Entries tagged with “minivan” from Car & Caboodle

So you've already decided you want a minivan? You may have narrowed it down to these two popular models. What's the difference? Leave it to a mom who has tested both the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey, to tell you the stuff that really matters.

Performance:

Torque Schmorque. The Toyota Sienna feels slightly lighter and more sporty on level turns. But it's slow to accelerate on hills. The Honda Odyssey rode steady and never lost power on us.

Score: Honda Odyssey

Car Seat Placement:

Honda's Odyssey gives you three places to latch a kid's carseat, two in the second row and one in the center of the third. Toyota's Sienna supports your brood by giving you four placements - two in the second and two in the third. This may all be moot, however, if your carseat is the style that uses the latch plus the lap belt, and the placement of the latch makes buckling the belt (or the adjacent passenger's belt) impossible. You really do need to get yourself, your kids and all their assorted carseats to a dealer, and strap everyone in.  But hey, it's fun to watch the salesmen's faces when you drag four crumb strewn carseats out of your car and introduce them into the floor model!

In a nifty addition the Toyota Sienna offers a front and center seat option that allows you to pull the second row center seat, closer to the front row, which can be reassuring for parents with small kids. 

Score: Honda Odyssey

Comfort and Convenience:

We found the seats in the Toyota Sienna a little stiff and unyielding. Fine for short trips but not very comfy for long rides. The Honda Odyssey seating, on the other hand, was as cush and supportive as it gets. Even after a long day of driving, there was no telltale bum ache. 

Both cars were similarly equipped with automatic sliding doors and remote rear liftgate. The control buttons for the Honda Odyssey were located to the left of the steering wheel on the dash, which takes some getting used to. The Toyota Sienna places the door and lift controls on the ceiling above the center console. The price for this is moving the sunglasses storage to the left side of the ceiling, just inside the driver's door. Either way, lefties will rejoice, righties will complain.

Both vehicles offer enough cupholders for everyone to drink two fisted. I lost count after a dozen. It's more cupholders than anyone really needs. I'm telling you people, when you have more cupholders, you have more forgotten, leaky, sticky, smelly drinks growing weird cultures in your vehicle.

Finally the rear liftgate closes on it's own at the push of a button when you are done unloading the Honda Odyssey. In the Toyota Sienna you will need to pull on a strap to get the liftgate to close. Pull hard, it's not for the faint of heart. At that point, you may as well close it yourself!

Score: Toyota Sienna

Electronics and Entertainment:

Both models were similarly equipped with DVD, Navigation, Rear View cameras, Auxilliary inputs and CD and Satellite radio. The problem was getting to it all in the Honda Odyssey. The auxilliary input , DVD player and car charger location were placed on the center console below the pull out cupholders. Technically you did not need to use these cupholders, but if you do, you'll need to get someone to ride shotgun to plug in your cell. And their cell had better be fully juiced. There's only one jack up front.

The Toyota Sienna is also challenged. The DVD needs to be loaded into the console in the ceiling, closer to the second row than the first. It would be a challenge, even at a stoplight, to get a video loaded for your wee offspring. You'll need someone with DVD loading experience, to sit in the second row to handle this. Fortunately most four yr olds have that skill. Unfortunately they don't have the height to accomplish this without unbuckling! The good news, Mom and Dad can both charge their cells at the same time.

Score: Honda Odyssey

Appearance:

My test model Toyota Sienna was a dukey tan. Which has got to be my least favorite minivan color. Sure it's practical and does not show dirt. But I'm not one to be thrilled about "not showing" how dirty I am.  I tried not to let it color my opinion of the vehicle.  The Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, was a sleek black. Sleek like Shamu, anyway. I think any way you slice it, a minivan looks like a minivan. It's not cute, sporty or sexy. It is what it is. Neither of the two tested vehicles made me look like I'd lost ten lbs and both probably aged me at least five years. Something I was willing to accept in return for a key fob that flung all the doors open from across the street.

Score: Neither!

Cargo Space

We did not notice a difference in how many kids, grocery bags or strollers fit into either of the models tested. Both were formidable in their ability to haul our large family and mountains of stuff. Technically, according to the specs however, the Toyota holds more.

Score: Toyota Sienna

Final Analysis:

There was no clear winner in this article. Ultimately it's up to you to choose - but knowing the "little things" like where the sunglasses cases are located - can sometimes be just the thing to swing your vote.

"I don't care how much my SUV costs me, you'll never catch me in a minivan!"

"The sliding doors, the space, I don't know what I would do without it."

"I wouldn't be caught dead..."

"My elderly parents and kids matter to me more than looking cool."

If you want to start a heated debate amongst moms, forget about politics. Ask them about their cars. Then ask them if they would ever consider driving a minivan. Now put on your safety goggles and buckle up because the conversation could get very bumpy.

I recently polled a large group of moms, asking them for their candid car stories and reasons why they loved or hated their vans. It wasn't just for fun. I'm currently in the market for a new car. As the mom of four kids, size is really an issue for us. We have two young stroller-aged kids in carseats and two older ones that frequently bring along their nearly adult-sized friends and piles of school and sports gear. Thus there are days when I have wondered if I'd be better off with a maxivan. Something akin to the airport shuttle. Especially if they'd drop me by the terminal and let me gate check myself for the next flight to Tahiti.

When you have three or more kids, everyone knowingly advises you to get a minivan. It's practically a given. A given that makes many moms bristle -  like you've questioned their right to vote.

While every vehicle option seems to come with strings (be they social, environmental, or other) no vehicle stirs up strong emotions amongst moms quite like a minivan. It's the old station wagon on steriods and as a social icon, it's fully loaded with more than a DVD player and leather seats.

When I set out to write this piece I hoped to set aside my own emotions and  learn from the insights of others. And in my quest for automobile enlightenment I came across some fine tales.

Stay tuned over the course of the next few days. We're bringing you both sides of the argument and we welcome comments from readers as well. I already know what I am buying. Perhaps this discussion will help another mom (or dad) make up their mind as well.

In the meantime, here's an episode of "Mom my Ride" for you. It's an oldie, but a goodie!

Part 2: The Minivan Wars: Moms Against Minivans
Part 3: The Minivan Wars: Moms Who Love Their Minivans Speak Up

What's next? Got any ideas you'd like to see integrated into a minivan?

For dads who feel like their minivan needs some manly personality, check out how Gear Dad from DadLabs adds some spice to his family minivan.

Jalopnik: 2008 Dodge Caravan Good Up Front, Can't Take It In The Rear

Jalopnik reports that the IIHS Crash Test results for the new 2008 Dodge Caravan are less than stellar.

The minivan, which is all new for 2008, received "good" marks in frontal and side impact crashes, which are improvements over the old model's "average" and "poor" performances, respectively. The problem area was the rear impact crash test, where the Caravan received "marginal" marks, the second lowest score.

The Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona and Hyundai Entourage all have received "good" scores in all three tests.

Get over your minivan lifestyle with the humorous help of Jeannie Tate. This whole episode really was filmed in a minivan. I'd drive one too if I could be this funny about it. View additional episodes at JeannieTate.com.

AutoBlog: C-Max and Kuga may follow Euro Focus to the U.S.

AutoBlog reports that Ford officials have confirmed their intent to bring the Kuga, a compact CUV, and the C-Max, a people-moving cousin of the Mazda5, to the US. No details yet on when we can expect their arrival, but it's good to see that Ford is willing to bring some new  family-friendly vehicles across the Atlantic.

Gizmag: Tummy Shield seat belt keeps mother and baby safe

Auto-related injuries are the leading cause of fetal loss in pregnant women, and there is a new product out of Australia that aims to stop that loss. The Tummy Shield certainly isn't the first maternity seat belt adapter, but the design is definitely interesting!

Car and Driver: Chrysler extends $2.99 gasoline deal

Chrysler's promotion guaranteeing $2.99 gas for three years is generating lots of waves in the automotive industry, and has reportedly increased traffic up to 20% in showrooms since the May 7 Launch. Originally slated to end June 2, executives have extended the promotion until July 7. The Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Journey and the Chrysler Sebring are selling the best in this promotion.  Less thrifty vehicles like the SRT line, Viper and Jeep Wrangler do not apply.

Kelley Blue Book: 2008 Best New Road Trip Vehicles

Kelley Blue Book has put together a list of the Best New Road Trip Vehicles for 2008, with some... interesting... choices on board. I don't think i'd bring any Cheerios or Goldfish if we were going to Grandma's in my Bugatti!

Name:  Clay Nichols

Where I live:  Austin, Texas

Our Family Car:  2003 Mazda MPV

Number of Kids:  3

Ages:  9, 6, 3

by Teresa Fernandez

As a mother of four girls, I some times feel like I spend all day on the road. Taking the kids to and from school and running errands is just the half of it. Fortunately I love my Dodge Grand Caravan.

Great Entertainment Package
My day starts early, but it's after breakfast is over, the two oldest are on the bus, and my "to do list" is written, that my day of driving begins. Loading the baby in her infant seat into the van is easy as I don't have to stoop down, and the size of sliding door gives me plenty of space to get the carrier into and out of the van without banging it about. My four-year-old joyously "calls for" the remote as she has no one older to contest with. Having a DVD player in the vehicle is wonderful and the six disc changer gives the kids a variety without the annoyance of having to insert disc after disc. It is especially nice when we make the long trek to the grandparents only having to swap out the DVDs once, instead of the 10 times it used to take. Also, when I get tired of listening to cheesy cartoon dialog and dreamy princess love songs, the wireless headphones affords me the luxury of alternative rock while the kids are still pleasantly entertained.

by David Yorkin

I live in a town where your whole being is judged by what you drive. Los Angeles is a place where you have to be cool, while simultaneously appearing not to be trying to be cool.

Let me give you an example: to the enlightened Angelino, a brand new road-chomping one-hundred-fifty-thousand dollar Porsche Carrera is merely of a manifestation of an insecure ego, whereas a sluggish old four-cylinder Porsche 912 speaks of... well, effortless coolness coursing through your bloodstream. Forget performance. Image is everything.  The difference between the two vehicles could cost you a second date with the uber babe of your dreams.

Okay, I hyperbolize.  Truth is, I haven't had a second date with an uber babe during the last ten years I've been married to my wife. Except her, of course. Still, even though my hair has disappeared and paunch expanded, I'm still acutely conscious of my slowly waning cool factor.