My CR-V is AWD. The Pilot is FWD. I don't need AWD for south Houston although they are saying we may get a full inch of snow in the next several days. Good thing I still have the set of chains from my trucking days. 
Debating minivans
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Correct. I have since decided to go with the Honda Pilot. It should give me a good ride/handling upgrade from my CR-V and be a little easier to maneuver than the Odyssey.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
My son's best friend's mom has put 100k miles on her 2019 Odyssey. It's been, in her words, a POS. Always at the dealership for issues.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Crappy brakes.
Sunroof issues (if needs to be replaced $$$$).
Tailgate hinges made out of Reynolds aluminum kitchen foil. If you bend them, and it is common, $5,000+.
Suspension needs overhaul at 80-100k.
If timing cover leaks and you get estimate, you will wish you own BMW M5 with S63 V8 to save on maintenance.
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I don’t understand why you want a bigger vehicle, and a new one at that, when:
1. You drive solo most of the time
2. You rarely have two people
3. You only drive 3,000 miles a year, mostly short trips
And -
Your current vehicle is a 2024 and already fits every one of your use cases.
1. You drive solo most of the time
2. You rarely have two people
3. You only drive 3,000 miles a year, mostly short trips
And -
Your current vehicle is a 2024 and already fits every one of your use cases.
I want a more comfortable and a quieter ride, both of which the Pilot is reported to give comparatively.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I would rent through Turo car for few days. Minivans are practical, but doesn’t mean they are more comfortable for driver than many other vehicles. It is stretched Accord or Camry. There are limits what those platforms can do. You want find in them any nice seats. New Sienna has 2” shorter seats than my wife’s Tiguan for example.
Inwould spend some time in those cars before you make a purchase.
https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a31608803/quietest-cars/
Maybe get a 2019 CR-V or Odyssey?
I was in the hybrid 2024 CR-V and it was pretty quiet I thought, especially around town with the gas engine off. Bigger rims with low profile tires never help for ride though.
Depending on how bad your tires are on the CR-V (19" I assume) Probably you could get 17" rims with some quiet all-seasons and feel like you are driving a different car?
3000 miles of city driving should have almost any vehicle having pretty low NVH? I only notice a big difference between my old Focus and the Outback above 50mph.
Maybe get a 2019 CR-V or Odyssey?
I was in the hybrid 2024 CR-V and it was pretty quiet I thought, especially around town with the gas engine off. Bigger rims with low profile tires never help for ride though.
Depending on how bad your tires are on the CR-V (19" I assume) Probably you could get 17" rims with some quiet all-seasons and feel like you are driving a different car?
3000 miles of city driving should have almost any vehicle having pretty low NVH? I only notice a big difference between my old Focus and the Outback above 50mph.
Comfortable and quiet to me means you need to shop luxury brands, not mainstream brands with longer wheelbases. That being said, if you are stuck in that mentality it sounds like you should buy a Passport and not a Pilot.
Why not consider an RX or an RDX like someone else mentioned? I'm not sure how the ride quality is on the NX but I would assume it is quiet.
sounds like a ram 1500 to me
Pilot is ok but you are going to average teens in the winter. and $45k+
Might hate the 10 speed.
Ram in some trims = a lifted luxury car. Big tires, long wheelbase, rear coil springs = best ride
interior big enough to play cards in.
300hp v6 pentastar is no slower than your crv.
ZF 8 speed, best transmission ever.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
^This.
OP if you are shopping Toyota, check Lexus sedans.
Lexus and Acura are out of my price range and/or require premium fuel which annoys me. Cars sit/ride too low. I'm spoiled by the visibility sitting higher. Trucks are just too long OAL. Not that I don't like those ideas, but don't find them workable for various reasons.
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Between those two I would go with the sienna without a second thought. The transmission with the Toyota's hybrid system is one of the most reliable in the industry. Honda's transmissions are not bulletproof. Doing mostly short hop driving.per your description is where hybrids shine. Honda VCM still isn't bulletproof so you would have to take the gamble of keeping it on with the problems that causes. From my understanding the j engine is still just direct injected not dual injected like the Toyota so there's the potential for carbon buildup. It has a timing belt as others have mentioned which is an expensive maintenance and if my memory is correct it is now an interference engine so in the unlikely event that it would snap you might be looking at a new engine. I'm sure that happens less than 0.00001% of the time.
I'm leaning away from minivans and toward the Pilot. I wasn't able to put together a soccer team to best utilize the minivan. I know the powertrains are the same so all those comments apply. At 68, if I make this my forever car I'll only do one timing belt replacement due to longevity not miles driven. I can live with that. And I may not be driving any longer after that many years anyway.
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I hope it works out for you. Enjoy it and make the most of it.
I know my dad has been asking me to keep an eye on the minivan market for him since he really likes them (Even though he doesn't need one anymore) And he's already made the comment that it might be his last vehicle as he's a few years older.
I know my dad has been asking me to keep an eye on the minivan market for him since he really likes them (Even though he doesn't need one anymore) And he's already made the comment that it might be his last vehicle as he's a few years older.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Toward the Pilot? Make sure you test it well, especially if you are tall.
We have 2009 Pilot, and took Tiguan which can fit INTO the Pilot, to 2,800mls trip, with two kids. That should tell you about drivers “comfort.”
I test drove 2020 Pilot, and found same issue with seating. New one is much better.
I am looking for a good used Dodge or Chrysler mini van. I had those as a company car and drove them on 8-12 hour trips with no soreness. The seat are very comfy. The mileage isn't bad either. I bought 2 of them at the end of the lease and they were very trouble free. Parts are inexpensive too since there are so many on the road. I found them easy to service. We haul six a lot and that includes a baby seat. Our current Yukon XL has very little room for babies legs when she is in it. Our Mazda 5 has the sliding doors so access is a breeze.
