Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
We started looking into the market since around Oct 2010. At that time, Sienna was our first and only choice (nothing wrong with domestics but we decided to go for imports based on past experience so far). We were focusing on the LE and SE as we thought the limited is just too much $$ for a minivan. We hesitated due to its poor interior and bad driving experience. The dashboard and door panels are made of very low grade plastics with no padding at all. I am okay with that for an entry level vehicle like Echo, but spending close to 40k, I expect something better. Integrated radio antenna should also be standard for all models, instead of only available in the limited model. These little details may not show the overall quality of the vehicle. However, we left with the impression that they are cutting corners in many ways, I guess to improve on the exterior look and six speed tranny. The test drive experience was not satisfying as well. The engine is powerful. The ride is quiet and smooth but the steering is just too loose, with no feeling of the road at all, to a point that we don't feel comfortable/ confident. We realize we are testing a van, not a performance vehicle. However, there must be something better in the market, so we decided to wait a few months for the 2011 Odyssey and Quest.
The Quest came out in 2011 and we were really excited as we had experience with Nissan Elgrand in the asia market. It is advertised as the "king of the minivan" over there, and I think it is the best van in the world today. Unfortunately, Quest is a trimmed down version of the Elgrand. The front and rear exterior is modified as well but the general interior layout is pretty much the same. The test drive was very impressive for us. The quality of the interior material is outstanding. You feel like driving an Infiniti. The ride is as smooth and quiet as the Sienna while the steering is much more "precise". Only drawback are the CVT transmission and the bland exterior. If they import Elgrand straight from Japan without modifying the exterior, we would have made our offer.
So at this point, you probably know we have ended up with the 2011 Odyssey. We only have our Odyssey EX-L for a few weeks but so far we are loving it. Touring is nice but EX-L seems to offer the most for the buck. The interior quality is fine (not as great as Quest but far better than Sienna). The exterior is quite subjective, depends on who you speak to, my folks think it is ugly and too aggressive but we got a few compliments in the parking lot (mostly in the 30's and 40's) Personally I think the lighting bolt looks alright. I wasn't so sure about our decision before the delivery. However, once I received the van and have the time to look at the details. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of many little things. And that's the reason why I registered with Edmund and submit my first post to share the experience and my appreciation towards this amazing van.
The only issue we have so far is with the width of the vehicle, it is definitely wider than most vans. It probably won't fit in those "small car only" parking spots in busy shopping malls. Other than that, we just hope we won't have to go through the tranny issue and the TPMS error that some people here experienced.
Honda Odyssey: 79.2
Toyota Sienna: 78.1
Kia Sedona: 78.1
Nissan Quest 77.6
Chrysler T&C: 76.9
Thanks, Rich
Would you mind telling me where did you buy your Odyssey EX-L? I live in Dallas and have plans to buy one in a near future
Thanks
See: Honda Low Battery Defect
Whether you contact your Honda dealer service department or not (and whether you bring it in for service or not), I and many other Odyssey owners STRONGLY recommend that you call or otherwise contact Honda's corporate Customer Service and let them know you are experiencing this problem and that you fully expect Honda to investigate and develop a fix to this design defect:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
Mail Stop 500-2N-7A
1919 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, California 90501-2746
Tel: (800) 999-1009 (press 7 to report a problem)
In doing this you will get your problem on record (they will give you a "case number") and you will add to the growing list of customers who find the current corporate response by Honda to be unacceptable. Be sure to let them know that you view this as some kind of defect with the vehicle and I would also encourage you to also let them know how disappointed you are in the fact that Honda's quality / customer service reputation can no longer be trusted or held in such high regard.
If you wish to go even further, tell the customer service representative that although you appreciate their taking the time to record your complaint and provide a case number, you wish to "elevate your customer service complaint" by having a regional customer service manager at American Honda contact you back to discuss the status of this complaint and what you expect American Honda to do about it. Remember, you paid a LOT of money for a brand new Honda Odyssey vehicle that should not be experiencing this kind of problem!
That is not sounding good. I got a recall for my wiper arm. Anyone else get that? I'm in Canada. I wrote to Honda Canada to complain about the low battery warning signal that keeps lighting up my life. The lady on the phone told me that this is normal for this model. I told her she is severely mistaken and off her rocker. I'm not impressed considering I am still driving my 1995 Ody and never had a problem ever out of the ordinary.
Looks like that for something simple. The connecting rod on the wiper may be damaged if the wipers are turned on when frozen onto the windshield.
I, too, am getting tired of that damn low battery signal, but I just ignore it and walk away from the car. This is my sixth Ody, and I must say, the worst yet!
Bought it in December /10 and from the get-go the ride was rough, and it wasn't only due to the cold winter and unplowed roads we had. Took the salesman out with me in my van, and then in their demo and he agreed it was rough riding. Also, there seems to be more wind noise on the highway than my 08 (or others).
Thank goodness for this forum to let one blow off some steam.
QV
Dealer retightened all sub frame bolts, lower control arm bolts, steering rack bolts, strut bolts amd mounts. They said they talked to Honda Rep and honda is aware of the problem, they're looking into it.
Here's the thing, I have no idea what any of that means, and while the noise it not as severe, it's still there. Do I keep taking back and complaining, call Honda??
Applies To: 2011 Odyssey – ALL
Supposedly this will fix the issue. I'll find out this week.
My Ody has been creaking for several months, and it is also worse the more passengers there are. Also, seems like more noise that just the front struts area.
QV