Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans

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Comments

  • cpsdarrencpsdarren Member Posts: 265
    The DCX did indeed have more total space; the Odyssey and Sienna had more behind the second and third row. IMO, the differences among them aren't real big but it may vary depending on the opening size or types of stuff you haul.

    http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/van/112_0505_2005_mininvan_comparison/index4- .html
  • cpsdarrencpsdarren Member Posts: 265
    "Yes, I said llamas. Full grown llamas. And no, I not kidding."

    Llama droppings in an Odyssey?! Gasp!

    shhh don't tell marine2 ;-)
  • dennisctcdennisctc Member Posts: 1,168
    The DCX did indeed have more total space; the Odyssey and Sienna had more behind the second and third row.

    Something doesn't add up here???? You've got the DCX with 167 cu ft of space with all seats folded vs the Toy and Ody with roughly 147 cu ft, yet the Toy and Ody has the advantage behind the 2nd and 3rd row seats....enough to wipe out a total 20 cu ft advantage by DCX. How? Especially with Dodge's thin, uncomfortable, tiny Stow N Go seats!! Any guesses??

    My guess is it's a mistake by the Einsteins at MT!
  • dennisctcdennisctc Member Posts: 1,168
    This may have included the wells under the seats though.

    According to article, the seats were in the wells???? My Caravan doesn't seem 20 cu ft roomier than an Ody.

    Cargo space in the Dodge is a Brando-like 167.9 cubic feet with second- and third-row seats stowed under the floor.
  • cpsdarrencpsdarren Member Posts: 265
    No idea on their numbers. Consumer Reports rates the total as follows:

    DCX: 60.0
    Sienna: 70.5
    Odyssey: 66.5

    If I recall, CR doesn't use a total volume measurement but rather some sort of "useable" volume measurement with typical sized objects.

    Edmunds' comparison tool from Chrysler.com gives Cargo Volume/Max Luggage Cap:

    T&C: 26.4
    SXT: 20.0
    Sienna: 43.6
    Odyssey: 38.4

    These numbers seem to be similar to Motor Trend for behind the third row. Not sure why the SXT varied from the T&C Touring I happened to add.

    Probably yet another thing you really need to evaluate in person if it comes down to small differences being important...
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    "My guess is it's a mistake by the Einsteins at MT!"

    I can't figure it out either.

    According to Dodge's website, the cargo volume is as follows:

    165.6 total behind 1st row
    54.2 total behind 2nd row
    20.0 total behind 3rd row

    Total passenger volume is listed as 165.3cf.

    That's better than 110cf BETWEEN THE 1st and 2nd ROW!?!?
    I think somebody screwed up somewhere....

    At the same time the Ody EX-L lists the following:

    147.4 total behind 1st row
    91.1 total behind 2nd row
    38.4 total behind 3rd row
    Total passenger volume is listed as 168.3cf.

    That's around 56cf between the 1st and 2nd row, a far far cry from 110cf. Something doesn't pass the smell test to me. I can't see the DGC having TWICE the capacity between the 1st/2nd rows, particularly since the two vehicles have very similar 2nd row dimensions.

    Are they perhaps measuring cargo capacity with the 2nd row seats IN PLACE for the Ody and stowed for the DGC?
  • macakavamacakava Member Posts: 775
    http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-03-01-consumer-reports-reliability_x.ht- m
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    "There are pictures floating around the web of a previous gen Odyssey loaded with two llamas"

    Any data out there on how many llamas the DGC can hold?
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Welcome back mac...what you been up to? Haven't heard from ya in a while.

    Consumer Reports rated vehilce makes over a 5 year period. Mazda came in 7th out of 30. Buick was the first domestic rated at 9th.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • macakavamacakava Member Posts: 775
    Been busy with assignments in Shanghai and Taipei. If you can drive like they do over there, then you can drive anywhere. Interesting different way of life that appears chaotic - I would not trade our orderly way of life here for it.

    Some more assignments back there are coming up...
  • fred222fred222 Member Posts: 200
    Even if they did not have them, they knew how to make them again. This is especially true for the chemical weapons and to a lesser extent the bio weapons. All they needed was the technical know-how. They could have been up and running in a week.
  • typesixtypesix Member Posts: 321
    Consumer Reports uses box made of pipes that can be adjusted for length, width and height. CR sees what the biggest box can be fitted thru the tailgate and then closes the tailgate to get the length.Manufacturers typically include every little nook and cranny, whether useable or not, and regardless of whether the cargo could be fit thru the tailgate.
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    CR method is STUPID. How many people carry only 1 large box in their minivan?

    Most families carry luggage and other items of varying sizes and shapes.

    DC minivans are THE MOST Family Friendly minivan that contain features and interior space that families can use.

    If you want to carry a large box, buy one of the full size cargo vans that have no seats and forgot about the crap that is written by CR.
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    CR would rate the Odyssey tops if it were an old Mitsubishi minivan with the Honda and Odyssey label on it.
    Everyone knows CR is NOT Recommended for purchase because it is a biased publication where their test facts do not get in the way of a slanted, biased written opinion.
  • cpsdarrencpsdarren Member Posts: 265
    "Everyone knows CR is NOT Recommended for purchase because it is a biased publication where their test facts do not get in the way of a slanted, biased written opinion."

    I guess that rules out every publication, since everyone could be accused of a bias of some sort. I don't disagree about CR being biased, though at least they purchase test vehicles on the street and don't accept advertising. Also, their test facts are very thorough compared to other magazines. You can always ignore the overall rating if you like.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    Ok, once and for all I am going to put to rest this talk of Ody owners saying the middle seats in the Dodge/Chryslers are uncomfortable.

    I just talked to my Sister and Brother that are on there way here (Arizona) from Ohio. They are in Oklahoma now and my Brother has been setting in one of those middle seats since they left Toledo and he said they weren't uncomfortable at all. She is driving a 2006 Chrysler minivan.(black) Can you believe she would buy one that is black inside and out? Good thing she doesn't live in Arizona.

    I got the metal ramp for my van and I'll be picking up an electric wheel chair in my van tomorrow. (watch for pictures to follow.) I'll probably show it being able to load not only an electric wheel chair, but also an electric scooter.

    There is no doubt that these Chrysler/Dodge minivans are the most family friendly vans ever made.
  • artgpoartgpo Member Posts: 483
    Perhaps you should read the letter from the editor in the April, 2006 issue? CR is not the the know all, be all, but they sure are better than a lot of publications accepting advertising $$$ from the very models being tested.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    How would you know what I want to haul? I don't think you would fold down your stow and go to haul a load of coal. Yes, the inside of my Odyssey is very nice but it is well constructed of good materials. I would not haul live barnyard animals back there but I can haul as much as you, all seats removed.

    True artgpo, you can. But to do it you will have to make sure you haul out those third row seats before you can do it. Then put them back again. I don't think a lot of Ody owners want to do that. If you go back through these posts, most Honda owners have said they have never taken their middle seats out, or did it just once. I also don't think they would want to run electric scooters or wheelchairs in them and take the chance of messing up their nice carpet. That's because Honda owners bought their vans to mostly haul people.
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    Why doesn't Consumer Reports buy their DC minivans at a discount like 99 % of DC buyers do? Why does CR compare vehicles that are NOT even close in purchase price? For an honest comparison, CR should compare the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT with a Honda Odyssey LX where the actual purchase price would be comparable. Most people can purchase a GC SXT for even less than the Ody LX due to VOLUME production of DC minivans. DC dealers are usually not as greedy as Honda dealers.

    CR reviews would have more validity if they compared vehicles that had a close actual purchase price. Show the consumer how many options are avaible for a set price.

    CR would also be of more value if their written portion was in agreement with their actual test results. CR would also have more value if actual numbers of vehicles were stated in their reliability surveys. Doesn't CR have a computer with sufficient capability to include these numbers?

    CR is NOT RECOMMENDED for purchase because it is an inaccurate, biased publication where facts do not interfere with their biased, misleading written portion.
  • socalawdsocalawd Member Posts: 542
    DC dealers are usually not as greedy as Honda dealers.

    So your saying if there was high demand they would still offer huge discounts. I think not! Dealers get what they can for thier cars. They are all greedy, thats the free market system!

    CR reviews would have more validity if they compared vehicles that had a close actual purchase price. Show the consumer how many options are avaible for a set price.

    Maybe DCX should set thier MSRP closer to reality! :blush:
  • socalawdsocalawd Member Posts: 542
    But to do it you will have to make sure you haul out those third row seats before you can do it. Then put them back again

    The third row folds flat. For a electric scooter you could probably only remove one seat. The material in the Odyssey seems very tough. I have no issues after almost a year!
  • socalawdsocalawd Member Posts: 542
    I just talked to my Sister and Brother that are on there way here (Arizona) from Ohio. They are in Oklahoma now and my Brother has been setting in one of those middle seats since they left Toledo and he said they weren't uncomfortable at all.

    That just says that your Brother thought it was fine. Some people like pork rind, doesn't mean everyone likes it!

    There is no doubt that these Chrysler/Dodge minivans are the most family friendly vans ever made.

    Matters who your family is, wasn't even close for me! It's funny how the 2 people that are pushing the family friendly van point have no children at home!! Also hans bought the Sienna so we know his choice and marine never even considered the Ody(probably due to the Honda nameplate) he was getting a oil change on his Dakota then bought the DGC.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    The third row folds flat. For a electric scooter you could probably only remove one seat. The material in the Odyssey seems very tough. I have no issues after almost a year!

    I meant second row, but when I noticed the mistake, it was to late to fix it.

    I'll find out tomorrow how many seats need to be taken out or stowed. I am going to load an electric wheel chair and if the charge is up, also an electric scooter. While I don't disagree that the material in the Honda is very tough, I doubt many Honda owners are going to want to load either in their vans.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    That just says that your Brother thought it was fine. Some people like pork rind, doesn't mean everyone likes it!


    I think having to sit in those seats for 2,000 miles is going to let anyone know if they are uncomfortable or not. No matter what their preference is.

    marine never even considered the Ody(probably due to the Honda nameplate) he was getting a oil change on his Dakota then bought the DGC.

    If you go back and look at a couple of pictures I put up, you will see a 2004 Honda Civic sitting right next to my 2005 Dodge in the driveway. So yes, I saw the Ody when we bought the Honda a year before. But the Ody did not meet my needs for a minivan, the Dodge did and I saw that right off, while checking it out, waiting for an oil change on my truck.
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    AND just how many children at home does socalawd have??

    Interesting when a young student can know everything about minivans, children, comfort, etc. when he has no children and has not purchased very many vehicles with his own money.

    YES, why don't you recall looking at marine's photos and seeing the 2004 Honda Civic sitting next to his very nice GC SXT? Why don't you go back and read about the many times I have driven a 2001 Odyssey EX?
  • dennisctcdennisctc Member Posts: 1,168
    I think having to sit in those seats for 2,000 miles is going to let anyone know if they are uncomfortable or not. No matter what their preference is.

    Now don't go trying to destroy the urban myth Ody owners are trying to create. They can acuse us of never even looking at an Ody or flipping the 3rd row seat, but can be certain that DCX seats are horrible. Bet not too many have them have spent more than just a minute jumping in them at a dealer (if they even cross shopped at all?).

    Having "Stow N Go" and taken many road trips with it, none of my friends or family (including my 74 yr old father) have complained once, and in fact, many thought they were nice and firm.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    Now don't go trying to destroy the urban myth Ody owners are trying to create. They can acuse us of never even looking at an Ody or flipping the 3rd row seat, but can be certain that DCX seats are horrible. Bet not too many have them have spent more than just a minute jumping in them at a dealer (if they even cross shopped at all?).

    I agree Dennisctc. I am sure most have never ridden in them. As far as they are concerned, firmer seats are no good but a firm riding van is great.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    I'll let you guys know how he feels when he gets here. They are stopping for a few days in New Mexico, then they are going down to Mexico for a day and then coming here Friday. That will make it over 2,000 miles of setting in them when they finally arrive.
  • socalawdsocalawd Member Posts: 542
    Having "Stow N Go" and taken many road trips with it, none of my friends or family (including my 74 yr old father) have complained once, and in fact, many thought they were nice and firm.

    I've never had anyone ever complain about any of my car seats. I have a friend who has a saturn it's got the worst seats I ever been in. But I don't complain I just say why don't you let me drive!! :shades:
  • socalawdsocalawd Member Posts: 542
    AND just how many children at home does socalawd have??

    3 a 11 year old and 4 year old twins. If I had only 2 I'd be in a V70R right now. Coached my 11 year old to the Rec league Basketball Championship we went 10-0. It was so much fun!!

    Interesting when a young student can know everything about minivans, children, comfort, etc. when he has no children and has not purchased very many vehicles with his own money.

    I've bought 6 cars for cash and 2 with payments. I'll be 40 this year!!

    YES, why don't you recall looking at marine's photos and seeing the 2004 Honda Civic sitting next to his very nice GC SXT?

    Well the 2005 wasn't out yet when he looked, I just commented on his bais toward buying americian(suprised he bought a Civic). Nothing wrong with it, everyone wants to do what they think is right.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    Well the 2005 wasn't out yet when he looked, I just commented on his bias toward buying americian(surprised he bought a Civic). Nothing wrong with it, everyone wants to do what they think is right.

    Biased toward buying American? I guess I am in a way, although I have never said not to buy foreign. I only get upset when I hear someone say because they got a lemon, they would never buy American again.

    I think I have been very complimentary to Honda's Ody and Toyota. Even advising people to buy them, depending on what they were going to use them for. I have always tried to be very honest in my feelings and what I say.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    The 2005 was out when I saw them. I did not look at them when we bought the civic. We were only looking at civics and Accords at the time. I got my first look at the Ody when I took the Civic in for an oil change and was looking around like I did when I took my truck in.
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    Sorry I got you confused with "thegraduate". :cry:
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    Lucky you have 3 children at home. Isn't the V70R a Volvo? The Honda Odyssey is light years superior to a Volvo ( now owned by Ford and probably greatly improved as a result).

    We had a Volvo 145S when we had 3 children at home. That new Volvo was the worst piece of junk we ever owned.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Now don't go trying to destroy the urban myth Ody owners are trying to create. They can acuse us of never even looking at an Ody or flipping the 3rd row seat, but can be certain that DCX seats are horrible. Bet not too many have them have spent more than just a minute jumping in them at a dealer (if they even cross shopped at all?).

    I agree Dennisctc. I am sure most have never ridden in them. As far as they are concerned, firmer seats are no good but a firm riding van is great.

    Actually, I disagree. I'll take firmness on both accounts, please.
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    Hello, thegraduate and gang:

    thanks for your very helpful input.....all of you....YOu guys have been very helpful....

    I have only tried out the Sienna....and you are right....the packages do not fit me. We wanted a cloth interior that seats 8, but also the Nav. We did not want the leather..but they said there is no way to get Nav, unless you get the full lux pack...which means leather chairs and seating for 7 only.

    OK>..we will try to go see the other 2 soon.

    1- another question, does the variable cylinder management on the Odyssey have any chronic problems ? I have a friend who is frugal, but he got the Odyssey 2005, but with the regular engine...cause he says there may be issues with the engine, since there are more moving parts ?

    2- have the transmission issues been worked out yet in Honda vehicles ?

    thanks...
  • mrblonde49mrblonde49 Member Posts: 626
    You can't get NAV w/o leather in the Honda, either...
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    "1- another question, does the variable cylinder management on the Odyssey have any chronic problems?"

    The variale cylinder management technology is an offshoot of Honda's variable valve timing technology which has been used for years by Honda. All reports I've seen on this technology indicate that the basic engine technology that Honda uses is very reliable (Honda has used VCM in the Japanese market for a few years).

    However, the system also includes some special electronically controlled motor mounts (to reduce engine roughness being transmitted to the chassis when the engine is running on 3 cylinders) as well as noise cancellation technology (sound transmitted through the stereo 180deg out of phase with noise generated by engine when running on 3 cylinders). The jury may still be out on some of this stuff (some folks claiming some increased harshness/odd noises when the sytem is running on 3 cylinders). We've had our EX-L for a year and 20k miles and I've never been able to detect when the system is actually running on 3 cylinders.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    NAV looks good on the Honda put your going to pay an extra $2,000 for it. If you want cloth seats, buy the cheaper Honda and get portable navigation.

    I bought a Lawrance iWay-350 for $398.00. Paid another $79.99 for a three year warranty and $28.00 more and bought an in house charger. It has two internal lithium batteries that can power it out of your car for 15 hours and 12 volt charger for in your vehicle. You can put it in another car, boat or motor cycle. It has a four gig hard drive, 3.5 " screen and voice commands. A 1,000 address book and 5 million points of interest. Can play MP3 files, and show your jpg pictures on your screen. Has all the streets and highways built into memory. Best of all, you can keep it if you use another vehicle or sell yours and you save $1,500.00 on that alone. Not counting how much extra you would have to pay to buy the upgraded version of the Honda to even get it on it.
  • sebring95sebring95 Member Posts: 3,241
    The Honda NAV surely isn't for everyone, but it's one of the nicest NAV's out there in terms of integration. It's better than the NAV in my wifes GX470 (bigger screen, ease-of-use, etc.). I also have a portable Garmin 2610 that I've been using for several years. It's great, goes with me on all my trips instead of relying on Hertz Alwayslost or other rental navs that are cheap and abused. The kicker on the Honda is the backup camera which I find far more useful than the parking sensors dinging at you. The voice activation is also nice for HVAC/Radio/NAV. It's big money, but if you need/want that type of thing, it's not that much money.
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    Hi rorr:

    So you have the Odyssey that is top of line, and has this tech of running on 3 cylinders ?

    HOw do you like it, and is it worth the extra money ? I llike the idea of saving gas when it is not entirely needed .

    And you say that engine may be rougher or harsher due to the runnning on 3 cylinders. IS it really noticeable ?
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    So then does that mean that one has to buy the package that has all the bells and whistles with Honda also ? I do have leather in my other cars...but the last minivan I had cloth...and it performed fine....we just like the idea of sitting 8....

    can HOnda Odyssey sit 8 >?

    thanks
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    Thanks, Marine2

    I did not check out the nav from Honda yet.

    I saw the one from Toyota..and I liked it . My wife likes it too.
    Toyota dealer recommmends the same to us....that we buy the base level Sienna, to get the 8 passenger seats, and then go aftermarket navigation ,

    thanks
  • highenderhighender Member Posts: 1,358
    Thanks sebring95....for the advice...
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    Well, not top of the line (that would be a Touring); we've got an EX-L (non-NAV).

    We got the EX-L because we wanted the leather and sunroof. I knew the EX-L had the VCM technology but that was neither a big plus or negative to us. Just another feature on the EX-L. It's hard to say just how effective it is on mileage since we don't have a EX to compare side by side. Out on the highway the mileage has been acceptable to me (around 25-26), but I wish the in-town mileage was a bit better. Of course, with the constant stop/go of city driving, it's hard for VCM to really be effective.

    Rougher/harsher - Any V6 which is running on 3 cylinders will naturally run very rough because it will be out of balance. If I remember correctly, this was one of the many problems that GM faced with their old V8-6-4 technology in the early '80s. Just picture yanking off 3 plug wires on a running V6; it ain't gonna run real smooth.

    However, I think Honda has done a wonderful job with their active engine mounts and noise cancellation technology. The "ECO" light comes on in the dash (although that is not always an indicator the engine is running on 3 cylinders) but I've never, ever, been able to detect ANY additional commotion/harshness/etc. coming from the engine compartment.

    Maybe I'm just not very sensitive......
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    The navigation on the Honda is very nice. If your willing to pay what it cost to get it, I think you'll be very happy with it. I just wanted to point out the advantages of an after market navigation.

    When you check it out with Honda, also ask what the cost will be to upgrade the maps, which you will probably want to do in a year or two later.
  • socalawdsocalawd Member Posts: 542
    1- another question, does the variable cylinder management on the Odyssey have any chronic problems ? I have a friend who is frugal, but he got the Odyssey 2005, but with the regular engine...cause he says there may be issues with the engine, since there are more moving parts ?

    2- have the transmission issues been worked out yet in Honda vehicles ?

    thanks...

    1. I have a EX-L with VCM I have never noticed when it goes on or off. As mentioned above the engine has active motor mounts. The main problem people seem to be haveing with the Odyssey is brake noise, windshield noise and some kind of droning noise at 2000-2500 rpm. With botn type engines.

    2. The first 5 speeds had cooling issues with 2nd gear that is thought to be a thing of the past. But you never know what new issues come up. In my last CR cars addition the Ody led the way in customers that would buy again 84 out of 100 for current model. Toyota was at 82 and Town and Country 49/100.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Yes, the EX with cloth seats 8, as does the EX-L, with or w/o Navi.
  • marine2marine2 Member Posts: 1,155
    I'll bet most people wouldn't believe you could put an electric wheel chair and an electric scooter in the back of a Dodge minivan and still have room back there to seat someone, but it can be done. Without taking out any seats.

    http://www.carspace.com/marine2/?50@@.59970a44!photoLoc=.59a1639f&skipNext=0&sub- mitNext=1&noThumbs=1#pic
  • ClairesClaires Member Posts: 1,219
    Hi, jcmorsejr,

    I've moved your question and Marine2's response to the Chrysler Van Problems discussion where it'll be more at home:

    Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Minivan Problems & Solutions, post #3730

    MODERATOR

    Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.

    Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review

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