New Honda Odyssey 2021 detailed: Kia Carnival rival gets another facelift – but will it be for the last time?

Honda has revealed the fifth-generation Odyssey’s second facelift, but the people mover’s long-term future remains in doubt.

A report from Best Car Web in April claimed the Odyssey’s long-term future was hanging in the balance globally due to its decreasing sales and the growing popularity of SUVs, with this new facelift to serve as a litmus test for whether or not a sixth generation should be produced.

Speaking to CarsGuide today, a Honda Australia spokesperson said the company doesn’t have an update to share yet on its plans for the Odyssey, including timing for its new facelift. It’s therefore possible the people-mover plug might be pulled earlier here.

If the Odyssey were to depart soon, it would join the Jazz and City light cars in being discontinued ahead of Honda Australia’s move to an agency sales model in July next year, even though the company’s March announcement confirmed the people mover would stay on.

Either way, the Odyssey’s new facelift has plenty in store, with a redesigned front fascia shown so far alongside a tweaked cabin.

The new upper dashboard design is headlined by a ‘floating’ touchscreen.

The former is comprehensive, with the bonnet, headlight, grille and bumper designs all new, while the latter includes a new upper dashboard design, which is headlined by a ‘floating’ touchscreen that’s noticeably larger than the previous 7.0-inch unit. And there’s also a new steering wheel on hand.

Better yet, the Odyssey’s power-operated sliding doors now have gesture control, with a light strip integrated into the windows indicating how to open and close them hands-free. Furthermore, they now automatically lock when closed.

According to Honda, more details on the Odyssey’s new facelift will be progressively released, so stay tuned for them and an update on Australian plans for the people mover.

For reference, the Kia Carnival rival is currently priced from $39,140 to $48,740 plus on-road costs.