The 2018 Honda Odyssey marked a significant redesign for the popular minivan, bringing with it updated safety features and a renewed focus on passenger protection. As a top choice for families, safety is paramount, and the Honda Odyssey 2018 delivers impressive results in rigorous crash testing. This article delves into the safety performance of the Honda Odyssey 2018, providing a detailed analysis based on evaluations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. In the driver-side small overlap test for the 2018 Honda Odyssey, conducted by Honda and assessed by the IIHS, the minivan achieved a “Good” rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
This “Good” rating signifies that the structure of the Honda Odyssey 2018 held up well in this challenging crash scenario. Crucially, all driver injury measures were also rated as “Good,” indicating a low risk of significant injuries to the driver in a real-world crash of similar severity.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test provide further insights into the vehicle’s performance:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment intrusion (Lower hinge pillar max) | 13 cm |
| Footrest intrusion | 12 cm |
| Left toepan intrusion | 9 cm |
| Brake pedal intrusion | 8 cm |
| Rocker panel lateral average intrusion | 3 cm |
| Upper occupant compartment intrusion (Steering column) | 2 cm |
| Upper hinge pillar max intrusion | 7 cm |
| Upper dash intrusion | 7 cm |
| Lower instrument panel intrusion | 6 cm |
These measurements represent the intrusion into the occupant compartment in centimeters. Lower numbers indicate better performance, meaning less deformation of the space surrounding the driver, which is essential for safety.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side Evaluation
Extending safety to all occupants, the passenger-side small overlap front test is equally important. The Honda Odyssey 2018 underwent two passenger-side small overlap tests, one by the IIHS and another by Honda. The overall rating for the passenger-side test is also “Good”, demonstrating consistent performance across the front seating positions.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
While the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating in the passenger-side test, all passenger injury measures maintained the top “Good” rating. This signifies that while there was slightly more structural deformation on the passenger side compared to the driver side, the risk of injury to the passenger remains low.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side small overlap test, from both the IIHS (VTP1703) and Honda (CEP1714) tests, are as follows:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement (VTP1703) | Measurement (CEP1714) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment intrusion (Lower hinge pillar max) | 16 cm | 15 cm |
| Footrest intrusion | 16 cm | 12 cm |
| Right toepan intrusion | 11 cm | 9 cm |
| Center toepan intrusion | 7 cm | 7 cm |
| Rocker panel lateral average intrusion | 3 cm | 1 cm |
| Upper occupant compartment intrusion (Center dash) | 5 cm | 6 cm |
| Upper hinge pillar max intrusion | 9 cm | 8 cm |
| Upper dash intrusion | 9 cm | 8 cm |
| Right lower dash intrusion | 8 cm | 4 cm |
Similar to the driver-side test, these measurements indicate the extent of intrusion into the passenger compartment. The consistency between the two tests further validates the robust safety design of the Honda Odyssey 2018.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front crash test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. The Honda Odyssey 2018 again earned a “Good” rating in this test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
All aspects of the moderate overlap front test, including structural performance and driver injury measures, were rated “Good.” This highlights the vehicle’s ability to effectively manage crash forces across a broader frontal impact.
Key technical measurements from the moderate overlap front test are:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion (Footrest) | 3 cm |
| Footwell intrusion (Left) | 6 cm |
| Footwell intrusion (Center) | 5 cm |
| Footwell intrusion (Right) | 8 cm |
| Brake pedal intrusion | 9 cm |
| Instrument panel rearward movement (Left) | 0 cm |
| Instrument panel rearward movement (Right) | 0 cm |
| Steering column movement (Upward) | 3 cm |
| Steering column movement (Rearward) | -3 cm |
| A-pillar rearward movement | 0 cm |
These measurements confirm minimal intrusion and deformation in the critical footwell and occupant space during a moderate overlap frontal impact.
Side: Original and Updated Tests
Side impacts are a significant safety concern, and the Honda Odyssey 2018 has been evaluated in both the original and updated IIHS side crash tests. In the original side test, the Honda Odyssey 2018 received a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Both driver and rear passenger injury measures, as well as structural performance and head protection, were all rated “Good” in the original side test.
In the more rigorous updated side test (Side 2.0), which uses a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better simulate modern side-impact crashes, the Honda Odyssey 2018 (specifically a 2021 model tested, representing the same generation) still achieved a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | A |
| Pelvis | A |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
While rear passenger torso and pelvis injury measures were rated “Acceptable” in the updated test, the overall “Good” rating and “Good” ratings for driver injury measures and structural performance demonstrate the Honda Odyssey 2018‘s robust side-impact protection, even under more demanding conditions.
Roof Strength
Roof strength is crucial in rollover accidents. The Honda Odyssey 2018 earned a “Good” rating in the roof strength test.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,327 lbs |
| Peak force | 23,884 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.52 |
A “Good” rating indicates that the roof of the Honda Odyssey 2018 can withstand a force of more than 5 times the vehicle’s weight before significant crush, providing good protection in a rollover scenario.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions is addressed through head restraint and seat design. The Honda Odyssey 2018 received a “Good” rating for head restraints & seats.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Both the dynamic performance of the head restraints in simulated rear impacts and the geometry of the seats and head restraints were rated “Good,” indicating effective whiplash protection for occupants.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The Honda Odyssey 2018 headlight ratings vary depending on trim level.
- Touring and Elite trims (LED reflector headlights): “Acceptable” rating.
- EX and EX-L trims (Halogen projector headlights): “Marginal” rating.
- LX trim (Halogen projector headlights, no high-beam assist): “Poor” rating.
The LED reflector headlights available on the Touring and Elite trims provide the best performance, achieving an “Acceptable” rating. However, the halogen headlights on other trims received lower ratings, highlighting a potential area for improvement.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or even prevent frontal collisions. The Honda Odyssey 2018, when equipped with the optional Collision Mitigation Braking System (part of Honda Sensing, standard on EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims), earns a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
- Overall evaluation: Superior (with optional equipment)
- Forward Collision Warning: Meets requirements
- 12 mph test: Collision avoided
- 25 mph test: Collision avoided
The “Superior” rating confirms that the Honda Odyssey 2018‘s optional front crash prevention system is highly effective at avoiding collisions in both lower and higher-speed scenarios.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, easy and secure child seat installation is essential. The Honda Odyssey 2018 receives a “Good+” rating for child seat anchors (LATCH), including extra LATCH positions.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G + extra LATCH positions |
The Honda Odyssey 2018 has four rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor, offering flexibility and convenience for families installing multiple child seats. The LATCH system components are also noted as being easy to use.
Conclusion
The Honda Odyssey 2018 demonstrates strong safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests. With “Good” ratings in most categories, including the demanding small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength tests, the Odyssey prioritizes occupant protection. The availability of a “Superior” rated front crash prevention system and a “Good+” rated LATCH system further enhance its appeal as a safe and family-friendly minivan. While headlight ratings vary by trim, the overall safety profile of the Honda Odyssey 2018 is commendable and provides peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.
