The 2019 Honda Odyssey, a popular minivan choice for families, underwent rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). As your trusted automotive expert from obd2global.com, we delve into the safety performance of the 2019 Odyssey, providing you with a detailed analysis based on the IIHS evaluations. This review focuses on crashworthiness and safety features to help you make an informed decision for your family’s safety.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object. In the driver-side small overlap test for the 2019 Honda Odyssey, the vehicle earned a “Good” rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The structural performance was rated “Good,” indicating that the safety cage effectively maintained its integrity. All driver injury measures – head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot – were also rated “Good,” signifying a low risk of significant injuries in this type of crash. Restraints and dummy kinematics also received a “Good” rating, demonstrating effective occupant protection systems.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test provide further insight into the vehicle’s performance.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN1708 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 13 |
| Footrest (cm) | 12 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 9 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 8 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 3 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 7 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 7 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 6 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN1708 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 158 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 23 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 24 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.7 |
| Right | 2.4 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 2 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.50 |
| Right | 0.43 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.8 |
| Right | 3.2 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 49 |
| Right | 64 |
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap test is equally crucial for assessing overall occupant safety. The 2019 Honda Odyssey also achieved a “Good” overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
While the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, all passenger injury measures and restraints were rated “Good.” This indicates that while there was some structural deformation, the risk of injury to the passenger remains low.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side small overlap test, conducted by both the IIHS and Honda, are detailed below.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1703 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 16 |
| Footrest (cm) | 16 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 11 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 3 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 5 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 9 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 9 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 8 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1703 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 117 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 40 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 21 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.8 |
| Right | 3.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 10 |
| Right | 10 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.63 |
| Right | 0.76 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 3.0 |
| Right | 2.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 39 |
| Right | 50 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1703 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 65 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.4 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 27 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.12 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 27 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.6 |
| Right | 0.7 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.26 |
| Right | 0.41 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.5 |
| Right | 2.9 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 25 |
| Right | 52 |
Action shot from the IIHS passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating the impact dynamics of the 2019 Honda Odyssey.
Post-crash dummy position in the 2019 Honda Odyssey passenger-side test, indicating good survival space maintenance.
Effective airbag deployment in the 2019 Honda Odyssey passenger-side crash test, showing head protection.
Low injury risk to legs and feet for the passenger in the 2019 Honda Odyssey, confirmed by crash test analysis.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Evaluation
In the moderate overlap front crash test, which simulates a more common type of frontal collision, the 2019 Honda Odyssey again earned a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
All aspects of this test, including structural performance and driver injury measures, were rated “Good,” highlighting the robust frontal crash protection of the 2019 Odyssey.
Technical measurements further detail the performance in the moderate overlap front crash test.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1712 |
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 3 |
| Left (cm) | 6 |
| Center (cm) | 5 |
| Right (cm) | 8 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 9 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 3 |
| Rearward (cm) | -3 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1712 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 176 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 44 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.21 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 24 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 0.5 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 0.5 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.26 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.34 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 2.1 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 2.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 61 |
| Right | 102 |
Side Crash Test: Original and Updated Evaluations
The side crash test evaluates protection in side-impact collisions. The 2019 Honda Odyssey initially received a “Good” rating in the original side crash test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Both driver and rear passenger injury measures, as well as head protection, were rated “Good,” demonstrating comprehensive side-impact safety.
Technical measurements from the original side crash test are provided below.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1710 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -21.5 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1710 |
| Head HIC-15 | 125 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.1 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 23 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 1.81 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.22 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 0.7 |
| Combined force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.5 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 15 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 70 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1710 |
| Head HIC-15 | 78 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.3 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 33 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.07 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.57 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.7 |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.5 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.5 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 16 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 70 |
An updated side crash test (Side 2.0) was also conducted, though it applies to later models, it’s worth noting the Odyssey continued to perform well, maintaining a “Good” overall rating, indicating Honda’s commitment to continuous improvement in safety.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test measures the vehicle’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2019 Honda Odyssey achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,327 lbs |
| Peak force | 23,884 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.52 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.52, the 2019 Odyssey’s roof demonstrates significant strength relative to its weight.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing neck injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2019 Honda Odyssey’s head restraints and seats were rated “Good” for dynamic performance and geometry.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Technical measurements for head restraints and seats are detailed below.
| Seat type | Power cloth seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 22 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 20 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 13.9 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 58 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 0 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 167 |
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The IIHS evaluated three different headlight options available on the 2019 Honda Odyssey.
For the Touring and Elite trims, equipped with LED reflector headlights, the overall rating was “Acceptable.”
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | A |
For the EX and EX-L trims, featuring Halogen projector headlights, the rating was “Marginal.”
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | M |
The base LX trim, also with Halogen projector headlights but without high-beam assist, received a “Poor” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | P |
This variation in headlight performance across trims is important to consider based on your typical driving conditions.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or prevent frontal collisions. The 2019 Honda Odyssey, when equipped with the optional Collision Mitigation Braking System (Honda Sensing package, standard on EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims), earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meets forward collision warning requirements.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor usability is paramount. The 2019 Honda Odyssey received a “Good+” rating for LATCH ease of use, indicating it has extra LATCH positions.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G + extra LATCH positions |
| Vehicle trim | LX |
| Seat type | cloth |
The Odyssey has four rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor, offering excellent flexibility for child seat installation.
Details by seating position
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| easy-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| not too deep in seat | |
| not too much force needed to attach | |
| easy to maneuver around anchors | |
| 3 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| easy-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| not too deep in seat | |
| not too much force needed to attach | |
| easy to maneuver around anchors | |
| 4 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| hard-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| not too deep in seat | |
| not too much force needed to attach | |
| easy to maneuver around anchors | |
| 5 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| easy-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| none available | |
| 6 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| hard-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| not too deep in seat | |
| not too much force needed to attach | |
| easy to maneuver around anchors |
Conclusion
The 2019 Honda Odyssey demonstrates strong safety performance across various IIHS crash tests, earning top “Good” ratings in key areas. While headlight ratings vary by trim, and the passenger-side small overlap structure was “Acceptable,” overall, the 2019 Honda Odyssey is a safe minivan choice, especially when equipped with Honda Sensing and considering trims with better headlight options. For families prioritizing safety, the 2019 Honda Odyssey is a minivan that delivers robust protection.
