Debating minivans

LDB

Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
2,476
Location
Houston(ish), Texas
I'm debating going from my CR-V to an Odyssey or a Sienna. I've found a 2024 cypress green Sienna Limited that is a great looking vehicle and comparing with a 2025 radiant red Odyssey Touring. The Sienna wins the mpg fight by a good margin, 36/36/36 to 19/28/22. I drive 98% local short hops so I'd be pretty much 36 or 19 all the time. The Sienna also has ventilated seats which would be nice at least half the time around Houston. The Honda is about $4k less expensive though. I presume both would be similarly reliable, barring getting the one lemon of the month. I don't know enough about the two engines to lean either way. Edmunds suggests maint/repair is about $15-20 a month higher on Toyota and insurance about $5 a month less so almost a wash. Anyone have experience with either they'd like to share? Thanks for any and all input.
 
If you do short drives and don't need the power of the Odyssey then the Sienna will pay for itself in fuel savings in short order. As far as reliability both are good choices.
 
I'll never do enough miles to get to the timing belt although that would be a definite factor if I drove more. I've had my car 9 months tomorrow and will have 3000 miles for a year, give or take a mile or three at the current rate. I don't see that changing any. So it would take many many years to recover the $3k plus extra of the Sienna. Both are definitely factors important in most cases but not so much with my unique use. I do appreciate the replies and the extra thinking they provide. Looking forward to more.
 
Short trips? Toyota. Depending where you live, even 19 might be a stretch.
Sienna will do in the city 33 to 38, depends.
On open road, Odyssey hands down.
 
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Yes, my CR-V is a chain. It's the belt in the Odyssey that I'll never do enough miles to change. Unless I live and drive until I'm 98-99 that is. I'm alone driving about 99% of the time, 1 passenger up front 0.97% and 2 or more 0.03% so probably ok on crash resistance. I like that lower console area. My Kleenex box will fit just right.
 
I'd do it. The Odyssey ones aren't a big deal.
Thats the dad spirit.

If you dont care about the latest mom and dad toys, or the mpg, the previous gen Sienna is a better value, save yourself $20k. Its a Toyota so its good for 20+ years.

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Toyota would be my choice with Honda’s declining reliability as of late.

You didn’t specify if children are involved with the motivation to switch. Sliding doors are a game changer. So much better if you have children, not only due to easier access, but loading things like car seats is vastly better
 
Does the Honda 3.5 cylinders turn on and off wearing out the motor mounts? I think the Sienna is good but wonder if those really short trips would ensure good hybrid battery life. Something to look into. I have the previous generation V6 and like it. I would think the Honda would have better handling.
 
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After discussion with my local shop I value and research with insurance I'm leaning toward the Honda Pilot instead of a minivan.
 
I would lean strongly towards the sienna. No ill against the odyssey, one saved my family’s life. But I also spent a fair amount of time helping a friend with a ‘14 work with the dealer over a major braking problem (pedal would randomly simply sink to the floor like there was nothing there) and between uncertain diagnostics, national parts back order, and extremely high parts costs that made the parts canon unsuitable, she sold it.

There are three late model Toyota products in my family right now and they have been excellent vehicles.
 
Toyota would be my choice with Honda’s declining reliability as of late.

Here's an interesting graphic. Warranty accrual rate as a % of sales. I do wonder how the Tundra engine failures will influence this for 2024 and 2025. Some issues are model specific and not brand-wide, so this is not super pertinent for Odyssey vs Sienna, but I found it interesting.

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After discussion with my local shop I value and research with insurance I'm leaning toward the Honda Pilot instead of a minivan.
IMO, the Pilot is ok if it's big enough.

We went from an Odyssey to a Pilot. Pilot is better on snow and has that crossover mom style. Odyssey has more space.

I'm a fan of hybrids, so I would have picked the Sienna.

Honda needs to make a bigger hybrid system to replace the J35 in the Odyssey/Pilot/Ridgeline!
 
A Pilot is really too big, as is the Odyssey. I'm flying solo about 99% of the time, with my best half about 0.97% and with she and daughter maybe 0.03% so anything bigger than a Smart car is too big. We could use her car for the 0.03% three seat needs. :) But the longer wheelbase and wider stance of the Pilot should give a more comfortable and I'm told also a quieter ride than my CR-V. And maybe another inch or two ride height and visibility boost too if I'm lucky.
 
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