Is the Odyssey really the safest minivan

LauraD · Apr 27, 2014

The Honda Odyssey is the only minivan on the 2014 IIHS Top Safety Pick list. As such, I am inclined to choose it over its competitors (Sienna, Caravan/Town& Country) based on safety alone, as that is the most important feature to me.

That said, the Odyssey is the most expensive choice, so I just want to know if it really is safer than the Sienna or the Caravan. What do other people think? Can anyone point me to some links, stats etc?

I don't mind spending the extra $ if it really is the safest, but I also don't want to just throw my money out, if maybe it isn't really any safer than the others.

Thoughts?

tl01 · Apr 27, 2014

The other ones have not been updated since the IIHS small overlap testing began. I am inclined to believe that the other minivans won't fare as well in that test as the odyssey... I don't have any direct proof though. Generally though, the small overlap test is very rigorous and unless the vehicle was built for that test then it doesn't usually do very well.

I know the 2011-2013 ody didn't do well in honda's own testing for the small overlap but IIHS didn't test it.

I have a 2013 and am itching to trade in mine for a 2014.

seb3244 · Apr 27, 2014

tl01 said:
The other ones have not been updated since the IIHS small overlap testing began. I am inclined to believe that the other minivans won't fare as well in that test as the odyssey... I don't have any direct proof though. Generally though, the small overlap test is very rigorous and unless the vehicle was built for that test then it doesn't usually do very well. I know the 2011-2013 ody didn't do well in honda's own testing for the small overlap but IIHS didn't test it. I have a 2013 and am itching to trade in mine for a 2014.

What do you mean 'the small overlap'?

TechnoGranola · Apr 28, 2014

seb3244 said:
What do you mean 'the small overlap'?

It's an IIHS frontal crash test.

http://safety.trw.com/whats-a-small-overlap-frontal-crash-test/1007/ http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/ratings-info/frontal-crash-tests

tl01 · Apr 28, 2014

TechnoGranola said:
It's an IIHS frontal crash test.

http://safety.trw.com/whats-a-small-overlap-frontal-crash-test/1007/ http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/ratings-info/frontal-crash-tests

What she said... The small overlap test is the latest component considered in whether a car is a top safety pick or not.

lgenne · Apr 28, 2014

Aside from the small overlap test, how many kids in what kinds of car seats are you likely to cart around? How many adults?

The Odyssey is far more car seat friendly than the other two as well. We have a 2013, and the higher price was more than worth it for me, even without the great small overlap rating.

CarSafetyGuy · Apr 28, 2014

LauraD said:
The Honda Odyssey is the only minivan on the 2014 IIHS Top Safety Pick list. As such, I am inclined to choose it over its competitors (Sienna, Caravan/Town& Country) based on safety alone, as that is the most important feature to me.

That said, the Odyssey is the most expensive choice, so I just want to know if it really is safer than the Sienna or the Caravan. What do other people think? Can anyone point me to some links, stats etc?

I don't mind spending the extra $ if it really is the safest, but I also don't want to just throw my money out, if maybe it isn't really any safer than the others.

Thoughts?

In my books, there's no safer minivan you can buy today. Why?

It's the only tested minivan so far with an official small overlap score, which puts it ahead of its primary competitor, the Sienna.

Besides that, it's the same as its competitors in terms of a 4000+ lb curb weight, ESC, head airbags for all three rows, and good frontal, side, and roof scores.

Is the Odyssey really the safest minivan

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