Inside Line 2008 Comparison Test - Crossover vs. Minivan vs. SUV

38 messages, Last post on Mar 25, 2009 at 1:19 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Odyssey, GMC Acadia, Toyota Sequoia, Car Comparisons, SUV, Van

2008 Comparison Test: Crossover vs. Minivan vs. SUV - Put simply, neither the Sequoia nor the Acadia could touch the Odyssey's ability to swallow stuff, or its ease of loading and unloading passengers or cargo. (more)

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#23 of 38 Re: Please save us from these useless comparisons! [traveler73] by bobber1 Mar 11, 2008 (3:20 pm)
Replying to: traveler73 (Mar 11, 2008 3:10 pm) That sounds like one of those "oversensitive egos" described in the article.
#24 of 38 Re: the contenders [jkavanagh] by ahightower Mar 11, 2008 (6:04 pm)
Replying to: jkavanagh (Mar 10, 2008 5:37 pm) Maybe the standard size garage in "fly-over country" is bigger. Isn't 20' standard?
#25 of 38 Re: Please save us from these useless comparisons! [traveler73] by shoeymis Mar 11, 2008 (8:41 pm)
Replying to: traveler73 (Mar 11, 2008 12:59 pm) I couldn't agree more with your statement. Everybody knows that if you don't need to tow anything or ever go "off-road" that a mini-van wins the competition pretty much hands down. Let's face it a whole lot of people own boats, ATV's, snowmobiles, campers, etc. or just plain don't like mini-vans. For those people a mini-van is not even an option. The towing capacity of almost all car based mini-vans is 3500 lbs. Even a small 18ft boat ski boat will weight that much with gear in it, so the mini-van is useless to a family with a boat. And to get a Sequoia with all the luxuxy of a $43k Acadia you would probably be up above $50k so price vs options is definitely a decision that needs to be made if a person is actually trying to compare an Acadia and a Sequoia.
#26 of 38 Wise pick is the Acadia by dvsutton Mar 11, 2008 (10:38 pm)
I guess the only smart pick is the Acadia. If I want transmission problems and constant rotor replacements, along with dash rattles and sliding door failures, I would pick the Odyssey because those are all of the problems associated with my wifes Honda Odyssey that has 15k miles on it. If I want to have broken camshafts and engine failure due to sludge, of course I would pick the Toyota. Then they can deny any fault on their part for months while I threaten a lawsuit. Then finally come clean and call it a "service bulliten", that way the can escape any negetive media coverage about it. Just like the Toyota Camry I had. So The GMC Acadia would be my pick. Replies to this message: bobw3 (Mar 12, 2008 4:41 am)
#27 of 38 Re: Wise pick is the Acadia [dvsutton] by bobw3 Mar 12, 2008 (4:41 am)
Replying to: dvsutton (Mar 11, 2008 10:38 pm) Good pick...GM is well known to be much more reliable then either Honda or Toyota.
#28 of 38 Re: Please save us from these useless comparisons! [traveler73] by bobw3 Mar 12, 2008 (4:54 am)
Replying to: traveler73 (Mar 11, 2008 3:10 pm) by that logic everybody would own one [minivan] Exactly correct...but then people rarely makes any purchase (especially cars) based solely (or even partially) on logic. I'd say in general that the folks you see driving around in minivans are more logical and practical than those driving around in giant SUVs, with the exception of those who need to tow or require serious AWD. On the other hand, if you have $40-50K laying around then go buy some giant SUV or what-ever other vehicle you want, but that doesn't change the fact that for those using logic for decision making, then minivan will provide more bang for the buck in terms of space utilization, cost, mpg, etc than any other vehicle out there. Replies to this message: brutus22 (Mar 12, 2008 11:07 am) bobw3 (Mar 13, 2008 10:17 am) bobber1 (Mar 13, 2008 10:46 am) and 3 more...
#29 of 38 Perfect Comparo w/ Personal Insights by brutus22 Mar 12, 2008 (11:07 am)
Replying to: bobw3 (Mar 12, 2008 4:54 am) Hello, This comparo makes so much sense it is not even funny, not sure why people are busting on it. My family just bought the Saturn Outlook. We probably the exact people these cars are made for, we have 2 small children and have plans for a 3rd. I checked out the Honda Od, Toyota Sienna, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander Hybrid and of course the Saturn Outlook. General reasons for going with one make over another (will not comment on driving characteristics just simple facts) -AWD....we live in NH get the idea? (If the Honda Od had it would of been a tough call with the Outlook but still probably lean towards the Outlook since the some of the facts below....why oh why is it not an option...I don't know) -Utility.... real 8 passenger seating (if you are going to buy one of these cars you should want to get the maximum benefits from the size, our friends who have a Sienna already ran into issue missing that 1 additional seat)....decent room behind the 3rd row along with the various folding seat options to meet your various needs. -Styling/Features inside.... Dual Sunroof (This was a huge thing that sold this car on my wife and son), Onstar+Integrated Phone (used onstar within 2 days of getting car having keys locked inside), split folding seats (Unbelievably the Highlander does not offer this and has a much smaller room behind 3rd row...just a glorified stationwagon IMO since you need to fold the entire 3 row...oh how I wanted the Hybrid, but oh no they lost it on a simple thing like this) -Styling/Features outside.... the Outlook is a very handsome vehicle and does not give that mommy look that so many do not like (such as my wife for example , but to each his own....available tow package for a decent real-world weight towing. We love it so far and if it was a Hybrid I would think it is the Perfect car. B. Replies to this message: bobw3 (Mar 13, 2008 10:17 am) bobber1 (Mar 13, 2008 10:46 am) bobw3 (Mar 14, 2008 5:40 am) and 2 more...
#30 of 38 Re: Perfect Comparo w/ Personal Insights [brutus22] by bobw3 Mar 13, 2008 (10:17 am)
Replying to: brutus22 (Mar 12, 2008 11:07 am) If you have the 2nd row bench and 3 (potentially) small kids/infants, what's your plan for the 3 carseats? Granted if you went with a 7 passenger AWD Sienna you'd lose a seat, but then it would be a whole lot easier putting one of the toddlers in the 3rd row and another toddler & infant in the 2nd row. Or both toddlers in the 3rd row (separated) and you and your inant in the 2nd row. And you'd have double the cargo space behind the 3rd row of the Sienna as compared to the Outlook. You could put put the 2 toddlers in the 3rd row of the Outlook, but then you won't have much cargo space for all the stuff. Or put a toddler and infant in the 60 portion of the 60/40 2nd row and the other toddler in the 3rd row so you could fold 1/2 the 3rd row, but then you'll have the toddler and infant seats right beside each other, and the toddler in the 3rd row will have a pile of stuff beside them if you fold flat the other 1/2 of the 3rd row, which doesn't seem to safe. Of course you could put all three in the 2nd row, but I don't know if I'd want two toddlers with a new infant in the middle to "play" with! I Replies to this message: bobber1 (Mar 13, 2008 10:46 am) bobw3 (Mar 14, 2008 5:40 am) samfoodie (Apr 03, 2008 10:01 am) and 1 more...
#31 of 38 Re: Perfect Comparo w/ Personal Insights [bobw3] by bobber1 Mar 13, 2008 (10:46 am)
Replying to: bobw3 (Mar 13, 2008 10:17 am) The same thoughts floated through my head. I've got 3 young kids now and know how much space they eat up as well as misc. cargo. I looked at a Saturn and it will work fine for 3 kids in car seats. It's weak point relative to the minivan however will be storage space for the strollers etc. Replies to this message: bobw3 (Mar 14, 2008 5:40 am) samfoodie (Apr 03, 2008 10:01 am) hdfatboy (Apr 03, 2008 3:40 pm)
#32 of 38 Re: Great review by hosmann95 Mar 13, 2008 (11:01 am)
Replying to: flanken (Mar 10, 2008 10:57 am) I have one child (4 y.o.) and bought a Mazda5 two years ago. I couldn't be happier. Of note, my other cars include a Porsche 911 Cabriolet, a Miata, and a Saab 9-5 Aero, so I'm a bit of a car nut... or at least just a nut with regards to the Saab. Anyway, I concur on the sliding doors. Loading my son in and out of his booster seat is so easy with this setup. With an SUV I'd have to lift him up into the car but with the "van" he can just walk in himself and I don't have to throw my back out trying to buckly him in as he's right at chest level. Best of all, the 5 was had with a manual transmission and is just really pleasant to drive and to live with on a daily basis of traffic, parking, loading/unloading, and just driving around town.