Look, we get it—image is important. If that’s why you want an SUV and not a minivan, so be it. Fashion is indeed arbitrary, and as we cruised the chic boulevards of Los Angeles in the 2021 Honda Odyssey, we couldn’t help but feel anonymous.

But if you desire an SUV rather than a minivan because you believe the former to be more practical, check your math. Unlike style, things like space, versatility, and practicality can be measured. And in those areas, the Odyssey is brilliant. Amidst the sea of crossover SUVs on L.A. ‘s byways, we knew our van had life-simplifying features those vehicles could only dream of. So when it comes to choosing which family vehicle may be right for you, the hardest part just may be getting over yourself.

The subtly redesigned 2021 Odyssey’s refresh makes the Honda Sensing driver-assist and active safety suite standard equipment, and adds full-speed adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist to the same. Blind-spot monitors are included on all but the entry-level LX trim, and a new seat-occupant reminder system helps keep tabs on up to six rear passengers along for the ride. These upgrades don’t come for free, though, as pricing now starts at $32,910, a $1,000 increase, and most other Odyssey trim levels also become more expensive for 2021.

Features and content also get reshuffled a bit, although headline-grabbing doodads like the integrated vacuum cleaner, ventilated and heated front seats, wireless device charger, and blue ambient interior lighting remain the province of the range-topping Elite trim we assessed for this review. We won’t complain about any of those, but in the grand scheme of the Odyssey experience, they’re garnishes, not the main dish.

That’s because the Odyssey’s practicality, which is baked in from the start, remains its most impressive feature. Whether you’re carrying people, things, or a mix of both, this van transforms in a flash to hold them. Think of it this way: The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offers 144.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Odyssey? 158.0. Yes, the Suburban’s body-on-frame construction eats up some space, but it’s 20.5 inches longer, 2.6 inches wider, and 7.4 inches taller.

Let’s start at the back. Behind the third row is the Honda’s familiar, wide and deep cargo well that provides an area for stuff even if all the seats are occupied. When the third row isn’t needed, though, those seats tumble and fold flat into the well via a process that’s essentially just pulling a couple straps. Flat-folding third-row seats aren’t unique to the Odyssey or to minivans, but Honda has made the process simple. The low load floor and tall roof create a big liftgate aperture, too, which means chucking things inside is simpler than with high-riding SUVs.

Although the third row is spacious enough to not cause adults misery, it’s suited more for kids, even as good-sized side windows and plenty of headroom limit claustrophobia. Air vents on both sides help keep occupants cool, but a single USB port, included only on the two highest trims, could lead to battles over charging rights.

Honda’s “Magic Slide” second-row seat is featured on all Odysseys above the base trim. As standard, it’s set up as a three-across bench with a central section that can be folded to provide armrests and cupholders or be completely removed to transform the second row into captains’ chairs—and, more important, unlock the “magic.” That includes the ability for those outboard seats to not only slide fore and aft but also side to side, which admittedly is a low bar for wizardry, but it nonetheless provides diverse, if not necessarily perfect, seating and cargo solutions.

The side-sliding motion of one seat toward the middle allows easy third-row access without folding any of the middle seats—handy if you have kid seats mounted in one or both—or for shoulder-to-shoulder seating so occupants can, say, enjoy a movie on the same tablet. It’s also handy to move one seat to the middle so it’s within reach of the front row without compromising access to the way back. Higher-end trims add USB ports and a ceiling-mounted 10.2-inch entertainment display to the second row, as well.

A little piece of us—or maybe just this 6-foot-10 author—longs for a two-row executive-luxury minivan that gives back-seat riders limo-like space and comfort. The Odyssey can imitate one if you remove the Magic Slide seats, but it entails pulling a lever on each, hefting the bulky chairs out of the van, and finding somewhere to store them. (Doing so also leaves unsightly hardware on the floor, unlike with Chrysler’s Stow ‘N Go second-row seats.) That gives riders massive legroom, but those souls are still confined to the unsupportive third-row seats. Until such a factory dream van arrives, the 2021 Toyota Sienna appears to offer the next best option due to an available sliding second row that moves through 25 inches of travel and features deployable footrests. Still, removing the Odyssey’s seats makes for a cavernous amount of room an SUV can only dream of providing.

The practicality doesn’t stop at the second row. The center console has a deep storage bin that’s accessible from above, and a slide-out drawer with a movable divider is located on its forward face. Cupholders and a tray—this is where the wireless charging pad is located on the Elite trim—put drinks and daily carry items within reach. Segmented cubbies on the door panels further keep small items in check.

Buttons rule the Odyssey’s dashboard, making for a bit of a learning curve. Most are physical controls, though, so you don’t have to dive into the infotainment system to make simple adjustments. On the EX trim and above, that infotainment screen measures 8.0 inches and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as two front-row USB ports.

The high-end Touring and Elite trims get CabinWatch, which shows a video feed of the second and third rows, and CabinTalk, which projects your voice through the rear speakers and, if they’re in use, the entertainment system’s headphones. These features are intended for parents to keep tabs on their brood while keeping their eyes forward, but CabinWatch could be useful in minding cargo, too.

Honda calls the Odyssey sporty, which it may be for a minivan, but that simply isn’t the case overall. It doesn’t deliver the visceral excitement needed to truly back up that claim, but like previous Odysseys, the new one still offers up some driving pleasure.

The 3.5-liter V-6 delivers 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, and it has a diverse character. It’s a sweetheart around town, offering up smooth tip-in and good off-the-line scoot while demurely going about its task of shuffling the van along. With help from VTEC, it has plenty of top end, too, revving out to accelerate up to or from freeway speed; we previously recorded this generation of Odyssey as going from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Much of that is owed to the excellent 10-speed automatic transmission, which shifts invisibly through its closely spaced ratios. Paddle shifters are standard on all 2021 Odysseys—a curious addition, although they may come in handy when in the mountains or when towing up to the van’s 3,500-pound maximum—and they respond better than the ones in some performance cars we’ve driven. EPA-rated fuel economy is 19/28 mpg city/highway.

New for 2021 is full-speed adaptive cruise control; this system previously disengaged below 22 mph, and an electric brake booster that shortens pedal travel and improves pedal feel . The brakes are easy to modulate through a range of travel at the top yet confidence-inspiring and firm as more pressure is applied. This new hardware makes passenger-pleasing limo stops easy, and it became one of our favorite characteristics of the updated Odyssey.

Keeping the van charted straight ahead is a breeze, although maneuvering around neighborhood corners provides a reminder you’re driving a 205-inch-long vehicle—turn in, and you can feel all that sheetmetal behind you as it eventually comes around to follow the front. Ride quality is stable, comfortable, and only the slightest bit floaty. Our Elite trim test model, equipped with standard double-glazed acoustic glass on the windshield and front door windows, keeps things quiet at ear level, but a persistent tire drone makes its way through the floor at freeway speeds.

The case for the Odyssey is clear, but if you simply can’t bear the thought of being seen in a minivan, we understand where you’re coming from. There are plenty of SUVs to choose from instead, even within Honda’s own lineup.

But don’t let the pursuit of style lead to a compromised choice. Few SUVs come close to matching the Odyssey’s space and versatility, or easy adaptation to life’s slings and arrows. Plus, it drives comfortably and with nice composure. Give this Honda some credit, and objectively speaking, it’s hard to top a minivan. And among minivans, it’s hard to top the Odyssey.

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