2026 Honda Odyssey: Staten Island Buyers Guide

Why families still choose a minivan over a three-row SUV

Drive past any Staten Island Little League field on a Saturday morning and the minivans outnumber the SUVs at the curb for a reason: the Odyssey's sliding doors open a full walkway in a tight parking lot without swinging a panel into the car next to it, the Magic Slide second-row seats shift sideways as well as forward and back so a middle-row child seat doesn't block the aisle to the third row, and the floor is flat enough that loading a duffel bag, a cooler, and a stroller at the same time doesn't turn into a puzzle. None of that is new to the Odyssey nameplate. What's new for 2026 is that Honda stopped reserving leather seating for the top trims, so the base EX-L now rides on the same leather-trimmed cabin as the Elite, a genuinely bigger jump than most mid-cycle refreshes deliver.

The one honest trade-off buyers need to walk in knowing: the Odyssey is FWD-only. There is no all-wheel-drive Odyssey and no hybrid Odyssey for 2026, full stop, on any trim. A household wanting AWD from Honda's lineup should look at the Pilot; a household wanting a hybrid should look at the CR-V, both down the same showroom floor. What the Odyssey trades for that is a 280-hp V6 that never asks a question about towing a small trailer, a 10-speed automatic tuned for a heavier vehicle, and a ride that's built around minivan geometry rather than SUV ground clearance.

One engine, one drivetrain, four trims of equipment

Every 2026 Odyssey shares the identical mechanical package: a 3.5-liter direct-injected V6 making 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, a 10-speed automatic with idle-stop, and front-wheel drive, rated 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg on regular unleaded across all four trims. The differences that separate a $42,795 EX-L from a $51,695 Elite are entirely about what's inside the cabin, not what's under the hood. Sport-L adds 19-inch wheels and red-stitched leather styling. Touring adds the tech families ask about most: CabinWatch, so the driver can see the second and third rows on the dash screen, plus Wi-Fi hotspot capability, built-in navigation, HondaLink services, and a 12.8-inch rear entertainment screen. Elite tops it with a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a hands-free power tailgate that opens with a foot sweep under the bumper, and an 11-speaker, 500-watt premium audio system.

A towing note worth planning around: the Odyssey's 3,500-lb max tow rating requires the Honda Genuine Accessory towing package, it isn't a factory-installed capability out of the box on every unit, so a buyer who wants to tow a small camper or a boat trailer should ask the sales team to spec that package before the car leaves the lot.

Pick your 2026 Odyssey

What Odyssey buyers say about this store

Honda of Staten Island holds a 4.4-star Google rating across more than 2,700 reviews, and Odyssey buyers show up in them across nearly a decade of purchases. One Odyssey buyer this spring summed up her visit simply: "Friendly, helpful, and great to work with. Highly recommend!" Another, who bought his Odyssey that same season, described a no-pressure process where the salesperson "asked good questions and was well trained... We got a good deal on the car and he helped get more for us on the trade in." A third buyer, working with Silver Sales Consultant Darien Perez, wrote that he "was very efficient and got me what I wanted with a good deal."

That pattern, no pressure, straight numbers, a salesperson who knows the Magic Slide seats well enough to demonstrate them at delivery, is what a minivan shopper is usually hunting for more than any single spec.

Owning one here

The ownership story continues two blocks from the showroom, where the service department runs six days a week with factory-trained technicians and complimentary multi-point inspections. The Odyssey service & repair guide covers the Maintenance Minder schedule, a timing-chain detail worth knowing if you cross-shop an older model year, and the annual New York inspection. Money questions, including the city's 8.875% sales tax and how lease programs work on a minivan that holds value well, live in the pricing & leasing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Honda changing the Odyssey for 2026?

Yes, though it's an equipment refresh rather than a redesign. The current-generation Odyssey carries over its structure and 280-hp V6 unchanged; the real news is that leather-trimmed seating, previously reserved for upper trims, is now standard on every 2026 trim starting with the EX-L.

How much should I pay for a 2026 Honda Odyssey?

MSRPs run $42,795 to $51,695 before the $1,495 destination charge, tax, and any options; the dealer sets the actual selling price, and Honda's lease and finance programs shift monthly. The pricing guide breaks down every trim and what New York adds on top.

Does the Honda Odyssey come with all-wheel drive?

No. Every 2026 Odyssey trim is front-wheel drive only; Honda has never offered AWD on this generation of Odyssey. Buyers who want AWD from Honda's family lineup should look at the CR-V or Pilot instead.

Is the 2026 Honda Odyssey a good car?

For families who value sliding doors, a flat load floor, and seats that actually reconfigure, yes, it remains the benchmark minivan in a shrinking category. The honest caveats are the ones above: no AWD, no hybrid, and a footprint that some buyers find harder to park than a three-row SUV, worth a test drive before deciding either way.

How many miles will a 2026 Honda Odyssey last?

Honda doesn't publish a mileage guarantee, but the V6/10-speed combination is shared with other long-lived Honda models, and well-maintained Odysseys commonly clear 200,000 miles on the road. Following the Maintenance Minder codes, covered in the service guide, matters more to longevity than any single spec.

Where can I see all four trims?

Browse new Odyssey inventory at Honda of Staten Island, or call the sales team at 718-701-8269. The showroom at 250 Parkinson Avenue is open seven days a week, including Sunday afternoons.

Four trims, one V6, one honest test drive

Because every 2026 Odyssey shares the same engine and drivetrain, the trim decision here is purely about which features matter to your household, not a performance trade-off. Sit in an EX-L and an Elite back to back, work the sliding doors, and let the Magic Slide seats settle the rest. Honda of Staten Island stocks the range alongside its Certified Pre-Owned inventory, so a used Odyssey is one lot walk away if new doesn't fit the budget this year.