My 2003 Odyssey with 149k miles is keeping me up at night - “what will go wrong tomorrow?!” It’s been a champion and looks pristine but it needs expensive repairs almost every month and I’m nervous about driving it out of town - and our small town has one decent mechanic, who is always booked 2 weeks in advance.
Opinions of the new Odyssey? I test drove one and it was fine - though I prefer the bigger windows on my ’03. Other suggestions?
I have the cash to buy new. Thanks.
I think there a very few Odyssey owners here so a Honda forum might help you more.
Have you checked what Consumer Reports says?
My neighbor likes the Odyssey more than the Sienna because of the fuel economy.
@Honda2076 I just did a web search and there are a lot of review articles and videos about the Odysseys.
You will notice that the Odyssey does not come with AWD ( Honda has claimed AWD Is not necessary for snowy condition.
I’m not sure why they said that because AWD does drive better in snowy condition to me. It also allows for better traction in the rain.
That’s the only real reason I’d opt for the Sienna over the Odyssey. Also, Toyota sold more siennas than Honda does for the Odyssey.
The latest Sienna has the hybrid power train, much better economy than the Odyssey, 33 mpg compared to 22 mpg, according to Fuelly.
I have driven Corolla’s, Vibe/Matrix, Grand Caravan, 1992 Civic LX in 9" of snow on some very curvy/hilly roads plus many other vehicles in snowy conditions with standard all season tires with out much issue, so yes it can be done if you know how to drive, now I have not driven in the massive snow storms the north gets, but y’all are also better at plowing the roads and stuff… I have also driven rwd V8 cars and different rwd trucks in the bad stuff by adding weight in the trunk/bed,
The only time I had an issue in the very low ground clearance 92 Civic was up a very steep road that I kept turning it into a plow… To be fair, it took a skid steer on tracks to clear the hill… lol
The current generation of Odyssey started in 2018. Is a new version coming soon? (Toyota Sienna in 2021; Chrysler Pacifica in 2017; Kia Carnival 2025.)
You can only get a 4 cylinder witha turbo on the Siena anymore so that is a consideration .Still not a fan of having a small 4 pushing such a big vehicle as the Siena .
Pretty sure it’s the 4 cylinder hybrid, no turbo. Have the same in our RX350h, close to the same weight, does fine. But load up that Sienna with 8 people, it won’t be peppy, true.
Pretty sure it’s the 4 cylinder hybrid, no turbo. Have the same in our RX350h, close to the same weight, does fine. But load up that Sienna with 8 people, it won’t be peppy, true.
We rented a Sienna for a week (4-cyl hybrid) driving through Colorado, with much of it in the mountains. We averaged over 40+ mpg.
On the steeper uphills, power was not peppy though it was sufficient. It never became a concern or bother.
I agree with the crazy car guy Scotty Kilmer about small engines with turbos. You take a tiny engine and turbo it to put out V6 or V8 power. Sounds good, doesn’t it? That little engine simply will not last as long as a larger engine doing less work. And turbo problems? Expensive.
Scotty likes to drive cars forever (2 or 3 hundred thousand miles?) I don’t go that high but I do like to buy a new car and keep it 10 or 15 years. A small 4 cyl turbo engine? 100,000 to 150,000 max.
We have a 2019 Odyssey EX-L and are very happy with it. If we were in the market now, I’d look at the Odyssey and Sienna only. Our neighbor has a 2024 Sienna and she likes it a lot. Remember that the Odyssey will need a new timing belt in 7 years or 105,000 miles, 60,000 miles for severe service. That should be over $1000 by the time it needs changing.
Consumer Reports rates the Odyssey and the Sienna essentially equally. Each had its good points and bad points, of course.
They downgraded the Sienna for its long stopping distances and loud engine noise, and they noted that it was only fair-average on reliability. CR liked its ride quality, its fuel economy (36 mpg, overall), and its roomy interior.
By contrast, the Odyssey returned only 22 mpg, overall, but CR did like its ride, and its quiet/roomy interior. The only notable downgrade was its confusing controls. And, of course, its V-6 was more powerful/responsive than the Sienna’s 4-cylinder engine. It was rated essentially the same (fair/average) as the Sienna on reliability.
Both the Odyssey and the Sienna clearly trade a good ride quality over good handling, so neither is a vehicle for someone who likes to drive… enthusiastically.
If you want one, have the $'s, then buy one.
Never drove RWD but on all my vehicles, except the rav4 and Lexus, were FWD. I got stuck a few times in the snow with FWD vehicles.
The Lexus was impressive in the snow in 2021 where I saw a few car got stuck and the Lexus walked through the snow like a boss.
The rav4 is just amazing in these difficult weather conditions.
The only time my FWD Rabbit got stuck in the snow was going over the Sierra mtns on I80 Donner Pass . I had to buy some chains to get me over the top. Otherwise the Rabbit never got stuck, even in Colorado. I pulled a lot of RWD cars which slid off the snow covered roads and into the ditch with my 4WD truck.
And another Hijacked thread !!
Stick ‘em up, cowboy! 
BTW, how are you faring with the severe weather in Oklahoma, @VOLVO-V70?