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Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna

5221 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 5:37 PM

You are in the Honda Odyssey Forum. Your Host is Karens

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Car Comparisons, Van


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#4709 of 5221
Re: Test driving a new 2008 Odyssey EX-L & 2009 Sienna LE [yatesjo] by thegraduate
Nov 11, 2008 (5:52 pm)
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Replying to: yatesjo (Nov 11, 2008 1:11 pm)

Ultimately a minivan is a minivan and it's purpose isn't sporty driving, but to get the passengers and their stuff from A to B safely and comfortably. The larger, quieter, smoother riding Sienna did that better in our judgment.
 
For some people (such as my aunt), one vehicle is all they care to pay for, so they find one with the best blend for them. She drove smaller vehicles typically, so she liked having a carlike-drive in the Odyssey, while still having the carrying capacity of a minivan with better fuel economy than an SUV.
 
(And yes, I know you weren't making a claim to anything otherwise, your post was just convenient to respond to).
#4710 of 5221
Re: Test driving a new 2008 Odyssey EX-L & 2009 Sienna LE [lab88] by hause7
Nov 12, 2008 (1:11 am)
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Replying to: lab88 (Nov 11, 2008 10:50 am)

When I read your post I had to agree. We traded our 2004 Sienna Limited AWD in for a 2007 Sienna XLE FWD. We noticed the handling was a lot more responsive and better then our 04. We feel it handles just as good as an Odyssey and when we change the tires it should handle even better. Both are good vans. I mean were talking about a Honda and a Toyota. We just loved our 04 Sienna so much we decided to replace it with another. We did test drive the Quest, Town&Country, Entourage, and Odyssey. To us nothing beats the Sienna's ride comfort, seat comfort, build quality, and that SWEET and POWERFUL 3.5L V6.
 
It's so fun surprising people at stoplights. I actually beat some teen in a brand new Black 2008 mustang V6 5-speed manual. So fun seeing his face at the next stoplight. He rolled down the window and asked if it was stock
 
We get 21 mpg in our 07 compared to 14-15 in our 04.
#4711 of 5221
Re: Test driving a new 2008 Odyssey EX-L & 2009 Sienna LE [hause7] by thegraduate
Nov 12, 2008 (10:57 am)
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Replying to: hause7 (Nov 12, 2008 1:11 am)

Someone needs to teach that guy to drive a stick! Haha...
#4712 of 5221
Re: Test driving a new 2008 Odyssey EX-L & 2009 Sienna LE [hause7] by lab88
Nov 12, 2008 (6:26 pm)
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Replying to: hause7 (Nov 12, 2008 1:11 am)

I'm a bit relieved someone else noticed the difference between an 04 and an 07+. I'm not imagining things!
 
I test drove a leftover new 2008 Ody today, and I have to say I did not like the steering as much as I like the 07+ Sienna's. I currently drive an Element, so I'm used to Honda steering. I think the new Ody has got the steering too tight now. Weird.
#4713 of 5221
Re: Test driving a new 2008 Odyssey EX-L & 2009 Sienna LE [lab88] by hause7
Nov 12, 2008 (11:05 pm)
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Replying to: lab88 (Nov 12, 2008 6:26 pm)

We noticed that too, my grandma did not like the way the Odyssey drove. She said they tuned it to much into a car then a comfortable van for her. I agree. Also, she said the Odyssey felt slow compared to the 07+ Sienna's when merging onto busy freeways and passing. Not gonna knock the Honda, but those are some negatives we just couldn't look past when trading our 04 in.
 
We haven't driven our Sienna in 2 weeks now
 
It's at the body shop, a lady rear ended us after a month of owning it and she just took off. She hit us so hard we were pushed into the curb. They had to change the whole rear end and front axles. I think the bill is up to $10,000+ in repairs. Will find out when we pick it up. We miss it
#4714 of 5221
Re: Test driving a new 2008 Odyssey EX-L & 2009 Sienna LE [yak33] by hansienna
Nov 27, 2008 (6:34 pm)
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Replying to: yak33 (Nov 08, 2008 10:36 pm)

NO comparison between a 2008 Odyssey EX-L and 2009 Sienna LE since the Odyssey EX-L has too many extra features that the Sienna LE does NOT.
 
Agree the Sienna has more power in a lighter vehicle that also has the most cargo space behind the 3rd row seat BUT the Odyssey has the most comfortable seating with the most leg room for 2nd and 3rd row seats.
 
I would buy a new 2008 Odyssey EX tomorrow if I could get one for 20 % off the MSRP at one of my local Honda dealers even though my 2006 Sienna LE has depreciated too rapidly.
#4715 of 5221
Honda vs Toyota by dz6t
Nov 30, 2008 (10:50 pm)
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We test drove Ody 2008/2009 and 2009 Sienna in the past several days and end up buying a Ody.
The reasons are very clear;
 
1. Ody handles much better than Sienna and the rear visibility is much better. Ody drives like a car and Sienna keeps remind me it is a truck and floats.
2. Ody has a lower floor which is much easier to in and out especially for my aging mother.
3. The leather in Ody is softer and seats are more comfy.
4. Inside of Ody is brighter and more welcome feeling. Sienna's windows are smaller and darker tinted. My 7 year-old said sitting in the 3rd row seat felt "creepy".
5. Honda dealership is way better than Toyota dealership. Fro example, the sales person left us hanging for 45 minutes just to get gas for the test drive van.
6. The dash of Sienna looks ugly with very brightly colored fake wood on very dark colored plastic.
#4716 of 5221
Re: Honda vs Toyota [dz6t] by yak33
Dec 01, 2008 (3:58 am)
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Replying to: dz6t (Nov 30, 2008 10:50 pm)

............clear as mud.
 
1. no way. Sienna has a more solid steering/handling/braking feel period. Ody rolls more in turns.
2. agree, but for us a very minor point.
3. agree.
4. N/A
5. I guess your experience with the Toyota dealership counts as the watershed for all Toyota dealerships?
6. agreed, but Sienna's non-wooded version looks fine. Comparing non-wooded version to Ody is no contest - Sienna wins hands down. Ody dash has slight 'cheap plastic' look to it, while the Sienna is more refined.
 
7. Can't believe you left this one out and it's a biggie - did you compare road noise between the two? Ody definitely louder inside, especially 3rd row.
#4717 of 5221
Re: Honda vs Toyota [yak33] by thegraduate
Dec 01, 2008 (7:56 am)
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Replying to: yak33 (Dec 01, 2008 3:58 am)

1. The majority (including professional testers) disagree with you, yak, saying that the Odyssey is the most carlike/sporty of all the minivan competitors. Honda, in general, is more sporty that Toyota across the board when compared model-to-model. Same goes for Acura and Lexus. In return, Toyota's typically ride smoother.
 
6. Perhaps the particular model Sienna they wanted had wood, making it a deal-breaker?
#4718 of 5221
Re: Honda vs Toyota [thegraduate] by ateixeira
Dec 02, 2008 (11:37 am)
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Replying to: thegraduate (Dec 01, 2008 7:56 am)

It all depends on what you mean by "handling", exactly.
 
In C&D's comparo, the lateral grip was actually equal, 0.76g. This despite the fact that the Sienna they tested came handicapped with smaller wheels and higher profile tires.
 
The Sienna's steering is nicely weighted, i.e. more heft than the earlier models had, but it is sort of numb, and I think this is why people say the Ody "handles better", i.e. because you can feel what the tires are doing.
 
The Sienna is a lot more isolated, both in terms of steering feel and in terms of road noise, though. For that same reason it rides better, and tends to be a bit quieter (I sat in the 3rd row of an Ody while visiting a friend for 4 days, and it was definitely louder).
 
So, which one "handles" better?
 
If I were going to drive around a tight autocross course and wanted to know exactly what each tire was doing, and to place the vehicle exactly on each apex perfectly, I'd pick the Ody. Even though it may not be faster or grip better laterally, it communicates more info to the driver. Ody wins.
 
If I'm going to take a road trip with the kids and just want to have some peace and quiet so they can sleep or watch a movie with their headphones while I listen to my own music, then by far I'd prefer the Sienna. It would also be my choice to drive my mother-in-law over a bunch of pot holes, she actually would not complain given how well the Sienna quells (handles?) rough pavement. Sienna wins.
 
Since I consider mine a family car, and especially since it's not the only vehicle I drive (I get my kicks in my Miata), the choice was very clear for me. I can understand why someone stuck driving only one single car full time might choose an Ody, however.
 
To be honest, though, I fell in love with the 2GR V6's 266hp. It is notably quicker than the Ody.

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