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Ody vs Sienna Second row seat comparison

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9.9K views 22 replies 15 participants last post by  CPSDarren  
J
#1 ·
Can somebody tell me why one would prefer the second row tumble seats of an 05 Sienna over the second row seats of the 05 Odyssey?

To get into the 3rd row of the Sienna, you have to unlatch the bottom back of the 2nd row seat from the floor and tumble the seat forward. In the Odyssey, the 2nd row seat works like the front passenger seat in my 2-door Accord; you lift a latch and the seatback folds forward a little and the seat slides forward.

Also, from what I've seen, to move the passenger side 2nd row seat over next to the driver side one in the Odyssey you unlatch the back bottom of the seat (which seems to sorta of give it the tumble motion of the Sienna) and then just slide the seat over and then latch it back down, but in the Sienna you have to unatch both the back and front of the seat, lift it up and move it over and then latch both back and front down again.

Seems to me that the Odyssey if a whole lot more convenient, but I've heard some folks comment that they miss the tumble seats of the Sienna and I can't figure out why.
 
J
#3 ·
My dad just got a Sienna, and when I got in the third row last weekend of the Sienna I do not remember unlatching the second row. Maybe i did and did not notice it. So that tells me that its not a big deal to do it, or I am skinny enough to get into the third row without unlatching the seat. :stupid:

I think you are right about moving the seat over, a lot easier in the ody and folding down the third row is a lot easier in the Ody as well.

To me the Sienna has its plusses and so does the Ody, its just all about what you think is important. After looking and driving my dad's Sienna, I am glad I got the Ody. Don't tell him that. :)
 
D
#4 ·
On initial impression, I liked the Sienna design better. It was easier to flip and fold the seat for entry than the fold and slide of the Odyssey, and the Sienna design gave more entry room (going off my memory from last year). Of course neither of these designs work with a carseat installed...

That being said, i LOVE that I can slide our seat to the center position and back without removing the carseat. Can't do that in the Sienna, and it's something I do several times a week depending on whether I want the two girls (1 and 3) to be able to reach each other or not :D
 
M
#5 ·
A coworker has the Sienna and likes the Odyssey design better. According to him, when the headrests are up on the Sienna, the seat will not tumble forward all the way so the seat gets in the way. So they end up lowering the headrest first, then the seatback folds forward, then you tumble the seat forward.

I just wish that the Ody had a memory feature similar to two door coupes so that the seatback isn't leaning forward by default.
 
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Y
#7 ·
Here is a counterpoint. While I like the Odyssey and the seats overall, allowing the middle row to tumble forward would have made it easier for my large dogs to hop in the back. In addition, I sometimes still wish the Ody had the rear quarter vents for them as well.

Fortunately, now that we have the one seat moved to the center, the dogs can slip by....;)
 
A
#8 · (Edited)
The sienna's 2nd row seat was designed to have more flexibility and use of it. By tumbling you increase room for cargo and much more when you take out all the second row seats. Each design has pros and cons. Ody wins in ease of use when moving seat to center from the side and vice versa. Other than that , the sienna's design has more plusses to it. Actually, it only takes very minimum effort to tumble the seat. When you fully push the lever down, it disengages the folding and tumbling mechanism of the seat. The momentum of the seat folding forward helps ease the tumbling plus the spring loaded mechanism helps it make it easier. You have to actually try it to see what i mean.
 
O
#9 ·
My sister bought a Sienna a week ago and I was with her when she test-drove an Ody and the Sienna. I personally rode in the middle seat of the 2nd row in the Sienna and was relatively comfortable between my DD's Britax Roundabout (forward-facing) and my other DD's booster seat.

I don't think any reasonable person would be comfortable in the extra seat in the Ody. It's incredibly narrow and doesn't look very comfortable.

As for flipping the seats, it's a no-brainer. Quick and easy.

Just my $.02!

-Holly
 
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M
#10 ·
Neither van has a particularly good solution for those of us with carseats in the second row. The Sienna cannot tilt forwards without removing the carseat, and the Ody cannot slide forward without at least loosening the carseat. Why can't the Ody slide forwards without tilting the seatback? How hard could that be?

But, the Sienna second row wins (with us at least) overall because the console can be placed in the front row, while our Ody console is in the garage!
 
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O
#12 ·
caviller said:
Don't you lose the sliding function of the 2nd row passenger seat in the Sienna if you get the 8-passenger version?
Click to expand...
Not sure what you mean about losing the sliding function. The second row seat behind the passenger does flip forward to allow access to the back row. And I believe it slides forward, too (trying to remember a couple of weeks ago!).

I'm really impressed with my sister's Sienna and would seriously consider moving to that car when the time comes (only 8 more years to go!).

-Holly
 
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#13 ·
I thought I read that the second row passenger seat on the Sienna indexed from outboard to middle, much like the Odyssey, but only on the 7 passenger version. Apparently, I am mistaken...

I'm also curious about the third row seats. Do either or both flip rearward for tailgate mode, like the older Odyssey? In our '01 Odyssey, tailgate mode is pretty woeful for comfort unless you are under 10...
 
O
#14 ·
caviller said:
I thought I read that the second row passenger seat on the Sienna indexed from outboard to middle, much like the Odyssey, but only on the 7 passenger version. Apparently, I am mistaken...

I'm also curious about the third row seats. Do either or both flip rearward for tailgate mode, like the older Odyssey? In our '01 Odyssey, tailgate mode is pretty woeful for comfort unless you are under 10...
Click to expand...
I see what you're talking about. Not sure about the seat moving side to side in the 8-passenger van. I can ask my sister if you'd like.

Regarding the tailgate mode, I don't think they do that. They have a 60/40 split and can roll down into the back of the van (like the Ody).

Hope that helps!

-holly
 
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N
#15 ·
jjvance said:
Can somebody tell me why one would prefer the second row tumble seats of an 05 Sienna over the second row seats of the 05 Odyssey?

To get into the 3rd row of the Sienna, you have to unlatch the bottom back of the 2nd row seat from the floor and tumble the seat forward. In the Odyssey, the 2nd row seat works like the front passenger seat in my 2-door Accord; you lift a latch and the seatback folds forward a little and the seat slides forward.

Also, from what I've seen, to move the passenger side 2nd row seat over next to the driver side one in the Odyssey you unlatch the back bottom of the seat (which seems to sorta of give it the tumble motion of the Sienna) and then just slide the seat over and then latch it back down, but in the Sienna you have to unatch both the back and front of the seat, lift it up and move it over and then latch both back and front down again.

Seems to me that the Odyssey if a whole lot more convenient, but I've heard some folks comment that they miss the tumble seats of the Sienna and I can't figure out why.
Click to expand...


I liked the Sienna's 2nd tumble feature, because with the two baby car seats the ODY you cannot slide the 2nd row seat forward so their is not access to the third row.
 
M
#16 ·
Does anyone know why the Ody seats don't slide forwards unless the seatback is folded down?

This is extremely annoying to those of us with carseats!
 
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#18 ·
a bit of news about Sienna's second row...

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8BFAKFG0.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db

Probably not a super huge safety concern, since the problem occurs after the belts are unbuckled (and the van is presumably safely at a standstill), but it sure would be a bummer in the middle of a road trip. On the other hand, kinda makes you wonder if they'd bind up and allow excessive slack immediately before a real accident. I always did have some doubts about the belts being built into the seats - while nice that they're out of the way, don't seem as safe as if they were mounted on the pillars.
 
#19 ·
OdyBahn said:
a bit of news about Sienna's second row...

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8BFAKFG0.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db

Probably not a super huge safety concern, since the problem occurs after the belts are unbuckled (and the van is presumably safely at a standstill), but it sure would be a bummer in the middle of a road trip. On the other hand, kinda makes you wonder if they'd bind up and allow excessive slack immediately before a real accident. I always did have some doubts about the belts being built into the seats - while nice that they're out of the way, don't seem as safe as if they were mounted on the pillars.
Click to expand...
The front seatbelts in our 2001 Odyssey do this sometimes. The buckle ends up getting smashed in the door because they don't reel in very well after you unbuckle and are getting out of the car. Then I have to coax it back into the retractor.

As you said, I doubt it's a safety issue unless you wiggle around a lot and slack occurs while buckled. In a crash, the retractor mechanism does lock automatically. You can test it with a sharp tug or quick braking, depending on the system used. Some vehicles offer pre-tensioners which use pyrotechnics or motors to reel in slack at the moment a crash is detected. At least Toyota has a fix....
 
#21 ·
egads said:
caviller, there is a TSB on the slow to retract seat belts. It was driving me crazy. They fixed it during my last oil change. Honda seat belts are warrantied for the life vehicle, no questions asked.
Now if I could just get the door to stay open.....
Click to expand...
Nice- if you have a TSB number from a receipt by chance, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
 
E
#22 · (Edited)
Well they did not site a TSB on my invoice. Just that customer reports seatbelt slow to retract. I do have a list of TSBs that I printed out from a thread here some time ago. On that list the seat belt one is: 03-062 SEP 03 Interior-Seat Belts Slow to Retract.
And because everyone will want to know just where that thread is, here is a link:
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21095
 
#23 ·
egads said:
Well they did not site a TSB on my invoice. Just that customer reports seatbelt slow to retract. I do have a list of TSBs that I printed out from a thread here some time ago. On that list the seat belt one is: 03-062 SEP 03 Interior-Seat Belts Slow to Retract.
And because everyone will want to know just where that thread is, here is a link:
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21095
Click to expand...
Perfect- thanks!
 
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