Say Hello To The First-Ever Honda Odyssey Sport

The practical Honda Odyssey glides into the 2023 model year with a new Sport trim, lending the sensible minivan a dose of athleticism – aesthetically, at least. The Japanese brand notes this is the first time the Kia Carnival rival has been offered with a sportier trim choice and affords “expressive styling” to a product that is much-loved by loyal customers, says Honda.

Filling the space between the mid-spec EX-L and Touring models, the Sport boasts sinister-looking styling details, including gloss black exterior trim around the headlights, grille, door mirrors, and B- and C-pillars. Around back, the large taillights have been treated to a darkened effect and are linked together by gloss black tailgate garnish. Completing the package is a set of stylish 19-inch Berlina wheels finished in a similarly dark hue.

Buyers can select from several colors, including Crystal Black Pearl and Platinum White Pearl. Making its debut on the Odyssey Sport is the Sonic Gray Pearl finish pictured below in the only two shots of the new trim provided, also available on the Touring and Elite models.

Step inside the cavernous interior and you’ll find an assortment of racy-looking touches. Passengers in the front and second rows enjoy black leather upholstery with red contrast stitching and, together with the black-trimmed roof pillars and headliner, give a sportier feel than other Odyssey models. The steering wheel is similarly wrapped. At night, red interior lighting adds to the ambiance, with a fiery hue emanating from the front footwells, door handles, and door pockets.

It may not be the range-topper, but Honda has filled the Odyssey Sport with several nice-to-haves, including power-adjustable front seats, a power tailgate (with programmable height), and, lastly, a sunroof. Spec-wise, it’s on par with the EX-L derivative. What’s more, Honda Service Pass is now available, covering select maintenance and service work for two years or 24,000 miles. Price-wise, the Sport trim will set buyers back $41,210 excluding delivery but the 2023 Odyssey kicks off with the base EX, priced at a more palatable $37,340.

Despite the sporting pretensions, the Odyssey’s primary objective is to serve as practical family transport. The Magic Slide seating system allows owners to fold the second row of seats nearly flat, making it easier to load the cavernous cargo area. Parents will also be pleased to know Honda Sensing is standard, adding several safety features including adaptive cruise control and pedestrian emergency braking.

Despite the Sport nomenclature, the Sport (like all 2023 Odysseys) utilizes an adequately powerful 3.5-liter V6 with 280-horsepower. This is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. It may be a first for Honda, but this isn’t the first time we’ve seen someone try to make the sensible Odyssey more exciting.

Renowned Honda tuner Mugen previously offered the minivan with a bevy of carbon fiber aesthetic enhancements. We wouldn’t hold out hope for a more powerful variant, though – perhaps a 1,029-hp Bisimoto Honda Odyssey will pique the interest of power-hungry school-run parents.