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Vans & Minivans Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna
5220 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 3:36 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. |
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Replying to: dz6t (Nov 30, 2008 10:50 pm) 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.
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Replying to: yak33 (Dec 01, 2008 3:58 am) 6. Perhaps the particular model Sienna they wanted had wood, making it a deal-breaker?
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Replying to: thegraduate (Dec 01, 2008 7:56 am) 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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Replying to: dz6t (Nov 30, 2008 10:50 pm) 2. This and your first point are a result of the Ody's ground clearance being only 4.3 inches-- that is half an inch less than a Porsche Boxster. Not a problem if you never leave a paved surface, but for those of us who have occasion to drive a fully loaded van on rough or unimproved roads and driveways the low ground clearance can be a real problem. The Sienna's 6.9" clearance is much more comfortable. 3. Personal preference. I could be happy with either, my wife was much more comfortable in the Sienna seats. 4. Personal preference. On some sunny days I wish our Sienna windows were a bit darker. 5. I wasn't impressed by any dealer on either team. The Honda dealers were either uninterested in negotiating or left me with an oily feeling. The Toyota dealers were willing to negotiate, but even the dealer I bought from was no gem either. 6. We thought the Honda dash was scattered, poorly organized, and inelegant compared to the intuitive and clean dash of the Toyota where every control was exactly where we expected it to be.
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Replying to: yatesjo (Dec 02, 2008 4:25 pm) For people who need (or can only afford) one vehicle, having a vehicle that can have the driving characteristics of a car with the hauling ability of a minivan. Otherwise, I'd agree - let the van be cushy and soft as possible, and leave the "fun" to a car made for fun! 
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Replying to: dz6t (Nov 30, 2008 10:50 pm)  Two Honda dealerships and one Toyota dealership were excellent. The other Honda and Toyota dealerships in our local area will NEVER sell me a vehicle. #6. Not only is center portion of the Sienna dash UGLY, but the reflected glare off the poorly designed center portion is a safety hazard,  However, if you need the largest cargo space behind the 3rd row seat and must have a trip computer, buy the Sienna. 
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Hi,I have a 2007 honda Odyssey which I don`t really like.I was looking to trade it in for a 2007 Sienna.I wanted to know if I am making a correct choice here. My Odyssey has just 6500 miles,so I am OK with it.i like the drive and it has had no problems.But after reading all the reviews and comments,I am worried about the long term drive,comfort and reliability. I am planning to keep it upto atleast 100k miles.My concerns are: 1.Will the ride get harsher and will the road noise get more pronounced as i put on more miles say 30k or more?How bad is the road noise after 30kmiles.i am really worried about this.Also I heard the ride over rough roads and on highways gets very rough with vibrations on the Odyssey.How much of this is a factor?I really hate rough rides over bumps and the road noise.And does the steering get tighter over time?B`cos right now it is still very taut for my comfort. 2.How is the transmission holding up?Upto 50k miles,no car has any problem,but after that?Can any high mileage Odyssey owners give an insight into this ? 3.Also,are Honda parts more expensive?And do the parts on Odyssey break down more than on the Sienna? So my main concerns are- Ride quality,Road noise,tight steering wheel ,vibrations with rattles and Honda transmission reliability. Will I be wise to get the Sienna based on my preferences assuming I plan to keep the minivan for atleast 7 or 8 years and that comfort is a big issue. My Ford SUV is much quieter and has a better smoother ride with less road noise than the Odyssey.But reliability was not that good. Again,I am not complaining against the Odyssey lovers,but my priorities are different. My wife and me right now are really torn on this decision. Your help is greatly appreciated.Thanks.
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Replying to: deltheking (Feb 03, 2009 11:12 pm) Reliability is a probability game and that probability is built into the resale pricing. Any reliability difference between the Sienna and the Odyssey will be more than washed out by the trade costs- that is especially true in the first few years of the vehicle life. |
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Replying to: deltheking (Feb 03, 2009 11:12 pm) To answer your questions... 1. Depends on the tires. Old tires can get noisier, but otherwise there should not be a significant degredation in noise suppression. 2. Trans have improved, AFAIK. They keep revising them, though I'm not sure if the 2007 has all the latest improvements. You're OK for 60k miles anyway (powertrain warranty). 3. Not sure, but consider getting a 7/100 warranty, because those are under a grand for both of these vans. Basically you seem worried so an extended warranty would probably address your concerns better than trading for a used Sienna, which you wouldn't know the history of and could give you worse problems. Around me the 2 year old Siennas are mostly program cars, not privately owned. I doubt the drivers take the best care of those. |
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