2026 Honda Odyssey EX-L: O’Fallon Buyers Guide

Quick Answer: 2026 Honda Odyssey EX-L

The EX-L is the entry point into the 2026 Odyssey lineup at $42,795 MSRP (plus $1,495 destination), and this year it carries the headline upgrade for the whole model: leather-trimmed seating, standard, in every row. Add the Magic Slide second-row seats, power sliding doors, a power tailgate with programmable height, the CabinTalk in-car intercom, and the full Honda Sensing safety suite, and the base trim looks less like a stripped-down starting point than in years past. Power comes from the same 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 and 10-speed automatic every Odyssey trim shares — front-wheel drive only, EPA-rated 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined.

2026 Honda Odyssey EX-L three-row leather-trimmed interior with Magic Slide second-row captain's chair positioned for a walk-through aisle
Leather-trimmed seating and Magic Slide second-row seats are both standard on the 2026 EX-L. Photo: Honda.

What used to be a step-up trim is now the base trim

For years, Honda saved leather-trimmed seating for buyers who paid up to Touring or Elite, and the EX-L — despite the “L” in its name traditionally implying leather — sometimes shipped with a synthetic material that wasn’t the real thing. That changes for 2026: every Odyssey, including the EX-L that most St. Charles County families actually drive home, gets genuine leather-trimmed seats across all three rows as standard equipment. Pair that with the Magic Slide second-row seats — which slide independently side to side as well as forward and back — and the EX-L covers most of what a minivan shopper actually needs without asking you to spend another dollar on Sport-L or Touring.

The rest of the EX-L’s equipment list reads like a minivan should: power sliding doors on both sides, a power tailgate with a programmable opening height (useful in a garage with a low ceiling), the CabinTalk intercom system so a driver can talk to the third row without turning around and shouting, and second-row USB charging ports standard. Honda Sensing — adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist, collision-mitigation braking, road-departure mitigation — comes on every trim including this one, so there’s no separate options list to check off for basic driver-assist features.

The same drivetrain as every other 2026 Odyssey

EX-L buyers aren’t giving up any power or capability to save money. Every 2026 Odyssey trim shares the identical 3.5-liter V6 making 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic and front-wheel drive — there’s no AWD or hybrid Odyssey to weigh against it. EPA ratings hold at 19 city, 28 highway, 22 combined regardless of trim. What you’re actually paying more for on Sport-L, Touring, and Elite is wheels, styling, and cabin technology, not a faster or more capable van underneath.

What Odyssey EX-L buyers say about Frank Leta Honda

Karen bought her family’s Odyssey with David Sedlock’s help and wrote that he was “incredibly knowledgeable and incredibly kind,” calling the whole experience “fantastic.” Laura C., who picked up a 2025 Odyssey the year before this one from Malachi Cade, said he “was great and helped us narrow down the specific model that worked for us” — the kind of guidance that matters when a family is choosing between EX-L and Sport-L trims that look similar on paper. Josh, shopping on a tight budget with a trade-in in hand, credited David S. with helping his family “get into a great used Honda Odyssey,” noting he “was transparent and incredibly helpful each step of the way” even while working within real budget constraints. Reviews like these show up regularly for Odyssey buyers at Frank Leta Honda, which holds roughly a 4.6-star average across more than 3,200 Google reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2026 Odyssey EX-L have real leather seats?

Yes — leather-trimmed seating is standard on the EX-L for the first time in this generation of Odyssey. Prior model years sometimes reserved genuine leather for Touring and Elite trims; that changes across the whole 2026 lineup starting with the base trim.

What’s the difference between the EX-L and the Sport-L?

Mechanically, nothing — both share the same 280-hp V6, 10-speed automatic, and front-wheel drive. Sport-L adds 19-inch wheels (versus the EX-L’s smaller standard wheels), its own exterior styling cues, red-stitched leather interior trim, and a third-row USB charging port, for roughly $1,100 more than EX-L.

Is the EX-L a good value compared to the higher Odyssey trims?

For buyers who don’t need built-in navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, or the rear-seat entertainment screen — all of which start at Touring — the EX-L delivers the same drivetrain, the same new-for-2026 leather, and the same Magic Slide seats at the lowest price point in the lineup. It’s a strong starting point if in-cabin tech isn’t a priority.

Where can I see the 2026 Odyssey EX-L near O’Fallon?

Frank Leta Honda’s new-inventory page shows current EX-L stock at 500 Auto Mall Drive, a short drive off I-70 for families throughout St. Charles County.

All 2026 Honda Odyssey guides

MSRP excludes the $1,495 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and options; the dealer sets actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are 2026 EPA estimates. Equipment and availability are subject to change; confirm current specifications with Frank Leta Honda. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Frank Leta Honda.