You’re standing in a used car lot, staring at a sea of SUVs that all look like identical gray jellybeans. Then you see it. The lightning bolt beltline. That slightly aggressive, wide stance. It’s the 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring, a vehicle that—honestly—might be the peak of the internal combustion family hauler. It sounds dramatic. It’s just a van, right? But back in 2014, Honda did something specific. They refreshed the fourth-generation Odyssey with a focus on tech that actually worked and safety ratings that finally caught up to the competition.
Most people buying a used minivan today look for two things: reliability and "can I fit a sheet of plywood in the back?" The 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring answers both with a resounding yes, but it adds a layer of refinement that's hard to find in a modern $50,000 equivalent. It was the first year of the six-speed automatic transmission becoming standard across the board, which basically solved the sluggish shifting issues that plagued earlier models.
The Vacuum, the V6, and the Realities of the 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or rather, the vacuum in the trunk. The "HondaVAC." When this van debuted, the internet lost its mind over a built-in shop vac. It was developed with Shop-Vac, tucked into the rear cargo area of the Touring Elite trim (and optional on the standard Touring). It’s cool. It works. But if you’re buying one today, check the hose. They get brittle.
Under the hood sits the 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6. It’s a workhorse. It pushes out 248 horsepower, which is plenty for merging onto a highway with seven people and a week’s worth of groceries. It’s got Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). This is where things get nerdy. The engine can shut down half its cylinders to save fuel when you’re just cruising. In theory, it’s great. In practice, some high-mileage owners report slight vibrations when the system kicks in. If you feel a weird shudder at 45 mph, that’s likely the VCM doing its thing. It isn't broken; it's just "character."
The ride quality is surprisingly car-like. Honda used a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear setup that keeps the van from feeling like a boat. It’s planted. You can actually take a corner without feeling like the sliding doors are going to fly off their tracks.
Safety and the Scary Small Overlap Test
Safety was the big story for 2014. Before this model year, the Odyssey struggled a bit with the IIHS small overlap front crash test. Honda engineers went back to the drawing board, reinforced the frame with high-strength steel, and the 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring became a Top Safety Pick+.
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That matters.
It also introduced LaneWatch. If you flip your right turn signal, a camera on the passenger mirror shows you the blind spot on the center screen. It’s brilliant. Why did Honda stop doing this in favor of beeping sensors on newer cars? It’s one of those "2014-era" perks that actually feels more advanced than the stuff we have now. You also get Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. They’re a bit sensitive. They’ll beep at you if a leaf blows across the road, but hey, it’s better than the alternative.
Inside, the layout is a bit of a button-fest. This was the era before everything was a touch screen. You have a screen up top for navigation and a smaller touch screen below for audio. It takes a week to learn. Once you do, it’s faster than digging through menus on a modern iPad-glued-to-the-dash setup.
The Mid-Row Magic and Cargo Space
Let’s be real. You aren't buying this for the 0-60 time. You're buying it because your life involves a lot of "stuff."
The second row is the star. It has "Wide Mode." You can actually slide the outboard seats outward by about two inches. It doesn't sound like much until you try to fit three car seats across the middle row. Suddenly, those two inches are the difference between peace and a screaming match.
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The "Magic Seat" in the third row is still the gold standard. One pull of a strap and it flips backward into a deep well in the floor. 148.5 cubic feet of total cargo volume. That is massive. You can fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood if you remove the second-row seats. Removing them is a workout, though. They’re heavy. They aren't "Stow 'n Go" like the Chrysler Town & Country. You have to physically lift them out and find a spot in your garage. It’s the trade-off for having seats that actually feel like real chairs instead of thin folding benches.
Real World Reliability: What Actually Breaks?
No vehicle is perfect. If a seller tells you their 2014 Odyssey is flawless, they’re lying or they just haven't looked closely enough.
- Piston Ring Issues: There was a massive class-action settlement regarding the VCM system I mentioned earlier. Basically, in some engines, the cylinder deactivation caused oil to bypass the rings, leading to spark plug fouling. Honda extended the warranty for this, but by now, that's likely expired. Check the service records. If the spark plugs were replaced every 30k miles, the previous owner was hiding a problem.
- Power Sliding Doors: They are haunted. Eventually, the rollers wear out or the sensors get dirty, and the door will start to close, beep, and then slide back open. It’s annoying. Usually, it’s just a $50 roller assembly fix, but a dealership will try to charge you $800 for a new motor.
- The Battery Drain: The 2014 model has a lot of parasitic draw. If you leave it sitting for three days, it might struggle to start. Many owners upgrade to a higher-capacity AGM battery to solve this.
Fuel economy? Expect about 19 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. It’s decent for a house on wheels.
Touring vs. Touring Elite: Is the Extra Cash Worth It?
The Touring trim was already high-end. You get the 18-inch alloy wheels, the navigation, the rear-seat entertainment system (DVD player for the kids), and the acoustic windshield that makes the cabin whisper quiet.
The Touring Elite adds the HondaVAC, an Ultrawide Rear Entertainment System (which can play two different things at once via a split screen), and a 12-speaker "surround sound" system. Honestly? Unless you really love built-in vacuums, the standard Touring is the sweet spot. The Ultrawide screen is cool, but in the age of iPads, kids usually just want their own screens anyway.
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One thing to watch for: the 2014 Touring models come with 235/60R18 tires. They aren't cheap to replace. Budget for that.
Why This Van Still Wins in 2026
We are now over a decade past the release of this van. Why bother? Because the 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring represents a specific moment in automotive history. It was before CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmissions) became the norm. It was before engines were "downsized" to tiny turbocharged four-cylinders that have to work twice as hard.
It feels substantial.
When you shut the door, it sounds solid. When you hit a pothole, the interior doesn't rattle like a box of Legos. It’s a tool designed by people who clearly had kids and understood that you need sixteen cupholders and a cool box in the center console to keep your drinks cold.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re hunting for one of these, don't just look at the odometer. A well-maintained 150,000-mile Odyssey is better than a neglected 80,000-mile one.
- Check the Timing Belt: This is the big one. It needs to be changed every 100,000 miles or 7 years. If the owner doesn't have a receipt for this, factor a $1,200 repair bill into your offer immediately. If it snaps, the engine is toast.
- Test the Doors: Open and close the power sliders five times in a row. Listen for grinding. If they hesitate, the rollers are going.
- Inspect the VCM: Take it for a long test drive on a flat highway. Set the cruise control at 65 mph. Feel for any subtle "lurching" or vibrations. If it’s smooth, you’re good. If not, consider a VCM "muzzler" (an aftermarket device that many Odyssey enthusiasts swear by to keep the engine in 6-cylinder mode all the time).
- Look for Fluid Leaks: Specifically, check the power steering pump. They are notorious for leaking and making a whining noise like a disgruntled cat.
- Run the VIN: Make sure all the airbag recalls (Takata) were actually performed. You don't want a 2014-era surprise in your steering wheel.
Buying a 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring today isn't about getting the flashiest car on the block. It’s about buying back your time and sanity. It’s about a vehicle that disappears into the background of your life because it just does its job. It carries the people, it carries the gear, and it does it with a level of mechanical honesty that’s getting harder to find. Find a clean one, change the oil, and it’ll probably outlast the next three iPhones you buy.