1. Design and sailing performance
This is where the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 really makes its case.
The 455 is a completely new generation of Sun Odyssey, with the hull developed by Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group, while the interior is by Piaton Yacht Design. The result is a yacht designed to combine the sailing characteristics expected of a Sun Odyssey with the volume and comfort normally associated with a larger yacht.
The hull has been designed with performance in mind, while Jeanneau has retained the distinctive walkaround side decks no featured across the Sun Odyssey range.
Independent testing by Yachting World highlighted the design's combination of handling, responsiveness and accommodation, noting that Jeanneau's objective was to deliver the space of a substantially larger yacht without the same increase in length and displacement.
The Oceanis 47 is certainly no slouch. Beneteau describes it as a yacht designed for sailing, and the optional First Line Pack increases sail area and performance for owners who want a more performance-orientated specification.
However, the philosophy is slightly different.
The Oceanis 47 places a very strong emphasis on ease of sailing and interior volume, whereas the Sun Odyssey 455 feels like a yacht designed to give the owner a little more of the sailing experience.
For the owner who enjoys actually sailing the boat rather than simply using it as a floating holiday home, that distinction is important.
Advantage: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455
2. Handling and short-handed sailing
Both yachts are designed around modern short-handed sailing.
The Sun Odyssey 455 uses twin steering wheels, with the cockpit and sail controls arranged to make the yacht manageable with a small crew. Its walkaround side decks are particularly useful, removing the traditional step up and around the cockpit and making movement forward considerably easier.
Jeanneau specifically highlights the combination of twin helms, walkaround sidedecks and an ergonomic cockpit as key elements of the 455's design.
The Oceanis 47 also offers twin helms and a cockpit designed around easy handling. Beneteau's standard specification includes a furling mast and self-tacking jib, making it particularly straightforward to handle with limited crew.
For a couple looking to cruise extensively, both are excellent choices.
But the Sun Odyssey 455's deck layout is particularly impressive. The uninterrupted walkaround deck gives a feeling of freedom of movement that is difficult to appreciate fully from photographs, even the swim platform ladder is a lead ahead on the Oceanis 47.
Interestingly, an independent review of the Oceanis 47 specifically noted that its side decks are narrow and that moving forward can be less convenient than on some competing yachts, including Jeanneau's stepless Sun Odyssey arrangement.
Advantage: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455
3. Cockpit and life above deck
Modern cruising yachts are increasingly designed around the cockpit, and both of these yachts embrace that philosophy.
The Oceanis 47 has an impressively large cockpit, with Beneteau claiming a 9% increase in cockpit space compared with its predecessor. The twin cockpit tables can also be configured for dining or lounging, while the aft section can be specified with an open or enclosed transom.
The Sun Odyssey 455 is equally focused on outdoor living.
The cockpit is generous for a yacht of its length, with twin helm positions giving the helmsman excellent visibility while leaving a large central social area.
But there's an important difference in character.
The Jeanneau combines its generous cockpit with excellent deck circulation. The walkaround sidedecks mean guests can move from cockpit to foredeck without negotiating awkward steps, while the helm positions remain separated from the main social area.
For families and couples who regularly have friends aboard, that combination of sailing functionality and social space is a major strength.
Advantage: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455
4. Interior accommodation
This is probably the closest category.
The Oceanis 47 has been designed around maximum usable volume. Its 4.5m beam and hull shape create a remarkably spacious interior, and Beneteau offers a wide choice of layouts, including three- and four-cabin versions and configurations with up to four heads.
If your priority is maximum accommodation for a given length, the Oceanis 47 is exceptionally strong.
The Sun Odyssey 455 takes a slightly different approach.
Jeanneau has managed to create an interior that feels considerably larger than its hull length would suggest. The yacht can be configured in three, four or five-cabin arrangements, with up to ten berths, while the main saloon is designed to accommodate a large group around the dining table.
The interior design by Jean-Marc Piaton also gives the 455 a particularly contemporary feel.
The result is a yacht that manages to balance owner comfort, cruising practicality and entertaining space without feeling like a charter boat.
For private ownership, that distinction can be significant.
Advantage: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 for owner-focused cruising; Beneteau Oceanis 47 for maximum accommodation flexibility.
5. Tankage and cruising range
For serious cruising, tankage matters.
The Sun Odyssey 455 carries 200 litres of diesel and 380 litres of fresh water, while the Oceanis 47 carries 195 litres of fuel and 370 litres of water as standard.
The difference isn't enormous, but Jeanneau has the edge on both.
That additional water capacity is particularly useful for extended cruising, where water consumption can become one of the limiting factors on an otherwise comfortable yacht.
Advantage: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455
6. Engine and manoeuvrability
The standard Sun Odyssey 455 is powered by a 57hp Yanmar as standard but like most customers we have the larger 80hp engine fitted with electronic throttle at the helm binnacle, this transforms boat manoeuvres with more precise control over the boat.
The Oceanis 47 can also be specified with a 57hp Yanmar, with an 80hp maximum engine option.
For normal cruising, the 57hp configuration provides a sensible balance between performance, economy and weight.
We believe most owners will specify the larger configurations which in our first hand experience equates to a cruising speed under engine on the SO455 at in excess of 7 knots.
Advantage: Beneteau Oceanis 47 & Jeanneau Sun Odyssey equal winners.
7. Keel options
Both yachts offer a choice of draft.
The Sun Odyssey 455 is available with a standard keel of approximately 2.35m and a shallow-keel option of 1.75m.
The Oceanis 47 is offered with a 2.47m deep keel or 1.87m shallow keel.
For owners sailing from the UK, the shallow-draft versions are particularly interesting.
The 455's 1.75m shallow keel provides access to a wide range of cruising grounds while retaining the advantages of a modern performance cruising hull.
For anyone considering the Solent, south coast, Brittany or the shallow-water cruising grounds of northern Europe, that extra draft flexibility can be a significant consideration.
Advantage: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455
8. Which one is better for private ownership?
This is where the choice becomes more personal.
The Beneteau Oceanis 47 makes a compelling argument if your priorities are:
- Maximum interior volume
- Multiple cabin configurations
- Large entertaining spaces
- Easy sailing
- A powerful engine option
- Comfortable family or charter cruising
The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455, however, is particularly compelling if you want:
- A modern performance cruising yacht
- Responsive sailing characteristics
- Excellent short-handed handling
- Walkaround side decks
- A generous cockpit
- Strong owner-focused accommodation
- Excellent tankage for cruising
- A yacht that feels both modern and purposeful
And perhaps most importantly, the Sun Odyssey 455 feels like a yacht designed around the sailing experience as much as the accommodation experience.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 vs Oceanis 47: the verdict
There is no denying that the Beneteau Oceanis 47 is an extremely capable cruising yacht. It offers impressive volume, flexible accommodation and straightforward handling, and it is a very strong choice for owners prioritising space and comfort.
But if the question is which yacht would we choose for an owner who genuinely loves sailing?, our preference would be the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455.
It offers a particularly attractive combination of:
Performance + handling + comfort + practicality + modern design.
And it does so within a hull that remains manageable at just over 14 metres.
Blackrock Yachting is proud to offer the only Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 currently available in the UK.
If you are considering a new cruising yacht in the 45–48ft category, we strongly recommend comparing the 455 with the Oceanis 47 in person.
The differences become much more apparent when you step aboard.
Contact Blackrock Yachting to arrange a viewing of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 or to discuss your requirements for a new cruising yacht.
