives the Rondo better dynamics than many SUVs, too. Corners that cause a good degree of body roll and tyre chirp in a Sportage or RAV4 saw the Rondo coast through perfectly stable and unfussed.
The A-pillars do obstruct visibility and at one set of traffic lights, the only way I knew I had a green arrow was because the bloke behind me was leaning on his horn. But there are small port-hole windows integrated into the A-pillars that help with visibility.
Safety
Honda Odyssey7/10
The 2021 Honda Odyssey wears a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from its test in 2014, as the current model is a heavily revised version of the fifth-generation car that launched seven years ago.
While back then the Odyssey did not come with advanced safety features, a key part the model’s 2021 update is the inclusion of Honda’s 'Sensing Suite' comprising, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
On top of that, the Odyssey also comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, hill-start assist, a reversing camera and rear cross-traffic alert.
The long list of safety is a huge boon for the Odyssey, and with it featuring a third-row of seats, also comes with curtain airbags that extend to seats in the rear.
There are some omissions to the safety list though, with a surround-view monitor not available and the third-row seats missing out on ISOFIX anchoring points.
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Kia Rondo6/10
The Rondo has the maximum five-star ANCAP rating. There's nothing in the way of advanced safety equipment – that means no AEB, blindspot or rear cross traffic warning. But there is the expected traction and stability control, plus ABS.
In the second row you'll find three top tether anchor points and two ISOFIX points for child seats.
Ownership
Honda Odyssey6/10
Like all new Hondas sold in 2021, the Odyssey comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, with six-years of rust protection assurance.
Scheduled service intervals are every six months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first, but this is much sooner than the industry standard of 12 months/15,000km.
According to Honda’s 'Tailored Service' price guide, the first five years of ownership will cost buyers $3351 in servicing fees, averaging out to around $670 per year.
The Kia Carnival petrol meanwhile, is about $2435 to service over five years, averaging out to be about $487 per year.
The Toyota Prius V also needs to be serviced every six months/10,000km, but the cost of the first five years of ownership totals just $2314.71 – more than $1000 less than the Odyssey.
Kia Rondo10/10
The Rondo is covered by Kia's seven year/unlimited kilometre warranty. There's capped price servicing for seven years, too. Servicing is recommended every 12 months or 15,000km and is capped at $299 for the first service, $375 for the second, $361 for the third, $398 for the fourth, $336 for the fifth, $470 for the sixth and $357 for the seventh.