caviller
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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Chicago Area
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 2006 Odyssey EX vs. Sienna LE8
My wife and I just finished comparing the 2005 Odyssey EX and Sienna LE8 with Package 6 (BZ). We are considering the order of a 2006, so these comparisons will be using 2006 prices and features. Neither model changes much in terms of features for what we are considering. Honda added a 5/60 powertrain warranty. Toyota decontented the Rear Seat Audio and cassette player, but added an MP3 capable 6-disc changer. There was also a significant net price drop on some Sienna packages because of the removal of the rear seat audio and making side impact airbags a standard feature.
2006 Odyssey EX advantages:
Slightly better handling, braking and road feel
Slightly better NHTSA frontal driver crash result
Rollover Sensing side curtain airbag system
Sportier appearance, chrome accents
Driver side power slider
Lazy Susan storage
Storable 8th Plus One seat (no lazy suzan when stored)
Indexing passenger side seat in 2nd row
2nd row sunshades
Tri-zone climate control
Anti-theft Security system
Speed sensitive wipers
Extra top-tether location in third row
Standard cargo net and carpeted floor mats
Cooler OEM accessories (foglights, cargo tray, etc)
2006 Sienna LE8 (5338) Package BZ (#4) advantages:
More functional 2nd row "Front & Center" seat
3rd row seat has over 3" more hiproom
Tumble forward second row seats
More cargo area & wider opening, esp. behind 3rd row
Folding front passenger seat back
Slightly smoother and quieter ride
Driver's rear visibility
DRLs
Auto door locks
Windshield Wiper De-icer
Tire Pressure Monitor
Telescopic steering wheel
3rd row windows tilt open
Overhead info display with compass and trip computer
More functional cupholders, especially in folding tray
Nicer dash controls, layout and finish
Nicer coinholder locations
MP3 capable CD Changer, Aux audio input for portables
Overall fuel economy may be slightly better
Sliding door controls easier (pillar and ceiling console)
Better sliding door window and track design
Better ground clearance
5 LATCH locations
Standard roof rack crossbars
More unique (not many Silver Pine Sienna LE8s)
Somewhat less expensive (roughly $600 in my area)
I realize not all these features are important to everyone. Many are not very important to us, either. Some are obviously subjective preferences. In fact, we can rationalize most of them away, which is why the decision is not yet made.
Perhaps most importantly, I liked the Sienna seating flexibility. The Sienna could seat 8 average sized adults. In the Honda, you could fit 6 adults and two smaller adults, teenagers or kids in boosters using the center seating positions. The tradeoff is that the Honda 2nd row seats are wider and more comfortable. The 8th seat in the Sienna is almost a real seat, with integrated seatbelt, LATCH and reasonable width for an adult or almost any child restraint. The Honda PlusOne seat might fit some child restraints and small adults, but may not work well with larger carseats or adults. On the plus side (sorry for the pun), it does stow away nicely, though you do lose the lazy susan if you store it in the floor. My wife appreciated the PlusOne system more than I did. Our son (almost 7) fit just fine in it using a Britax Starriser backless booster.
The 3rd row seats in the Sienna seemed a bit easier to open but a bit harder to fold. Those few extra inches in hiproom and generous shoulder room in the Sienna 3rd row could make all the difference if you are cramming three adults or child seats back there. The smaller Honda opening and the shoulder compartment for the spare tire really take away some room for the Odyssey 3rd row. Also, the Honda 3rd row center seat top tether anchor location will cause a tether strap to block the cargo area. Fortunately, Honda added two extra anchors for 2006 for the outboard seats and those are on the seatback.
Interior wise, the Sienna seemed nicer to us. We both liked the lower placement of the gated shifter and the intuitive knobs for HVAC controls. The feel of the controls and look of the interior also seemed of higher quality. The Sienna also appears to have a bit more cargo space overall with the wider rear opening, especially behind the third row seat. Plus, the Sienna has even more cargo area if you tumble the 2nd row seats forward and fold the front passenger seat. That's a significant advantage if you carry a lot of stuff and don't want to take the time or effort to remove and store the heavy second row seats. Plus, the 8-pass Sienna captains chairs are smaller and somewhat lighter than those in the Odyssey if you ever do need to remove them for more cargo space.
Driving wise, the Odyssey did seem nicer to me, though my wife was neutral. I did notice the tighter feel, though overall handling didn't seem too much different. The brakes had a more responsive feel, though both stopped well. The Sienna may have been a little quieter and smoother, but both were much nicer in that regard than our current Odyssey. Acceleration was very good in both, though the Odyssey might have a slight advantage in freeway passing power. The bigger sliding door glass and slightly narrower (or better placed) pillars in the Sienna gave both of us a bit better visibility to the side and rear. I liked the Sienna sliding door window design and sliding track integrated under the 3rd row windows better, too. I also liked the Sienna power sliding operation better, as well as the placement of the buttons on the pillar and in the ceiling console between the driver and passenger. As for overall styling, I like the Odyssey much better than the '05 Sienna, but the '06 Sienna improvements make it acceptable.
I think the Honda has a slight safety advantage when you consider the NHTSA frontal driver crash test results, rollover sensing airbag system and the consensus opinion that the handling and braking limits are a bit better. On the other hand, the nearly perfect IIHS frontal test results for the Sienna in two separate tests are comforting, as are the DRLs, auto door locks, tire pressure monitor and rear visibility. So, both do exceptionally well in overall safety. I don't find these differences to be enough to justify a decision one way or another. The Odyssey is also a few hundred pounds heavier, has a bigger engine and may not be quite as fuel efficient. Though both are rated 19mpg city by the EPA, the new Odyssey seems to generate an unusual number of gas mileage complaints in user forums, even on the VCM models.
So, it's still a tossup. Neither of us found any features critical enough to rule out one or the other. Both are very good minivians. The Sienna invoice price is about $600 lower in my area, even after you consider freight and TDA (Toyota advertising fee). The cost of the optional Sienna carpeted floormats and cargo net roughly balance the optional Honda roofrack crossbars, so that's about a wash to equalize the accessories. If I can find a local dealer willing to do $300 over invoice with a refundable deposit on a 2006 Sienna, I will probably order one and save nearly $600 based on local out-the-door prices, not to mention the cost of the foglights and OEM accessories I'd want with the Odyssey. If I can't find a Sienna at a good price, I will probably order an Odyssey instead.
Another unlisted advantage for the Odyssey is that I really like the local service department. They've been honest and efficient for the nearly 5 years I've used them. Odyssey ordering is also easier, as understanding and finding the Sienna options packages you want can be cryptic. In my region, I get package BZ (power driver seat, windshield wiper deicer, stability control, passenger side power sliding door, overhead multi info display, homelink, DRLs, anti-theft immobilizer, rear discs). Other areas can get various other configurations, like package BW that is even a few hundred dollars less but does not have the power driver's seat. Some southern Toyota regions force you to pay extra for protection/appearance packages on all Siennas:-( Depending where you live and the time of the year, you may not be able to easily get a Sienna with the exact options you want.
I hope this helps someone else looking at 8-passenger models. Ultimately, we wanted the convenience of an 8th seat to go along with side curtain airbags, stability control and a 60/40 folding 3rd row seat. Both these models meet all our needs. So, unless someone else can come up with something I missed, it will be a tough decision. I hope to make it in the next couple weeks, but since I'm not in any real hurry I could wait for bargain pricing to appear at year's end.
Last edited by caviller on 08-28-2005 at 07:42 PM
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OdyClub Forums > General Forums > Minivan Comparisons > 2006 Odyssey EX vs. Sienna LE8
08-18-2005 07:14 PM
