The JDM Honda Odyssey Has Something the US Version Desperately Needs

One Name, Two Different Models

It’s no secret that there are two versions of the Honda Odyssey being sold right now. There’s the North American version, and there’s the one for most Asian markets. It’s been that way for nearly 25 years since the second generation was introduced in 1999. Sliding doors are a must for US-market minivans, and the Asian version didn’t get one until 2013.

Mind you, the American Odyssey was also offered in other parts of the world, particularly in markets that preferred the bigger and wider body with sliding doors. For instance, the one sold in the Middle East is the same one sitting in showrooms right now, but in Japan and China it’s the slimmer model. Different strokes for different folks.

Recently Updated

The Japanese market Odyssey recently saw a few updates. Following a major facelift in late 2020, the tweaks made to the 2025 model are far more subtle. The model itself has been around for quite some time, making its debut in late 2013.

So, what’s new this year? It’s really down to new color choices and the addition of a black edition trim level. Not much there, but the reason we bring it up is that it has something that the American Odyssey desperately needs. That would be a hybrid option.

Electrified for Japan and China

The Asian-market (apart from the Middle East) Odyssey was never offered with a V6. The biggest engine option it ever had was the familiar 2.4-liter mill (the K24 for you Honda geeks) that was also under the hood of the CR-V and Accord until those went for the downsized turbo route.

Since 2023, the Odyssey for Japan and China has been hybrid-only. It uses the same hardware as the Accord, Civic, and CR-V Hybrid, meaning a 2.0-liter Atkinson-Cycle Engine mated to a compact battery pack and two motors.

That said, the power output won’t blow anyone away with 181 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, which is even less than the Civic Hybrid. For reference, the V6 in the American Odyssey makes 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It does make up for it with an efficiency of up to 49 mpg, according to Japanese documents.

A Need in the Minivan Market

All of the Odyssey’s rivals now offer a hybrid option. The Kia Carnival has it, and so does the Chrysler Pacifica. Even Toyota went all in by making the current Sienna hybrid-only, with the added bonus of an all-wheel-drive option. Obviously, the 2.0-liter hybrid in the Japanese and Chinese Odyssey won’t be enough to satisfy American tastes, but it does highlight the need for an electrified Odyssey.

That said, there is a glimmer of home. Honda is busy working on a new generation of V6 engines that can be mated to its e:HEV hybrid technology. Should the next Odyssey get it, it will be the only six-cylinder hybrid in its class — a unique selling point Honda can bank on, for sure.

But aside from that, the Odyssey needs a thorough redesign. It’s still a solid choice in its class, but the current one is still based on the one we first saw all the way back in 2018. It’s said that an all-new model will arrive by 2029, so, in the meantime, Honda’s minivan will soldier on without a hybrid.