Compare the2025 Honda OdysseyVS 2024 GMC Acadia

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 Acadia doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Odyssey deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Odyssey’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Acadia’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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 Acadia doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Odyssey and the Acadia 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

The Honda Odyssey achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Acadia has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Odyssey’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 19 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Odyssey has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Acadia. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 Acadia.

The Odyssey has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Acadia can only carry 7.

The Odyssey has 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 6.4 inches more rear hip room, .1 inches more third row headroom, 6 inches more third row legroom and 2.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Acadia.

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

The Odyssey’s cargo area provides more volume than the Acadia.

The Odyssey’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Odyssey’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Acadia’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

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 from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Acadia can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Odyssey’s standard Smart Entry allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access standard on the Acadia doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Odyssey’s standard sliding doors can be opened with less than three inches side clearance. The Acadia’s standard rear swing-out doors are bulky and make loading in tight spots difficult.

The Odyssey’s power side sliding doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the van. The Acadia doesn’t offer a power rear door.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Odyssey to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Acadia doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Odyssey Touring/Elite has a standard center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Acadia doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The Honda Odyssey has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Honda Odyssey outsold the GMC Acadia by 13% during 2023.