Compare the2022 Honda OdysseyVS 2021 Ford Transit Connect Wagon

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Odyssey are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Honda Odyssey has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Odyssey has a standard Whiplash Mitigation Front Seat Design, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Mitigation Front Seat Design system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Odyssey and the Transit Connect Wagon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Odyssey is safer than the Ford Transit Connect Wagon:

	Odyssey	Transit Connect Wagon
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	176	315
Neck Injury Risk	27%	31%
Neck Stress	184 lbs.	217 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	95/82 lbs.	61/331 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	40%
Neck Stress	101 lbs.	207 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	324/302 lbs.	501/438 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Odyssey is safer than the Ford Transit Connect Wagon:

	Odyssey	Transit Connect Wagon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	104
Hip Force	321 lbs.	393 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	472 lbs.	806 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Reliability

The engine in the Odyssey has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Transit Connect Wagon have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Odyssey second among minivans in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Transit Connect Wagon isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 17 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Odyssey’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 118 more horsepower (280 vs. 162) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 144) than the Transit Connect Wagon’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Odyssey’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 111 more horsepower (280 vs. 169) and 91 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 171) than the Transit Connect Wagon’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Odyssey is faster than the Ford Transit Connect Wagon:

	Odyssey	Transit Connect 2.0	Transit Connect 2.5
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	10.5 sec	10.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	17.8 sec	17.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.6 MPH	77.5 MPH	77.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Odyssey’s fuel efficiency. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Odyssey has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Transit Connect Wagon (19.5 vs. 15.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Odyssey, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Transit Connect Wagon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Odyssey stops shorter than the Transit Connect Wagon:

	Odyssey	Transit Connect
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Odyssey has larger tires than the Transit Connect Wagon (235/60R18 vs. 215/55R16).

For better load carrying, ride, handling and brake cooling the Odyssey has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Transit Connect Wagon. The Odyssey Touring/Elite has standard 19-inch wheels.

The Odyssey has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Odyssey has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Ford Transit Connect Wagon has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Odyssey is 5.9 inches wider in the front and 5.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Transit Connect Wagon.

Chassis

The Odyssey uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Odyssey offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Transit Connect Wagon can only carry up to 7.

The Odyssey has 4.4 inches more front hip room, 5.5 inches more front shoulder room, 3.3 inches more rear legroom, 6.5 inches more rear hip room, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.1 inches more third row legroom, 1.4 inches more third row hip room and 3.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Transit Connect Wagon.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Odyssey’s middle and third row seats recline. The Transit Connect Wagon’s middle row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Odyssey’s cargo area provides more volume than the Transit Connect Wagon.

	Odyssey	Transit Connect Wagon
Behind Third Seat	38.6 cubic feet	16.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	92 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	60.1 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	158 cubic feet	106 cubic feet

The Odyssey’s cargo area is larger than the Transit Connect Wagon’s in every dimension:

	Odyssey	Transit Connect Wagon
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	25”/56”/91”	14.5”/45”/85.6”
Max Width	50”	n/a
Min Width	48”	47”
Height	54”	43.3”

The Odyssey has a standard One-Motion Magic Seat third row seat, which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Odyssey EX-L/Touring/Elite has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Odyssey Elite, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Odyssey’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Transit Connect Wagon’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

A Maintenance Minder is standard on the Odyssey to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Ford doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Transit Connect Wagon.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Odyssey EX-L/Touring/Elite, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Odyssey EX-L/Touring/Elite’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Odyssey’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Transit Connect Wagon has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

If the windows are left open on the Odyssey the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Transit Connect Wagon can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Odyssey has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Odyssey has standard power remote mirrors. The Transit Connect Wagon only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

When the Odyssey EX-L/Touring/Elite is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Transit Connect Wagon’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Odyssey EX-L/Touring/Elite’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Transit Connect Wagon offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Odyssey Elite keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Odyssey Elite’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To help keep the driver’s hands on the wheel, the Odyssey has standard steering wheel controls for the radio. The Transit Connect Wagon doesn’t offer steering wheel audio controls.

Recommendations

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Honda Odyssey, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Odyssey first among minivans in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Transit Connect Wagon isn’t in the top three.