Honda Odyssey in the UAE: Price, Space and Features for Big Families

Abu Dhabi: There is a clear trend towards SUVs as the preferred choice for most families looking for a new car in the UAE. For most families, especially bigger or growing ones, a three-row SUV makes the most obvious choice. Unlike some developed markets, minivans in the Emirates have remained a smaller or niche segment, even though they are actually quite suitable for big families.

A household here often carries grandparents, a driver, school bags, and a stroller on the same trip. From a practical point of view, the wide sliding doors make that easier, especially in tight car parks in Deira, Karama, or Dubai Marina.

Those looking for one have multiple choices, and one among them is the Japanese carmaker Honda’s Odyssey. First introduced in 1994, it now has over three decades behind its nameplate, and it remains the brand’s most practical option for families that need more than an SUV can offer.

In the UAE, the Al Futtaim Honda lists the 2026 model at AED 180,900, with the top Touring variant priced at AED 223,900. It is the only minivan in Honda’s range here. The Touring puts it almost level with the Pilot, Honda’s three-row SUV, at AED 224,875. It is a high price for a Honda, so the Odyssey has to earn it with space, features, and technology. With a seating capacity of eight, it is powered by a 3.5 litre V6.

Here is everything you need to know about its price, engine, space, equipment, and safety before you decide to visit the showroom.

Odyssey At A Glance

Detail	Odyssey 2026
Price (AED)	180,900 to 223,900
Engine	3.5 litre V6 petrol
Power	280 hp at 6,000 rpm
Torque	355 Nm at 4,700 rpm
Gearbox	10-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Drive	Front wheel drive
Seats	8
Length/ width/ height	5,183 mm / 1,995 mm / 1,767 mm
Wheelbase	3,000 mm
Fuel tank	74 litres
Warranty	5 years or 100,000 km

Engine and Gearbox

Now let’s look at what really matters: the powertrain. The Odyssey is packed with a 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine with 280 hp and 355 Nm of torque. Power goes to the front wheels through a 10-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. And to be clear, you don’t get to choose either a hybrid or a diesel option.

That is quite a capable engine for a family car, and a V6 of this size is built for relaxed cruising with a full load. That makes it a good fit for the long run from Dubai to Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah on the E11, some of our regular routes for families. The 74-litre tank gives a useful touring range, though fuel use rises with a full cabin, high speeds, and the AC running hard in July.

Size and Seats

This is the most attractive part of the car. The Odyssey is 5,183 mm long and 1,995 mm wide, so it is a big vehicle. You will feel it when you reverse into a bay at Dubai Mall or squeeze into a basement in Karama.

The second row is where Honda’s thinking shows and makes it a more practical car for families. Honda calls these the Magic Slide seats. They slide towards the centre and forward, fold flat, or can be removed, while the third row folds away to open up the cargo area. As far as boot size is concerned, it is about 1,093 litres behind the third row. With the second and third rows folded, the load area becomes much larger, though the exact maximum capacity should be confirmed with Al Futtaim Honda for the UAE specification.

On top of that, the power sliding doors let children climb in without touching the car next to you, and the hands-free power tailgate is handy when both your arms are full of shopping.

Family Tech

Again, you will find that Honda has built the Odyssey around the people in the back, and that is where most of the technology sits. The rear passengers get a 12.8-inch entertainment screen on the Touring that can show content from a phone or tablet through Bluetooth or an HDMI port in the centre console.

And we can’t miss two key features that need a short explanation. CabinWatch is a rear seat camera that shows the second and third rows on the front touchscreen, so the driver can check on the children without turning around. It is fitted on the Touring. CabinTalk lets the driver speak to second-row and third-row passengers through the audio system or, where equipped, through headphones linked to the rear entertainment system. On a weekend drive to Fujairah or Hatta, with a long road and a restless back seat, both are without a doubt useful.

In the cockpit, you get a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch driver display, and a wireless phone charger. Ventilated front seats are available depending on the variant, and there is climate control with rear vents.

Safety Equipment

As you would expect from a Japanese carmaker like Honda, safety is a priority with this car as well. Honda builds the Odyssey on its ACE body structure, which is designed to spread the force of a frontal crash. The driver aids come under the Honda Sensing package and include adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, collision mitigation braking, and road departure mitigation. There are also lane departure warnings and parking sensors.

As far as airbags are concerned, the front passengers get front and knee airbags, while side and curtain airbags provide additional protection. To be fair, this is the kind of safety equipment a buyer should expect at this price.

Ownership Details

Warranty: Al Futtaim Honda gives 5 years or 100,000 km, and the cover passes on to later owners. The 12-volt battery has its own cover of 2 years or 50,000 km. Tyres and glass are excluded. Commercial and rental-use vehicles carry a 3-year or 100,000 km warranty.

Servicing: The 5-year cover applies when the car is serviced at Al Futtaim Honda every 10,000 km or 6 months, whichever comes first. A family that drives 20,000 km a year will be in the workshop more often than a weekend driver, so plan for that.

Odyssey or Pilot

Now, if you are contemplating between the Odyssey and Pilot, then you need to consider a few things. The Pilot costs AED 224,875, only AED 975 more than the Odyssey Touring, so the choice comes down to how you use the car.

Each one offers what you really look forward to. The Pilot gives you the SUV shape and a higher driving position. The Odyssey gives you wider doors, a flatter cabin, more family technology, and easier access to the back rows. If the back seats are the busiest place in your car, the Odyssey is the better fit.

The Final Word

Now, most of us know that the UAE market has moved firmly towards SUVs, and in that setting, a minivan is a deliberate choice. Honda has not tried to make the Odyssey up as something else.

Clearly, it is built to carry people comfortably, and it does that well with a powerful V6, a flexible second row, and technology aimed at the back seats.

The target buyer is a large family, a household with a driver, or someone who often carries relatives or friends. Of course, it will suit fewer people who want off-road ability, a small footprint, or low fuel bills.

Before you decide, take the whole family to the showroom and fill every seat. Check out the third row, slide the second row back and forth, and check that your child’s seats fit properly. If it checks all the boxes, then the decision is rather simple.

Also Read: Which Family SUVs in the UAE Have a Third Row Adults Can Actually Use?