2012 Sienna/Ody Compare

Guest

New member
I'd still consider importing. Really look at juggling the seats in order to get the car you want. If you think about it, how much longer are they going to ERF? Are you TTC cuz your siggy says your kid is FF at 4yr old already.

I think it was the OP who said it, but you'd be surprised at how many kids are willing to go in the 3rd row if it means they have the row all to themselves instead of sharing with a sibling.

I'd really start asking about RF Radians in Odysseys and trying to get it to work. This is a $44,000 vehicle. A fully loaded Sienna is about the same. You gotta REALLY like it. Especially if you keep it for a while. A kid can only ERF for so long. Even importing a seat is a LOT cheaper and prolly less hassle then selling a car you end up hating for one you should have gotten in the first place. Still, at $30,000+, I wouldn't "settle".
 
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elyrayday

New member
If DC2 is built the same or similarly to DS, our ERF options are the Radian or importing. I don't see myself climbing into the third row of the Odyssey every time we get in and out with DC2, so I'd end up importing to be able to put the child in a captains chair. I really like the Odyssey a lot better than the Sienna, but I don't know about choosing a vehicle knowing that it will result in importing a seat.

There seem to be some pretty big "ifs"... There is a decent chance that DC2 will be built entirely differently. Plus, they are designing new seats all the time, so there is a good chance you will have new options when DC2 gets to that point. If I were you I would choose whichever vehicle I liked the best. Odds are things will work out just fine.
 
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luckyclov

New member
The Radian installs crappy RFing in the Ody's captains chairs. When I did so, it was pre Angle Adjuster debut. I'm fairly certain the Angle Adjuster will get you more upright. It's worth a shot. Personally, I wouldn't import. It's illegal (well, importing isn't illegal - using the seat is illegal). Not to mention, if you did import (Multi Tech?), it'd have to go 3rd row anyways due to the bracing. So why not just put a Radian in the 3rd row?

RN installs like a dream in the Sienna. No AA needed.
 

MySillyKids

New member
The other thing is I plan on getting the Honda Care Warranty. It's the official Honda one. No 3rd party warranties for me (they ALL seem to go out of business or something horrible like that). Not the Honda EASY Care, but simply Honda Care. That goes up to 8 yrs and 120,000 miles. If you're out of CA, you can even buy them online from a handful of Honda dealerships for about $1270-1295 (depending on their volume). That's basically cost. CA and FL have weird laws apparently. I'm still trying to figure out what the going rate is in CA.

That's what DH did. We have 8 years on the van. It will be appealing to the next buyer, to have a factory 2 year warranty on it still. (we'll keep the van for 6 years)
 

tl01

New member
We're also test driving both. I really like the Odyssey better, mainly because of the functional 8th seat, but I couldn't get the RadianXT more upright than 53 degrees in the captains chairs:eek: I think that might be a deal-breaker on the Odyssey.

The angle adjuster makes a huge difference!
 

laudymama

New member
We're also test driving both. I really like the Odyssey better, mainly because of the functional 8th seat, but I couldn't get the RadianXT more upright than 53 degrees in the captains chairs:eek: I think that might be a deal-breaker on the Odyssey.

I've been watching this thread since we're currently in debate over Sienna vs. Odyssey. I hope this isn't too off topic but is this Radian install in the captains chairs in the Odyssey a problem in the older generations (like 2008/2009)? Thought we had settled on searching for an '08 Ody until seeing this. Now I am questioning it since ds is any minute from outgrowing his advocate with an xtsl waiting in the wings!
 

jeno

Senior Community Member
Drove the Ody Touring Elite today. The sales guy totally ruined it for me. I may need to drive across town to a different dealership.

I need to go back and sit in the rear seats of the Sienna. I was surprised how cramped the Ody felt. I'm almost willing to guess that there was less room front to back in the center row than in my MDX. I thought the center seat would move more but I found that to be pretty insignificant. And another thing that is bothering me with van designs in general is that it seems really difficult to load a RFacing rider because the sliding door hinders access to the outboard seat.
 

luckyclov

New member
Drove the Ody Touring Elite today. The sales guy totally ruined it for me. I may need to drive across town to a different dealership.

I need to go back and sit in the rear seats of the Sienna. I was surprised how cramped the Ody felt. I'm almost willing to guess that there was less room front to back in the center row than in my MDX. I thought the center seat would move more but I found that to be pretty insignificant. And another thing that is bothering me with van designs in general is that it seems really difficult to load a RFacing rider because the sliding door hinders access to the outboard seat.
I rode a good portion of a 1,000 mile (each way) road trip outboard 3rd row, with a PWSG in the center, and I was comfortable. I even slept (something I typically can't do in a vehicle) for awhile. I like the head support back there over the Ody (the Sienna's 3rd row outboard head rests do not come off, but they do flip up/down). The captain's chair in front of me (with a FR85 in it) was only a few clicks forward (the passenger seat is all the way back, all the time). It should be noted, however, that I am only 5-foot-2.

Also worth mentioning, is that, if using lower anchors to install, Toyota requires the captains chairs to be pushed all the way back, so this also puts the chair a bit behind the door panel/pillar. I've never actually called Toyota to ask *why*, so I don't budge there. For now. I have a RF Radian installed with LATCH for my 25 month old and don't have an issue loading/unloading at all. But I did, especially as he got bigger, when I had the MA70 (high profile) there.
 

Guest

New member
I rode a good portion of a 1,000 mile (each way) road trip outboard 3rd row, with a PWSG in the center, and I was comfortable. I even slept (something I typically can't do in a vehicle) for awhile. I like the head support back there over the Ody (the Sienna's 3rd row outboard head rests do not come off, but they do flip up/down). The captain's chair in front of me (with a FR85 in it) was only a few clicks forward (the passenger seat is all the way back, all the time). It should be noted, however, that I am only 5-foot-2.

Also worth mentioning, is that, if using lower anchors to install, Toyota requires the captains chairs to be pushed all the way back, so this also puts the chair a bit behind the door panel/pillar. I've never actually called Toyota to ask *why*, so I don't budge there. For now. I have a RF Radian installed with LATCH for my 25 month old and don't have an issue loading/unloading at all. But I did, especially as he got bigger, when I had the MA70 (high profile) there.

I did a 400 mile ride (SoCal to NorCal) alternating between the 3rd row and 2nd row of the Sienna. That was pretty horrible. Pretty much sealed it against the Sienna. DW agreed. I'm 5'7" and DW is 5'2" or so. Back to back comparisons at dealers confirmed it.

You really gotta try it out yourself cuz everyone is different, are gonna ride with different sized people, etc. DW has a long torso and is more comfortable sitting a certain way. I'm extremely leggy, so I prefer sitting another way. Seat angle and shape is more important for her. Legroom is more important for me.
 

jeno

Senior Community Member
For those owners with booster riders, where do you put them in your vans? Why?

I'm curious if the 2nd row center seat on the Ody accommodates a booster. Does it block the driver's view?
 

luckyclov

New member
For those owners with booster riders, where do you put them in your vans? Why?

I'm curious if the 2nd row center seat on the Ody accommodates a booster. Does it block the driver's view?
My DS1 is 9 years old and prefers to ride in a HBB. He's outgrown all HBBs except the FR85 in booster mode and the PWSG/L. So, he rides in a PWSG in my vehicle. I did not want a 3 across. I wanted my harnessed kids in captains chairs and my booster rider center 3rd row. In the Ody, it was a no-go in both 3rd row outboard positions AND center position. In the Sienna, the PWSG fit outboard 3rd row, but the side closest to the window touched the ceiling and annoyed me. He rides center 3rd row - great fit AND he still has room to extend the PWSG to its fullest height without ceiling "interference".

Yes, my view is partially obstructed by him riding center (welcome to life with big kids:p), but I still have plenty visibility - even with the outboard headrests fully upright (which I prefer them to be, in order to help "contain" cargo) - that I have yet to encounter an issue. Even with tailgating motorcyclists. I can see inbetween and above. I have a rear-view camera and use my side view mirrors frequently. I had quite a bit more trouble feeling comfortable with my visibility in the Ody (but, again, I prefer the headrests to be extended/upright in the 3rd row).

On paper, there's an inch difference in height between the Sienna and Ody, so it doesn't seem like much, but for us, with a big kid in a HBB, it made a significant difference.
 
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jeno

Senior Community Member
Thank you. That was helpful. Wouldn't you know that those are the same 2 boosters we have. I'll plan to bring the Parkway with us when I go back. This booster stuff is all new to me. They do take up a lot of room. My son is only 47/48", but he's near the top of the Parkway settings already due to his big head. I'm holding onto my FR85 because I think we're going to need it down the road.
 

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