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The Honda Odyssey people-mover is due to return to Japanese showrooms from the end of this year after a two-year hiatus, through a factory in China. Is Australia next in line?
The Honda Odyssey people-mover could return to Australia through production in China, if plans announced for the Japanese market are a guide.
The Odyssey departed Honda showrooms in Japan and Australia last year after the Sayama, Japan factory it was produced in shut in March 2022.
Now Honda Japan has confirmed reports late last year the people-mover will return to its home market between December 2023 and February 2024 – sourced from Honda’s factory in China, where the Odyssey has remained in production after the Japan factory closure.
It is believed to represent the first time a Chinese-made Honda model has been sold in Japan.
It is unclear if Australia will follow suit in re-introducing the Odyssey from the Chinese factory, however news the Chinese factory can now produce the vehicle in right-hand drive opens the door to a return.
If it is planned for Australia, it would be unlikely to arrive in local showrooms until the end of this year at the earliest – using the Japanese arrival timing as a guide.
The Odyssey was a steady seller for Honda in Australia – though not as popular as the CR-V or HR-V SUVs – and the second-best seller in its class at the time of its axing, behind the Kia Carnival.
There is no other people-mover in Honda’s global range engineered for Japanese and Australian safety standards, and built in right-hand drive that could fill the Odyssey’s gap in the local line-up.
North America has its own version of the Odyssey, but it is an unrelated vehicle built in the US on the same left-hand-drive-only underpinnings of the Honda Pilot large SUV, with petrol V6 power.
The revived Honda Odyssey will be offered in Japan exclusively in e:HEV hybrid form, which is believed to combine a 2.0-litre hybrid system shared with the Accord hybrid sedan with 158kW.
In lenient Chinese fuel-economy testing, the system claims to consume 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres – which compares to 8.0L/100km for the old 2.4-litre petrol model sold in Australia under stricter local test procedures.
It is launching in Japan in a single, catchily-named “e:HEV Absolute/EX Black Edition” model grade, with black exterior and interior styling – though the sheetmetal, front and rear lights, and bumper designs are the same as the old Japanese-built Odyssey.
Prices are yet to be confirmed, though the new features it gains over the old Japanese-built model may see the Chinese version cost more than its predecessor in Japan.
Compared to the final Japanese-built Odysseys, new features in Japan for the Chinese-made model gains plusher, individual second-row ‘captain’s chairs’ with power adjustment, armrests, ottomans and seat heating.
It also gains a wireless phone charger, extra USB ports, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a push-button gear selector.
The infotainment screen measures 9.0 inches as standard – running Honda’s latest software – but an enlarged 11.4-inch display is an optional extra. Rear-seat screens in 12.8 and 15.6-inch sizes are also available.
Other features shared with the previous Japanese-made Odyssey include leather seats, power-adjustable front seats with heating, tri-zone climate-control air conditioning, multiple exterior camera views, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, and autonomous emergency braking.
First showroom arrivals for the Chinese-built 2023 Honda Odyssey are due in the northern winter of 2023 (Australia’s summer, from December 2023 to February 2024).
Drive has contacted Honda Australia for comment, and this story will be updated with its response.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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