2026 Honda Odyssey Elite: Staten Island Buyers Guide

What the top trim actually buys

Four features separate Elite from Touring, and all four are genuine daily-use upgrades rather than badge exercises. The hands-free power tailgate is the one most families notice first: walk up with arms full of grocery bags or a cooler, sweep a foot under the rear bumper, and the tailgate opens on its own, every other trim requires a button or the key fob. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel matters more than it sounds like on a February morning waiting for the cabin to warm up. The 11-speaker, 500-watt premium audio system is a real step up in output and clarity over the standard system carried by every other trim. Multi-zone audio lets the front seats run one audio source while the rear entertainment screen plays something different through its own zone, ending the front-versus-back argument over what plays through the speakers.

Everything below Elite in the lineup, CabinWatch, the 12.8-inch rear screen, Wi-Fi hotspot, built-in navigation, HondaLink, 19-inch wheels, and the red-stitched leather from Sport-L up, carries forward unchanged. Elite doesn't reset the feature list, it adds four specific items on top of Touring's full package.

Still the same V6, still no AWD

Elite runs the identical 3.5-liter V6, 280 horsepower, 262 lb-ft, 10-speed automatic, and front-wheel-drive-only layout as the rest of the 2026 lineup, at 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg. Paying for the top trim buys cabin features and audio, not a different engine, a different transmission, or all-wheel drive, Honda has never offered AWD on this Odyssey generation, on any trim, at any price. Buyers set on all-wheel drive should look at the Pilot, and buyers set on a hybrid powertrain should look at the CR-V; the Odyssey's whole value proposition is minivan practicality on a proven V6, not drivetrain flexibility.

Is Elite worth the jump from Touring?

For a family that already leans on the rear entertainment screen and CabinWatch daily, the last $4,200 mostly buys comfort and convenience rather than capability: a warmer steering wheel in winter, one less door to swing open with full hands at pickup, and better sound for the drive itself. It's a reasonable spend for a household planning to keep the van a decade and wants every available comfort item from day one. Buyers more focused on value should read the Touring guide, the functional gap between the two trims is smaller than the price gap suggests.

What buyers say about this store

Honda of Staten Island holds a 4.4-star Google rating across more than 2,700 reviews. Odyssey buyers, including families who've bought their second or third one here, keep pointing to the same thing: straightforward numbers and a sales team that knows the minivan's features well enough to walk through them at delivery rather than hand over the keys and a manual.

Frequently asked questions

What does Elite add over Touring on the Odyssey?

A heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a hands-free power tailgate, an 11-speaker 500-watt premium audio system, and multi-zone audio, for $4,200 over Touring's $47,495 MSRP. Everything from Touring, including CabinWatch and the rear entertainment screen, carries forward.

Does the Elite have all-wheel drive?

No. Elite is front-wheel drive only, exactly like every other 2026 Odyssey trim. No version of this Odyssey generation offers AWD.

What is the hands-free tailgate on the Odyssey Elite?

A power tailgate that opens automatically when the driver, carrying the key fob, sweeps a foot under a sensor near the rear bumper. It's Elite-exclusive; every other trim gets a programmable-height power tailgate that still requires a button or fob press.

What does an Elite cost with New York tax?

$51,695 MSRP plus $1,495 destination, then New York City's 8.875% sales tax, title, and registration. The pricing guide covers every trim's full out-the-door math.

Is the Elite the fastest Odyssey trim?

No, all four trims share the identical 280-hp V6 and 10-speed automatic. Elite's price premium buys cabin comfort and audio, not additional power.

Is the Elite in stock on Staten Island?

Check live Odyssey inventory at Honda of Staten Island, or call the sales team at 718-701-8269.

The bottom line

Elite is the trim for a buyer who's already decided on Touring's feature set and wants the four remaining comfort items without compromise: the tailgate, the warm wheel, the stereo, the split audio zones. Nobody needs Elite to get a capable Odyssey, but nobody who buys one regrets the tailgate on a rainy grocery run.