Brad Deery Honda Official Blog
Does the 2026 Honda Odyssey have enough cargo space for busy families near Iowa City, IA?
By Brad Deery Honda | Posted in Honda Odyssey on Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 5:36 pm
*Not actual model
Brad Deery Honda – Does the 2026 Honda Odyssey have enough cargo space for busy families near Iowa City, IA?
Families shopping near Iowa City, IA who need room for kids, gear, and everything in between often wonder whether a minivan can truly keep up. The 2026 Honda Odyssey was engineered around real life, and our team at Brad Deery Honda sees that play out every day with customers balancing school drop-offs, weekend sports, and road trips. With flexible seating for 8, up to 158 cubic feet of total cargo space when properly configured, and thoughtful touches like bag hooks on the 3rd-row Magic Seat®, the Odyssey delivers the versatility shoppers expect—without forcing compromises on comfort, technology, or confidence-inspiring safety.
What makes the Odyssey stand out is how easily that space adapts. Magic Slide® 2nd-Row Seats make third-row access simple and let you reposition seats to keep a child within easy reach, or fold them flat for quick removal to maximize the cargo floor. The one-motion 60/40 split 3rd-row Magic Seat® stows directly into the floor, opening up a low, wide load area for bulkier items. A power tailgate with programmable height is standard on all trims, and the Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate—standard on Elite—lets you open up the rear with a gentle foot motion when your hands are full. Add available cargo bins, a molded cargo mat, and a cargo net, and the Odyssey becomes a neatly organized hauler for errands in Coralville, home projects in North Liberty, and long weekends from Iowa City to the lakes.
To give you a quick sense of how that flexibility works in the real world, here are a few common pack-out scenarios our customers ask about when test driving the Odyssey:
- Grocery runs and school gear with all three rows in use
- Two car seats in row two plus a folded stroller or wagon behind the 3rd row
- Flat-pack furniture with the 3rd row stowed and one 2nd-row seat removed
- Sports tournament weekends with coolers, duffels, and a pop-up tent
- Home improvement supplies using both 2nd-row seats removed for a wide, flat floor
- Family road trips with CabinTalk® and the Rear Entertainment System keeping peace in the back
Functionality is only part of the story. The Odyssey complements that capability with comfort and connectivity that make busy days smoother. Tri-zone automatic climate control keeps every row happy, and available heated and ventilated front seats help you settle in fast. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility make it easy to get directions and playlists on the 9-inch touch-screen, while Wi-Fi® hotspot capability (standard on Touring and Elite) supports streaming for the Advanced Rear Entertainment System’s 12.8-inch high-resolution screen on those I-80 stretches.
If you are coming from Iowa City to see how the Odyssey fits your life, these quick steps help you evaluate space during a test drive at our West Burlington showroom:
- Fold and stow the 3rd-row Magic Seat® to visualize the full load floor
- Slide the Magic Slide® 2nd-Row Seats to test access and child-seat reach
- Remove one 2nd-row seat to simulate larger cargo without losing a passenger spot
- Open the power tailgate and set the programmable height for your garage
- Test-fit a stroller, wagon, or cooler to see how bag hooks and bins help organization
Peace of mind matters when that cargo includes your favorite people. Honda Sensing® is standard and includes technologies such as Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System, and Traffic Sign Recognition. Blind Spot Information System and the Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines further streamline parking-lot maneuvering when the van is fully loaded. Snow mode recalibrates traction control for winter commutes around Iowa City, and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® simplifies getting everyone in and out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much total cargo space does the 2026 Honda Odyssey offer?
When configured for maximum capacity with the 2nd-row seats removed and the one-motion 60/40 split 3rd-row Magic Seat® stowed, the Odyssey offers up to 158 cubic feet of total cargo space. The low load floor and wide opening make it easy to manage large or irregularly shaped items.
Do the Magic Slide® 2nd-Row Seats help with both passengers and cargo?
Yes. Magic Slide® 2nd-Row Seats improve access to the third row and let you move a seat closer to the front—useful for caregiving on the go. They can fold flat for easy removal when you need to open up the cargo area for bulkier items.
Is the Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate available on every Odyssey?
Every 2026 Odyssey includes a power tailgate with programmable height. Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate is standard on Elite, allowing you to open the rear with a gentle foot motion when your hands are full.
What storage accessories help keep the cargo area organized?
Honda Genuine Accessories such as cargo bins, a molded trifold cargo mat, and a cargo net help manage everything from sports equipment to groceries. The bag hooks on the back of the 3rd-row Magic Seat® also help keep upright bags in place.
Our team at Brad Deery Honda welcomes shoppers from Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and the surrounding communities to experience the Odyssey’s flexibility first-hand. Explore the leather-trimmed interior now standard on all trims, try CabinWatch® and CabinTalk® on Touring and Elite, and see how the 10-speed automatic and smooth V-6 power make every mile easier. When you are ready, we will help tailor the right trim and accessories so your 2026 Honda Odyssey is set up for your family’s day-to-day rhythm.