Odyssey or Sienna

[2 blueberry eye girls]

I know I cant go wrong with either choice but I need help. We are looking at 2009s models with Nav and Dvd system in there. Both dealers sell the vans at the same price. We have a 06 Pilot for trade in. We have not told the dealer how much we owe on the pilot. But they will give us what we owe plus more to help "seal the deal". we have not had the pilot appraised at toyota yet. We have 2 kids, 5yr old FF in GN, and 2.5yr old RF wizard. I do car pool anther child who is 5 and rides in GN. When my 5yr old out grows the GN I am planning on moving her back to the Regent. We are also trying to conceive child number 3. we have drove both vans and like them both. We have seen the honda gets 420 high way miles on a tank of a gas while toyota gets 356 high way miles on a tank of gas. We do 3 trips a year from SC to RI and like the gas to go as far as it can. We have tried the other vans that are out there and do not care for them like we do these 2. Can someone tip the scales for us and say to go with this one..... thanks for any help and any input that you give.

[Melanie]

Would you ever want to have all three kids in the second row? If so, the 8 pass Sienna works much better than the Odyssey.

That's something I wish I could do with my current van. We have three kids and it's nice to be able to separate them sometimes. But it would also be nice to be able to have them all in the same row sometimes. My oldest goes in the third row and she's too far away to have a real conversation with. It would also be nice to have all three in one row so the third row could be folded for cargo on trips.

[2 blueberry eye girls]

If we get the 8pass. Seinna then we do not get the DVD player. Which for us is a make or break deal for us. We only use the DVD on the trips. Also when we do make the trip, the non driver sits in the back with the kids to give them stuff and help keep the kids happy. I do see your point though. I also know the little seat in the 2ed row of the honda is really for kids not for adults. We could sit there for short rides if our kids wanted us back there with them, but not for the road trip. Unless we can get dvd and nav system installed in the 8 pass. then that is a possibility. We do have a portable dvd system and portable nav system, but it would be nice to have it installed in the car.

[CPSDarren]

For the cost of most factory DVD players, you can buy each kid their own portable a few times over. Eliminates any fighting over what to watch, and no worries about spending hundreds or thousands to repair a broken factory DVD after the warranty expires;-) Plus, you can bring the portables into the hotel on roadtrips also!

Similarly, the only reason I'd want a factory NAV system is for the rear view camera integration, though the voice commands are nice, too. Just personal preference, of course.

I'd like to trade in my Odyssey for something more fuel efficient like a Mazda5 or a Highlander Hybrid, but I need to get my wife into a safer car, first!

[SafeandSecureBaby]

We own a Sienna although we looked long and hard at the Honda. The Sienna has been the best car we have ever owned. Nav and DVD were a must. The back up camera is awesome as is the sonar. Long trips with Laser guided cruise control is also great. I'm biased, but I'd go with the Sienna again.

The Honda was noisier than the Sienna, especially with the air on high. It was like a wind tunnel. Not so with the Sienna. Good luck and happy driving.

[WhatAboutPuppy]

The Honda was noisier than the Sienna, especially with the air on high. It was like a wind tunnel. Not so with the Sienna.

This would be a HUGE deal for me. If I'm driving a minivan with kids in the 3rd row I want to hear them!! I want to be able to talk with the children or adults anywhere in the car. Why would I pay that much for so many features and have a noisy fan that needed to be upgraded... :D

[MomE]

I tend to check crash ratings at both IIHS and safercar.gov.

I won't get an Odyssey because of this side impact result for rear passengers(from IIHS): "Measures taken from the dummy indicate that rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would be possible in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low."

That's just not something that sits well with me (and I can't see how a top safety pic can have those results). But everyone has to decide if they can live with that.


To be fair, IIHS says the dummy's head hit the B pillar with low acceleration in frontal crash tests in the Sienna.


So I've been looking at minivans, and what's acceptable to me (who already has brain damage from a head hit in an accident) is the Sienna. Though in all likelihood I won't end up getting a minivan....

[jujumum]

I would choose a Sienna over an Odyssey - the Odyssey's have been known for transmission issues. My friend's late model need a new transmission and its paint started peeling off after only 2 years, too. Luckily it was still under warranty.

I also wouldn't pay the extra $800 or whatever it is for an installed DVD player when portables work fine. But, I'm cheap.;)

[sirrahn]

For the cost of most factory DVD players, you can buy each kid their own portable a few times over. Eliminates any fighting over what to watch, and no worries about spending hundreds or thousands to repair a broken factory DVD after the warranty expires;-) Plus, you can bring the portables into the hotel on roadtrips also!

Similarly, the only reason I'd want a factory NAV system is for the rear view camera integration, though the voice commands are nice, too. Just personal preference, of course.

:yeahthat: I've never been able to figure out why it makes any sense to buy those things with a vehicle when it's so much cheaper and gives you so much more flexibility to get them separately....especially if you're really only going to use the DVD for trips.

As for the 2 vans I love my 8 passenger Sienna!

[codex57]

8 seater, then Sienna hands down

7 seater, then I think I prefer the Odyssey (little things add up to a much more enjoyable minivan experience with the Ody).

We've recently decided to go with the 8 seater Sienna, even tho you can't get the nicer options on it (altho we're waiting for the new model so maybe that will change). I looked into it briefly. There are nice aftermarket nav systems that cost the same as the factory one (current factory one kinda sucks IMO; least compared to the one in my Lexus and compared to what Honda gives you). Aftermarket navis can have integrated backup cameras as well. You can get rear DVD on teh 8 seater Sienna I believe, but aftermarket has TONS of great options too. My BIL has a fully loaded Limited Sienna and I'm not overly impressed with the rear dvd entertainment system either so aftermarket is fine with me.

[NannyMom]

the 8 passenger Sienna has 5 sets of LATCH. The Odyssey only has 3 (at least the 2006 does, not sure if that changed). Not that I use all my latch sets, but I like having them. The 3 2nd row seats all have LATCH. I love my Sienna

[mommy-medic]

Sienna!

The Toyota Sienna is the reason Lexus doesn't make a minivan :)

[bubbaray]

I would choose a Sienna over an Odyssey - the Odyssey's have been known for transmission issues.

The Ody tranny's were changed for 2005 and onward. The tranny problems are with the older Ody's.

[bubbaray]

Not sure if this applies to the '09s, but the Siennas got poor rear crash test ratings, whereas the Odys didn't.

I love my '05 Ody. Wouldn't change a thing. I love the windtunnel effect -- how the heck else do you drown out the screaming little people?

Seriously, though, the two vehicles are great, they are just quite different. The handling is different. The finishing is different. Some of the options are different. Just pick the one you like best and drive off happy.

ETA: ITA with Darren re the factory vs aftermarket DVD and Nav. I don't have either and I don't miss them. We do long road trips often. And, I've been in the +8 seat of the Ody on many many MANY long road trips. I'm 5'9" and fit with no problems. I'm fairy slim, though. I think its a tighter squeeze for sMIL. LOL. Shucks, guess we can't take her on a long road trip.... ;)

[2 blueberry eye girls]

We like to have the DVD installed because its once less thing to go flying in an accident, and one less thing to worry about bringing along. I do see all of your points though. It is rather silly to spend 1k on a dvd system when you can buy a portable for $250. Proble cheaper, I have not priced them out. Crash test's do mean alot to me. Its our lives we are talking about. I was unawear of the side impact result on the honda. Yet I believe its rated 4 stars for side impact. I do know the Sienna did get poor rear crash test ratings. I look at it as rear crashed do not happen at high rates of speed, but they do happen. As far as LATCH goes, I am fine with installing with seatbelts. As long as I have my Tethers I am okay.

[bubbaray]

I've never heard that about the Ody for side impact.

Here is the IIHS info: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=80

There was a horrible accident here about 6m ago, a lady stopped her Sienna in the HOV lane in foggy conditions. The 2 boys in the 3rd row were killed. It was horrible, that van looked more like a Yaris than a Sienna after the accident. There was absolutely nothing left of the 3rd row.

ETA: We tried a portable DVD and d/n really like it. Plus, DD#2 still rides RFg, so a factory DVD woudln't work for us anyway.

[NannyMom]

We like to have the DVD installed because its once less thing to go flying in an accident, and one less thing to worry about bringing along. I do see all of your points though. It is rather silly to spend 1k on a dvd system when you can buy a portable for $250. Proble cheaper, I have not priced them out. Crash test's do mean alot to me. Its our lives we are talking about. I was unawear of the side impact result on the honda. Yet I believe its rated 4 stars for side impact. I do know the Sienna did get poor rear crash test ratings. I look at it as rear crashed do not happen at high rates of speed, but they do happen. As far as LATCH goes, I am fine with installing with seatbelts. As long as I have my Tethers I am okay.

Not sure about the 2009, but in recent years, the 3rd row outboard TAs are not on the back of the seat. The tethers must stretch across the cargo area if you need to use them. THe center is on the seatback though. No TA for the center seat (2nd row).

In the Sienna, there are TAs for every seat except 3rd row driver's side.

[celtic1885]

Not sure about the 2009, but in recent years, the 3rd row outboard TAs are not on the back of the seat. The tethers must stretch across the cargo area if you need to use them. THe center is on the seatback though. No TA for the center seat (2nd row).

In the Sienna, there are TAs for every seat except 3rd row driver's side.


did you mean on the Oddy? I shopped/test drove an '06 today and it had 2 TA on the back of the third row seats.

[bubbaray]

The '06 and newer Ody's have 2 TTs on the back of the outboard 3rd row seats and another TT for the center 3rd row across the cargo area.

[bobandjess99]

I've

ETA: We tried a portable DVD and d/n really like it. Plus, DD#2 still rides RFg, so a factory DVD woudln't work for us anyway.

Yes this...ds will RF for another 3 years or so, so nothing factory installed would work for him anyway....

[2 blueberry eye girls]

Not sure about the 2009, but in recent years, the 3rd row outboard TAs are not on the back of the seat. The tethers must stretch across the cargo area if you need to use them. THe center is on the seatback though. No TA for the center seat (2nd row).

In the Sienna, there are TAs for every seat except 3rd row driver's side.

The dealer ship let me take the Odyssey home and I saw the TA were on the back of the seat and not the cargo area


I've never heard that about the Ody for side impact.

Here is the IIHS info: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=80

There was a horrible accident here about 6m ago, a lady stopped her Sienna in the HOV lane in foggy conditions. The 2 boys in the 3rd row were killed. It was horrible, that van looked more like a Yaris than a Sienna after the accident. There was absolutely nothing left of the 3rd row.

ETA: We tried a portable DVD and d/n really like it. Plus, DD#2 still rides RFg, so a factory DVD woudln't work for us anyway.
I have look at the Side impact for Odyssey and did see that if in a side impact rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would be possible in a crash of this severity. In the Sienna it was low injury for side impact
I guess when it come to crashes in these two models I need to pick my poison. Go with safety of the Sienna on side impact but get poor rear safety, or go with Odyssey and get hurt on side impact.

[heyheykk13]

My mom drives an 06 Honda Odyssey EX-L, she loves it! It has a very smooth ride. I like that you can move the 2nd row captain chair to the middle but that would really only apply if you had one child. I didn't really like the front styling of the Sienna. We didn't test drive one so I cant say much about the drive. My vote would be for the Oddy. Just my :twocents:

[CPSDarren]

The dealer ship let me take the Odyssey home and I saw the TA were on the back of the seat and not the cargo area



I have look at the Side impact for Odyssey and did see that if in a side impact rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would be possible in a crash of this severity. In the Sienna it was low injury for side impact
I guess when it come to crashes in these two models I need to pick my poison. Go with safety of the Sienna on side impact but get poor rear safety, or go with Odyssey and get hurt on side impact.

Seriously, this is splitting very fine hairs. The Odyssey got a top overall side impact rating from the IIHS and received merely an "acceptable" rating in that particular sub-category. The Odyssey is an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" for minivans and gets all 5-star ratings from the NHTSA. It also provides rollover protection and sensors for all three rows of seating.

The Sienna is similarly a very good safety performer. The rear impact rating is not a crash test like the frontal and side ratings. It's a subjective evaluation of vehicle seats and head restraints in typical settings for an average sized male. If you can adjust the seat and head restraint correctly, I would not consider this an issue given the variables involved. Despite the Sienna's 4-star driver rating from the NHTSA, it's a top safety choice all around. 4-stars is still a respectable result.

Both these minivans are among the safest vehicles on the road. You are not picking a poison either way. There are plenty of factors that differentiate the Odyssey and Sienna, but there's not a big difference in safety between them.

[CPSDarren]

Here's an old review of mine on the choice between the two. It applies to 2006 models, but there haven't been major changes to either one since then. There have been some minor updates that may be important to you, of course.

http://www.epinions.com/review/2006_Honda_Odyssey/content_208641101444

[NannyMom]

did you mean on the Oddy? I shopped/test drove an '06 today and it had 2 TA on the back of the third row seats.

The '06 and newer Ody's have 2 TTs on the back of the outboard 3rd row seats and another TT for the center 3rd row across the cargo area.

Hmm...maybe I got them confused?

Were pre06 the opposite?

[CPSDarren]

Hmm...maybe I got them confused?

Were pre06 the opposite?

The 1999-2004 Odyssey had 1 standard and 2 optional top tether anchors that all required the strap to route through the cargo area. The 2005 model had only a single, center third row tether anchor.

[bubbaray]

2005 Ody's had 1 3rd row TT across the center of the cargo area.

2006 - 2008 had 2 3rd row TTs on the back of the 3rd row seats in the 2 outboard positions and a center TT across the cargo area.

I'm not 100% sure about the 2009. I thought they were the same TT positions as the 2006-08, but I could be wrong. The Ody had some slight cosmetic changes for 2009.

The 3rd row center TT that is across the cargo area is kinda hard to see and could easily be missed when you're checking out vehicles at a dealer. The 2 outboard ones on the back of the seats are clearly visible.

HTH

[bubbaray]

Drat, Darren beat me to it. LOL. :D

[2 blueberry eye girls]

tomorrow my husband and I and the girls will be test driving the Sienna. I have driven the Odyssey and that was thursday for a few hours, they let me take it. I dont know if the toyota dealership will let me drive it for a few hours. According to the sales person we are dealing with at toyota, they are having a hard time keeping sienna's in stock. They have 2 models there. one is 2009 and the other is 2010. In the end it will come down to who ever will give is the best deal and the best trade in. My husband and i love both vans and there is nothing tipping the scale saying to get "this van" I will keep you all posted

[celtic1885]

Can't wait to see what your opinions of the Sienna are. I test drove an Oddy on Friday (fell in love with it, great deal but someone had already put a deposit down on it :( and actually bought it today) and am debating driving a Sienna on Monday. I loved my Honda so I think I'm a little biased. My brother has a Toyota so he leans that way.

Like you - in the end it's going to come down to whichever one has the options I want, best deal and best trade in offers.

[2 blueberry eye girls]

I drove the Sienna today for about 10minish. It drove fine and had good pick up speed. We loved the center console between the driver and passenger seat. Odyssey has a tray between the seats. I hated the sound system. I did play with it but it sounded high pitch and it had no base to it. Not impressed with the stero. At our dealership, they had no Sienna with Nav and dvd. They could install one. We looked at a car that had navigation in it with the upgraded sound system. We did not like it because it was the touch screen for the radio and Nav system. You controlled the volume and changing the station on the touch screen. I did like how to open the sliding doors, it was 2buttons on the roof between the passenger and driver and not on the left side of the steering wheel like in the odyssey. But thats a small thing. The Toyota dealership will give us 1k more for trade in vs honda. We will go to honda tomorrow to see what they can do for us. Honda is closed here on Sundays. If any body has any input on the touch screen controls I would love to here them and if you could post a picture if it was factory installed.

[codex57]

I control volume with a rotary dial on my BIL's Sienna. He's got Navi and the rear DVD entertainment system.

That said, I'm not a huge fan of the navi/entertainment system. I have a hard time getting it to do what I want and I'm fairly tech savvy. One other thing that really bugs me is that it requires you to hit "I agree" on a warning page before the map shows up. I'd rather go aftermarket.

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/7_passenger_family_haulers/2009_toyota_sienna_limited_awd_short_take_road_tes t/2009_toyota_sienna_limited_awd/toysie_mfr_09_9/2078111-1-eng-US/toysie_mfr_09_9_gallery_image_large.jpg

[Jeanum]

Our portable Garmin GPS units have a warning acceptance clicky box that shows up every time we boot up. It's probably inevitable on most GPS units depending on their respective legal departments. :twocents: We prefer the portable units for GPS and DVDs because of their portability and ability to use them in any car.

[2 blueberry eye girls]

Thank you very much for taking your time to take a picture for me. It does help to see what it looks like. The problem is, they dont have one instock that has nav and dvd. They would have to uninstall whatever is in there now and reinstall one that has nav and dvd. We dont know with the new install if we could use the remote buttons on the steering wheel. Our sales guy show us a car that had nav and the eclipse radio system. The radio controls were on the touch screen. We really do not like the idea of having a touch screen radio. Not ideal with kids to me, and the touch screens can be to touchy. We do have a portable Dvd and Nav system, but we want one in the car this time around. We only use the dvd on our trips back home and the nav gets used proble one - two times a month if we are going somewhere new. We are going to the honda dealer tonight to see if they will give us more for our trade in and what price they have for the nav and dvd, because they have them in stock and ready to buy.

[codex57]

To be honest, I just took a pic from car and driver. The pro pics are way better than what I can take. My BIL's car is pretty filthy too (3 kids) so you wouldn't wanna see it.

Btw the radio controls on the touch screen and the steering wheel buttons, it's not a big deal to me. I can control tuning by dials, but once you set the presets, it's no big deal to go through the screen. Eclipse is supposed to have a good system, but the Honda one is pretty famous for being an awesome factory system.

My Garmin has a warning, but it lets you override "safe" mode and after that it'll just boot up without a warning.

[Jennifer mom to my 7]

Thank you very much for taking your time to take a picture for me. It does help to see what it looks like. The problem is, they dont have one instock that has nav and dvd. They would have to uninstall whatever is in there now and reinstall one that has nav and dvd. We dont know with the new install if we could use the remote buttons on the steering wheel. Our sales guy show us a car that had nav and the eclipse radio system. The radio controls were on the touch screen. We really do not like the idea of having a touch screen radio. Not ideal with kids to me, and the touch screens can be to touchy. We do have a portable Dvd and Nav system, but we want one in the car this time around. We only use the dvd on our trips back home and the nav gets used proble one - two times a month if we are going somewhere new. We are going to the honda dealer tonight to see if they will give us more for our trade in and what price they have for the nav and dvd, because they have them in stock and ready to buy.

My dealer tried to get us to take the vehicle on the lot, but it was white and I wanted red:whistle: Guess what? They found a vehicle that was red at another dealer and had it shipped in. Didn't take long either:)

[CPSDarren]

Be very careful with dealer installed accessories. If it is is a third party accessory, it will not be covered by Toyota as part of your warranty. Dealers are notorious for putting in cheap junk to meet a customer's requirement, and they make more money on it than if they had done a dealer search or factory order. Putting in a custom sunroof is a classic scam. Always insist stuff like this is factory installed or a genuine Toyota accessory that is covered under the vehicle's warranty (it usually is if installed at the time of delivery by the dealer).

[codex57]

Eclipse is a good brand though. Of course, you have no idea how good the installer is cuz it's likely subcontracted out. You're facing that issue anyways if you go aftermarket yourself. Since the factory one on the Sienna isn't all that great, you don't have a good option either way but I have no problems going aftermarket since the factory one isn't that good so not really worth the cost.

But yeah, check cnet or crutchfield for reviews on what they're putting in before you buy.

[CPSDarren]

I'd definitely shop around before going with third party electronics. Since it's aftermarket, there's no advantage to having the dealer do it, unless you need it included for financing. You could always have a reputable mobile electronics store do it later and then you don't have to deal with finger pointing between dealer and third party if it breaks. That also gives you time to find one you like. What the dealer throws in may be just as bad or worse than factory unit and may or may not integrate with other factory electronics. You could also save the bucks and do it yourself.

[2 blueberry eye girls]

We went with the Odyssey 4DR EX-L R&N. It has what we wanted. Dvd and Nav system. Honda also beat the price of the Toyota with out us telling them what toyota would do for us. We are very happy with the new kid mobile. I must admit once I knew we were going through with buying the van, I did cry about losing the Pilot. It was our first family car. I felt guilty for taking it from the cold northeast with 4wheel drive and leaving it in the charleston heat. It really hurts. My 5yr old was upset to. She did not see me cry. But she thought daddy was taking the pilot and hated leaving it. She even woke up this morning asking when are we getting the pilot back. It will take some time but its the right choice for traveling back home with all our crap in the back. Another bonus is no one else drove this van. It had 4mi on it when our sales person picked it up. and 8mi when we left the dealership. We have been one of 3 drivers in the car, makes me feel special. My Pilot had 50mi on it when we bought it.

[CPSDarren]

Congrats on the new wheels!

Be sure to check www.Odyclub.com if you have any questions or issues. If you consider an extended warranty, there's a forum dedicated to those as you can find Honda warranties from Honda dealers on the internet for a big discount over the MSRP your local dealer would charge. At internet pricing, they aren't a bad deal, though maybe still not quite a good deal either.

[codex57]

Congrats! Yeah, I bought my warranty for the truck from some dealer in Tennessee IIRC. Supposedly $25 over cost. I think it was over a grand cheaper than what my dealer wanted. Unlike most extended warranties, it's actually from Honda Motor Co. so any Honda dealer can see that I have it and any dealer repair work can be checked. Just make sure you buy it w/in the first 1000 miles or like 30 days or something like that.

[2 blueberry eye girls]

They did offer warrentys. I thought we had to take them when we signed the papers. I was unawear we could buy warrentys after we bought. Either way we said no to all warrentys. I will be checking out the odyssey club.
Thank you everyone for all your input in helping us pick the "kid Mobile" thats what I am calling it for the moment. I love this website and all it does to promote the safty of our kids.

[CPSDarren]

It used to be that you could buy a Honda extended warranty any time until your 3 year/36k warranty expired, but they added some surcharge if you waited too long after purchase. Also, the extended warranties include roadside assistance, so that could be an incentive to buy sooner rather than later. Odyclub will have all the answers and also who has the best prices right now if this is of interest to you. When you get them at or near cost, I suspect they aren't a complete ripoff, as they are if you pay full price.