Schomp Honda

Safety

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 Traverse's side airbags don't have smart features and will always deploy full force.

 

The Odyssey has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Traverse doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

 

The Odyssey Touring has standard parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Traverse doesn't offer a front parking aid.

 

Both the Odyssey and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

 

Warranty

 

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

 

Reliability

 

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

 

J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 12th, below the industry average.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 24th.

 

Fuel Economy and Range

 

On the EPA test cycle the Odyssey Touring six-speed Auto gets better fuel mileage than the Traverse FWD 3.6 V6 (288 HP) (19 city/28 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy).

 

An engine control system that can shut down half of the engine's cylinders helps improve the Odyssey's fuel efficiency. The Traverse doesn't offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

 

Environmental Friendliness

 

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Odyssey higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Traverse (5 to 6). This means the Odyssey produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Traverse every 15,000 miles.

 

Tires and Wheels

 

The Odyssey's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Traverse LS' standard 70 series tires.

 

Suspension and Handling

 

The Odyssey has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Traverse's suspension doesn't offer gas-charged shocks.

 

For better maneuverability, the Odyssey's turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the Traverse's (36.7 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

 

Chassis

 

The Honda Odyssey may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Chevrolet Traverse.

 

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Odyssey has an electronically controlled liquid-filled engine mounts. A computer controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Traverse uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

 

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

 

Passenger Space

 

The Odyssey has 19.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Traverse (172.6 vs. 153.1).

 

The Odyssey has 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom, 8.3 inches more rear hip room, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom, 9.2 inches more third row legroom, .1 inches more third row hip room and 3.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Traverse.

 

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

 

Cargo Capacity

 

The Odyssey's cargo area provides more volume than the Traverse.

	Odyssey	Traverse
Behind Third Seat	38.4 cubic feet	24.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	93.1 cubic feet	68.8 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	148.5 cubic feet	116.4 cubic feet

 

Towing

 

The Odyssey's standard towing capacity is much higher than the Traverse's (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

 

Ergonomics

 

The Odyssey's front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Traverse's power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver's window opens automatically. The Traverse LTZ's passenger window doesn't close automatically.

 

If the windows are left down on the Odyssey the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the Traverse 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 vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Traverse doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

 

The Odyssey Touring has a standard center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The Traverse doesn't offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

 

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Odyssey's passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation, which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Traverse doesn't offer a filtration system.

 

* [1]  Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.