s/o minivans - Odyssey vs Sienna vs T&C vs Grand Caravan?

[vanillacourage]

If you test drove some or each of these models, what features did one have the others didn't, or what features put one car above the others for you?

I am drawn to the Odyssey because of its manufacturer, but we haven't test-driven any yet (other than renting a Grand Caravan on vacation last year).

Do all vans have Stow & Go, or is it just the Grand Caravan?  I am also intrigued by the tailgate seating of the Town & Country.

[ECB]

We have they Odyssey. I've driven the Sienna too. I just have a slight preference for Honda's over Toyota. I dont' like the gear shift on the Toyota.

"Stow & Go" is the name that Chrysler owns. But all vans have some version of it. It looks like both the 2nd and 3rd rows in the Caravan are Stow & go. In the honda and Toyota, it's just the last row. You have to actually take the 2nd row seats out if you want more cargo space.

[bunch]

I only considered the Odyssey and Sienna. I looked at both about two years ago and I'm thinking that it was how the middle seats configured in the Sienna that sold me on it, but tbh I don't remember. What it really came down to was that I was able to get a base model Sienna for a price the Honda dealer said he couldn't come close to. The 3rd row seats in the sienna fold totally flat and the 2nd row push all the way up to make a huge cargo area. I don't know if all are like this, but the seat tracks are totally flush to the floor, so all floor space is totally clear.

[mswax]

I don't have one (yet), but the sienna is the only minivan with AWD, and in MA that's important! When I get my minivan, it's the only choice for me.

[ECB]

Jan 7, 2014 15:26:42 GMT -5 bunch said:

I don't know if all are like this, but the seat tracks are totally flush to the floor, so all floor space is totally clear.

They are like this in the Honda too.

[blindyswife]

Popping in to say I want a minivan so badly. Not in the budget, though. 

My BFF just got the Oddysey and I don't think I've ever been more envious of someone in my life.

I love my nissan that I drive now (rogue), so I'm interested in the Quest just out of brand loyalty. I haven't compared the different minivans much, though, and the sienna being the only AWD is nice to know. Gah I want one nowwww!

I really need a sugar daddy. 

[sunshineluv]

We bought the Nissan Quest a few months ago and LOVE it. The Quest is just a little cheaper than the Oddesy or Sienna. When I was doing my research, the Caravan and the T&C (same engine) have some poor reviews, and don't hold their value as well. It has been a while, so I don't remember the specifics of what I read, but I wasn't willing to consider either of those options. The new Honda's have coolers in them, which my Quest doesn't have . I am not sure what other features we missed out on.

[waterchurch]

Jan 7, 2014 15:28:57 GMT -5 mswax said:

I don't have one (yet), but the sienna is the only minivan with AWD, and in MA that's important! When I get my minivan, it's the only choice for me.

I have an AWD town and country. It's a few years old, though. So it's possible they don't make them anymore.

[dbsk8dance]

We love our odyssey. We test drove the sienna and had rented a t&c on vacation.

The Odyssey's dash was far and above all the rest. The backup camera screen is large and easy to use. Plus seating for 8 and easily changed seating.

[ijack]

We have an old caravan that the ILs gave us (I think it's an '06) for our nanny and I'm actually surprised at how nice the ride is and how well it's lasted (it has like 150k miles on it or something). I really like the odyssey though.

[dbsk8dance]

Jan 7, 2014 15:26:42 GMT -5 bunch said:

I only considered the Odyssey and Sienna. I looked at both about two years ago and I'm thinking that it was how the middle seats configured in the Sienna that sold me on it, but tbh I don't remember. What it really came down to was that I was able to get a base model Sienna for a price the Honda dealer said he couldn't come close to. The 3rd row seats in the sienna fold totally flat and the 2nd row push all the way up to make a huge cargo area. I don't know if all are like this, but the seat tracks are totally flush to the floor, so all floor space is totally clear.

The moving seats in the sienna almost pushed us there, but the dash swayed us to the odyssey.

[bunch]

Jan 7, 2014 16:33:32 GMT -5 dbsk8dance said:

Jan 7, 2014 15:26:42 GMT -5 bunch said:

I only considered the Odyssey and Sienna. I looked at both about two years ago and I'm thinking that it was how the middle seats configured in the Sienna that sold me on it, but tbh I don't remember. What it really came down to was that I was able to get a base model Sienna for a price the Honda dealer said he couldn't come close to. The 3rd row seats in the sienna fold totally flat and the 2nd row push all the way up to make a huge cargo area. I don't know if all are like this, but the seat tracks are totally flush to the floor, so all floor space is totally clear.

The moving seats in the sienna almost pushed us there, but the dash swayed us to the odyssey.

When you don't have a back up camera, that's not an issue

[greekypie]

2014 odyssey had 2 huge advantages over 2013 Siena for me:
- more LATCH locations
- right hand side blind spot camera
- middle row seats slide side to side as well as front to back. Advantage: it's very very easy to get car seats comfortably installed across the row.

I also felt like Odyssey drove more like a car, which I preferred.

[Deleted]

I have a 2011 Odyssey and I love it. I prefer the interior and exterior look of the Odyssey over the Sienna and it drives really nicely. I didn't consider any other vans because I have had really good experiences with Hondas and Toyotas (we had a civic when we got married, just sold a Pilot and Dh is on his second Tundra). I have had to take my van in to the service center for a few items and they have been great about fixing the things I noted quickly and easily. I bought mine used and got a great deal on it at $6k below KBB so that made it even easier to choose.

[my4girls]

We have a 2014 odyssey and I'm in love with it! We didn't t consider any others though since we love honda

[shell24]

For us it was between the Odyssey and the Sienna. I wouldn't even consider the Chrysler or Dodge. It came down to price and we went with the Sienna. I LOVE my van.

I don't think you could go wrong either way.

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2014 15:28:57 GMT -5 mswax said:

I don't have one (yet), but the sienna is the only minivan with AWD, and in MA that's important! When I get my minivan, it's the only choice for me.

This is why we have one. Plus I liked the exterior of the Sienna better. 

[cosmowife]

I have a sienna - it just happened to be the one with the best price we found. However, I am pretty sure that my next will be a honda. Toyota has been having too many recalls. For instance, there is a current recall on my car (2008 - can shift out of park!!!) and they still don't have a fix and it has been months.

[Deleted]

We just bought the Sienna. We wanted AWD and that was the only option. If not for that we may have been more inclined to go with the Odyssey since I tend to have a slight preference for Hondas and if iirc Odyssey has two tethers in the third row and Sienna only has one.

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2014 16:24:49 GMT -5 waterchurch said:

Jan 7, 2014 15:28:57 GMT -5 mswax said:

I don't have one (yet), but the sienna is the only minivan with AWD, and in MA that's important! When I get my minivan, it's the only choice for me.

I have an AWD town and country. It's a few years old, though. So it's possible they don't make them anymore.

I don't think they do. I could be wrong but when we were looking the Sienna appeared to be the only option now. Unless DH marked that one off the list for a different reason.

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2014 16:24:49 GMT -5 waterchurch said:

Jan 7, 2014 15:28:57 GMT -5 mswax said:

I don't have one (yet), but the sienna is the only minivan with AWD, and in MA that's important! When I get my minivan, it's the only choice for me.

I have an AWD town and country. It's a few years old, though. So it's possible they don't make them anymore.

I don't think they do. I could be wrong but when we were looking the Sienna appeared to be the only option now. Unless DH marked that one off the list for a different reason.

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2014 19:50:36 GMT -5 greekypie said:

2014 odyssey had 2 huge advantages over 2013 Siena for me:
- more LATCH locations
- right hand side blind spot camera
- middle row seats slide side to side as well as front toí back. Advantage: it's very very easy to get car seats comfortably installed across the row.

I also felt like Odyssey drove more like a car, which I preferred.

ahh yeah, I forgot about the side to side sliding seats. I liked that on the Odyssey too. I wish they made an AWD option!

[blindyswife]

Jan 7, 2014 21:56:21 GMT -5 shell24 said:

For us it was between the Odyssey and the Sienna. I wouldn't even consider the Chrysler or Dodge. It came down to price and we went with the Sienna. I LOVE my van.

I don't think you could go wrong either way.

Why does no one mention the Nissan Quest? Is there something this van is missing that keeps it from ever being brought up in the minivan wars? 

[whitepicketfence]

We have a Grand Caravan. We got an amazing deal on it from my FIL's car lot and were able to pay cash which was really important to us. I love the Odyssey and the Sienna but, unfortunately, they were entirely out of our price range for the time being.

I've been really happy with the Grand Caravan. It has slightly higher miles but the thing still runs great. We haven't had a single issue with it thus far and it has been great in the snow. This is my first winter without a 4WD vehicle in an area that gets blasted with snow each year (we're like 1st or 2nd in the nation for total snow fall this season) and I was really worried about how a minivan would do. We do have studded snow tires on it but I've yet to have an issue due to road conditions.

[greekypie]

Jan 8, 2014 11:21:57 GMT -5 blindyswife said:

Jan 7, 2014 21:56:21 GMT -5 shell24 said:

For us it was between the Odyssey and the Sienna. I wouldn't even consider the Chrysler or Dodge. It came down to price and we went with the Sienna. I LOVE my van.

I don't think you could go wrong either way.

Why does no one mention the Nissan Quest? Is there something this van is missing that keeps it from ever being brought up in the minivan wars? 

It has gotten many bad reviews, I know that much. I also think it's fug .

[blindyswife]

Jan 8, 2014 12:42:36 GMT -5 greekypie said:

Jan 8, 2014 11:21:57 GMT -5 blindyswife said:

Why does no one mention the Nissan Quest? Is there something this van is missing that keeps it from ever being brought up in the minivan wars? 

It has gotten many bad reviews, I know that much. I also think it's fug .

Ha! I agree it is a weird lookin' van. 

Clearly I haven't done much research comparing models. Mostly becauses I want one so bad and its torture knowing I can't have one! After reading this thread yesterday, I went to the Toyota website and "built" my van, and then cried inside for my poor self lol. Envy does not look good on me. 

[shell24]

Jan 8, 2014 12:42:36 GMT -5 greekypie said:

Jan 8, 2014 11:21:57 GMT -5 blindyswife said:

Why does no one mention the Nissan Quest? Is there something this van is missing that keeps it from ever being brought up in the minivan wars? 

It has gotten many bad reviews, I know that much. I also think it's fug .

Agreed! I'm not a huge Nissan fan in general. Also, it doesn't seem very roomy on the inside, although this is pure speculation as I've never been in one!

[bunch]

Jan 8, 2014 12:42:36 GMT -5 greekypie said:

Jan 8, 2014 11:21:57 GMT -5 blindyswife said:

Why does no one mention the Nissan Quest? Is there something this van is missing that keeps it from ever being brought up in the minivan wars? 

It has gotten many bad reviews, I know that much. I also think it's fug .

I specifically didn't look at it because it was so ugly. Lol