Honda Odyssey vs Chevrolet Suburban

The 2025 Honda Odyssey maintained a familiar design lineage, reminiscent of its predecessors, with a straightforward aesthetic that didn't prioritize style. Its interior followed suit, featuring traditional buttons and knobs, which, while old-school, were appreciated for their practicality and ease of use. In Canada, the Odyssey was available in Sport, Sport-L, Touring, and Black Edition trims, with the base price starting at $53,056. The interior, particularly in the Touring trim, showcased high-quality materials, though the overall design was not a selling point for the minivan.

In contrast, the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban underwent a careful restyling, balancing modern updates with its iconic profile. The new front fascia and lighting signatures added a contemporary touch without alienating loyal customers. The Suburban's trim lineup remained consistent, with options ranging from the base LS to the luxurious High Country. While the exterior changes were subtle, the interior saw significant upgrades, including a more sophisticated dashboard and a new 17.7-inch touchscreen display, enhancing the overall appeal of the SUV.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Despite lacking AWD or a hybrid option, the Odyssey delivered a satisfying driving experience for a minivan, with a combined fuel economy rating of 10.6 L/100 km. During testing, it returned 13.2 L/100 km on a specific loop and averaged 9.8 L/100 km over a week, including a long highway trip. The Odyssey's V6 engine provided robust performance, and its handling was commendable, offering a connected and compliant ride.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban offered a choice of engines, starting with a 5.3-litre V8 delivering 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful 6.2-litre V8, available on higher trims, produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Additionally, a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six Duramax diesel engine was available, boasting 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Suburban's steering was surprisingly light for its size, and the recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control suspension improved ride quality, especially on higher trims. The diesel engine offered impressive fuel efficiency, with a combined rating of 10.7 L/100 km, making it a compelling choice for long-distance driving.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey excelled in maximizing interior space, accommodating up to eight passengers and offering 3,973 litres of cargo capacity. Its Magic Slide second-row seats provided flexibility, allowing various configurations for passenger and cargo needs. However, removing these seats to maximize cargo space was cumbersome. The Odyssey's third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the cabin featured numerous storage solutions, enhancing its practicality for families.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban, with its massive size, offered unparalleled interior space, seating up to eight passengers and providing 4,092 litres of cargo capacity with all seats folded. It also boasted a towing capacity of up to 3,765 kilograms with the right configuration. The Suburban's diesel engine offered excellent fuel efficiency, allowing for nearly 1,000 kilometres of highway driving on a single tank. Its interior was designed for comfort and utility, making it an ideal choice for families with multiple children or those needing substantial cargo space.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey received a technology update, featuring a new 7-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system was an improvement, it still lagged behind competitors in terms of graphics and voice recognition. The rear-seat entertainment system was outdated and cumbersome to use, requiring additional cables for connectivity.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban made significant strides in technology, introducing a 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, complemented by an 11-inch driver information display and an available 15-inch head-up display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and Google Built-in offered seamless integration of Google services. While the user interface was visually appealing, some aspects of the user experience, such as customizing the driver display, were less intuitive. Despite these challenges, the Suburban's tech offerings represented a substantial improvement over the previous model.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey came equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of driver-assistance features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. While generally effective, some features, like adaptive cruise control, could be overly sensitive. The Odyssey received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and performed well in most IIHS tests, though it received a "Poor" rating in a new evaluation.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review. However, it included a comprehensive list of advanced driver assistance systems, such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology was available on most trims, though not immediately at launch.