Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna?

[Christine]

I don't have either but I'll chime in anyway. When the Honda first came out, it was a MUCH better-equipped van than the Toyota. For years, my friend (who bought the Sienna) wished she had gone with the Honda for the bells-and-whistle factor only. Now, though, I think the Sienna has really outdone itself and might actually be a bit nicer than the Honda.

 

[KelNottAt]

I recommend paying extra for leather seats!! Life with children tends to be hard on cars and the leather is so much easier to clean!! (If only it would stay clean )

I totally agree. My '02 Odyssey has leather also and I'm convinced it's what keeps the interior in such great shape. Definitely one of the main reasons I said it still feels brand new in my first post.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We've been looking at the 2 vans, also and even though I haven't decided for sure, I'm leaning towards the Odyssey.

I want to ability to have an 8 pass van in better trim line. I think with the Sienna 8 pass is only available in the more basic trim lines. Of course that might not matter to you.

I'm not sure the tv size in the Sienna, but it's fairly large in the Odyssey (might be the same size). I like the Lazy Susan in the Odyssey. Also, there is a power driver's side power door in the better trim lines and the best trim line (Touring) has the power liftgate. The Touring model has the parking sensors. Any van with GPS has the camera in the back and I think XM radio (if you pay the monthly charge).

Before buying we will go and test drive each of the vans since I want to get a better idea how they each drive. They both seem like very nice vans and I think it really boils down to which van you like best.

 

[Allie322]

I have a 2001 Odyssey and love it. When I bought mine, the Toyota was not what it is today and really felt that the Honda was the way to go. If I were buying today, I think I would have a more difficult decision to make. One consideration to think about is fuel mileage. I don't know if there is a huge difference but I thought I'd read somewhere that Toyota strongly urged that the new Siennas use premium gasoline. I could be wrong on that though. Worth checking into. Good luck...car buying can be such a pain!

 

[golfgal]

I am a pretty tried and true Toyota fan but the new Odyssey has the fold and go middle seats along with the fold down rear seat that the Toyota doesn't have, but will probably come out with next year I am guessing. The Toyota has 8 passenger option that the Honda doesn't. It is a really tough choice. Oh, the one thing I don't like about the Honda that may or may not matter to you is that the ground clearance is really low so if you are driving through snow, etc. you "drag" on the ground.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Oh, the one thing I don't like about the Honda that may or may not matter to you is that the ground clearance is really low so if you are driving through snow, etc. you "drag" on the ground.

Ugh, that could get annoying, especially on those days when they don't plow our cul de sac all day. I could barely get my Subaru down the street a couple times last winter for that same reason.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I The Toyota has 8 passenger option that the Honda doesn't. It is a really tough choice.

The Odyssey does have an 8 passenger option

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

My parents have an Odyssey. They like it okay. It has had a couple of problems though and has been in the shop a couple of times. But for the most part I think they like it okay.

 

[janette]

I've had a Sienna for almost 2 yrs and really like it, didn't want all the bells & whistles and I was able to get the model I wanted with what was important to me. I did find that I wasn't able to get a great deal on it, they just don't sit on the lots or didn't at the time. It might be a little better now since more people are downsizing. MPG isn't bad thought. Never looked at the Odyssy - had a lemon Civic several years ago and have crossed Hondas off the list.

 

[Lanshark]

I have a 98 Sienna with 130,000 miles on it. It's been the best vehicle I've every owned. I ordered it from www.edmunds.com and it was delivered to my local dealer. I paid exactly 3% over cost according to Consumer Reports.

 

[cepmom]

I am a pretty tried and true Toyota fan but the new Odyssey has the fold and go middle seats along with the fold down rear seat that the Toyota doesn't have, but will probably come out with next year I am guessing. The Toyota has 8 passenger option that the Honda doesn't.

what are fold and go middle seats?? Like the ones that Dodge Caravan has?? I really like the fold and go seats in the Dodge vans, but that's about all I like about Dodge! We are trying to decide between Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna too. Dh is leaning more towards the Sienna. Sienna's do have the fold down rear seat (60/40 split fold in to the floor) and I like that the middle seats actually tip all the way forward so it is easier to get to the third row to help little ones buckle. The Honda that I looked at only the top part of the middle seat tipped forward so it was still hard to get to the third row.

 

[HOGFAN]

my neighbor has had nothing but trouble with her Honda. something about the transmission that they cant seem to fix.

 

[skiwee1]

I've have a 99 Odyssey and got it brand new. We have had NO problems with it at all. It drives great and as other Honda products do, holds up wonderfully. My SIL bought the Sienna last year and has regretted it ever since.

 

[cepmom]

I've have a 99 Odyssey and got it brand new. We have had NO problems with it at all. It drives great and as other Honda products do, holds up wonderfully. My SIL bought the Sienna last year and has regretted it ever since.

what is it about the Toyota that she regrets?? Has she had a lot of mechanical problems with it?

 

[DisneyPhD]

We got a Honda Oddesy Aug 2004, right after my 2nd DD was born. We were looking between the 2. The Honda dealer was willing to deal, the Toyota was not.

We love our Honda. No complaints at all. Got the DVD player. Still very happy.

 

[golfgal]

what are fold and go middle seats?? Like the ones that Dodge Caravan has?? I really like the fold and go seats in the Dodge vans, but that's about all I like about Dodge! We are trying to decide between Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna too. Dh is leaning more towards the Sienna. Sienna's do have the fold down rear seat (60/40 split fold in to the floor) and I like that the middle seats actually tip all the way forward so it is easier to get to the third row to help little ones buckle. The Honda that I looked at only the top part of the middle seat tipped forward so it was still hard to get to the third row.

Yes, they are like the Dodge vans middle seats. I think the rear seat in the Odyssey is a 60/40 split now, but previously it was a full bench fold up. The middle seats in the Sienna take some getting used to to fold up I guess.

 

[kadaten]

what are fold and go middle seats?? Like the ones that Dodge Caravan has?? I really like the fold and go seats in the Dodge vans, but that's about all I like about Dodge! We are trying to decide between Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna too. Dh is leaning more towards the Sienna. Sienna's do have the fold down rear seat (60/40 split fold in to the floor) and I like that the middle seats actually tip all the way forward so it is easier to get to the third row to help little ones buckle. The Honda that I looked at only the top part of the middle seat tipped forward so it was still hard to get to the third row.

Honda middle seats tip forward all the way, too. How else could I have gotten a triple dresser, a chest of drawers, a nightstand, and a large mirror all in the back at the same time? Oh...with a full-size stroller and a kid in a car seat in one of the middle seats! Up through 2004 (what I have now....the furniture thing was in '99) the seats tip all the way forward. On the 2005's it is stow-n-go which fold into the floor and completely out of the way. I *SO* want a 2005 with all the new bells and whistles but can't afford it at this moment.

 

[kaseyC]

Try the following Message Boards. One is for the Odyssey and the other is the Sienna. Let me warn you that some people are quite fanatical about their car choices. Lot's of good information can be found.


http://www.odyclub.com/forums/

http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/index.php?showforum=4

We were very happy owners of the a 2001 Honda Odyssey. We ar now very happy owners of a 2005 Toyota Sienna XLE Limited - It is really nice - leather, DVD, wireless headphones, navigation system and power side doors and tailgate.

 

[cepmom]

Honda middle seats tip forward all the way, too. How else could I have gotten a triple dresser, a chest of drawers, a nightstand, and a large mirror all in the back at the same time? Oh...with a full-size stroller and a kid in a car seat in one of the middle seats! Up through 2004 (what I have now....the furniture thing was in '99) the seats tip all the way forward. On the 2005's it is stow-n-go which fold into the floor and completely out of the way. I *SO* want a 2005 with all the new bells and whistles but can't afford it at this moment.

I guess what I meant about Toyota seats "tipping all the way forward" is that the whole seat lifted from the rear and "tipped" forward so the rear of the seat is detached from the floor. On the 2005 Honda I saw, the seat back folded forward, but the seat bottom stayed attached to the floor, therefore it was slightly more difficult to actually get in to the back seat (for me, anyway).The 2005 Honda middle seats did not fold in to the floor (like Dodge Caravan) I looked on Honda's website and it did not indicate that the 2006 models come equipped with middle "stow and go" seats....I guess I am missing something there

 

[ZachnElli]

The 2006 Sienna has power folding rear seats, like Ford has. I've had my Sienna (new style) since May 2003, never had any mechanical problems. They have run flat tires too, I did try those out!