Driven then Compared! The 2014 Honda Odyssey vs. 2014 Toyota Sienna SE

Driven then Compared! The 2014 Honda Odyssey vs. 2014 Toyota Sienna SE

by James Hamel

Introduction

Where many car companies are abandoning the minivan genre in favor of more politically and socially acceptable SUV crossovers, both Toyota and Honda pulled out all of the stops when redesigning their all new for 2014 models. Do realize this review speaks only of the SE variant of the 2014 Toyota Sienna, which comes with a sporty yet still compliant suspension set-up, a sport steering rack eerily similar to that of last year’s Odyssey.

In fact, the 2014 Toyota Sienna SE stands up as my favorite vehicle from this sometimes troubled automaker. Yes, the simple fact is that the most fun to drive Toyota is their minivan. Sure, Honda invented the fun to drive minivan with last generation’s model, but this time out they focused their attention on a more experimental exterior design, whereas the Sienna SE looks like something built to carry giant loaves of bread. Yes, it is your typical minivan that looks a lot like a breadbox so don’t expect any daredevil visual radicalism in the vein of Toyota’s classic mid-engined space egg classic from the 1990s known as the Previa.

The other derivatives of the Sienna totally lose out on the whole fun to drives ethos that the Sienna SE and Honda Odyssey embody most which is a way of screaming out, “just because I have spare children, graying temples and too many responsibilities, you don’t have to send in that early application to the Vatican for Sainthood.

Will these minivans make you into a dork?

Truly, driving dynamics are where the 2014 Honda Odyssey and 2014 Toyota Sienna SE are most evenly matched in power, steering and handling with body roll kept to a minimum and the SE only (why, Toyota?) steering rack is simply sublime and possibly a bit sharper but no less communicative and sporty than the Odyssey’s. Engines are also evenly matched with the 2014 Toyota Sienna SE’s 3.5-liter V-6 engine, making 266-horsepower and 243 lb-feet of torque while Honda’s Odyssey is also a 3.5 liter V6 and pumps out a nice and solid 248 horsepower/250 lb. feet of torque.

Both the Honda and Toyota V6 engines are truly gems in the auto industry with both eliciting screeching metallic howls as they approached the redline which seriously aids in instigating less than responsible driving behavior. And since both of these vans ride and handle so well you can’t go wrong with either one from the driver’s seat perspective. The Sienna returns an EPA estimated 19 miles per gallon city/24 highway whereas my Touring Elite Odyssey came equipped with a 6-speed automatic that helped it achieve 19 city/28 highway and 22 miles per gallon over its weeklong stay in my care.

Where the Toyota Falls Short

The interior of the Toyota Sienna SE is perfectly tolerable in isolation but after seeing the Odyssey’s cabin with its upscale Acura-like dashboard and premium interior feel, the Sienna SE’s part leatherette/cloth seat trim, faux carbon-fiber on the dash and cheap feeling plastics that don’t look built to withstand the rigors of a difficult childhood. With the 2014 Honda Odyssey SE there are a number of trim levels with all the latest high tech in-car entertainment coming in as standard for a about $43,000.

Granted, the Sienna SE starts in the $30,000 (there are more reasonably equipped Odyssey models starting at about $28,000) range but quite frankly it just feels like a less well engineered and thought out minivan no matter what the sticker price says. Also, even though some claim the Odyssey is weird looking, I give Honda credit for trying a new approach to the tried and true minivan exterior style. I find that often times the automotive shapes that challenge us initially wind up aging far better than a car that just looks fresh and nice straight off the bat. But the Odyssey’s beauty is more than skin deep.

You see, where you never really lose sight of the Sienna’s length and girth, the Odyssey really feels like it shrinks down around the driver the harder you push it. The interior, too, is a miracle of packaging as the Odyssey can seat 8 or can accommodate 5 full size car seats. If you tried to squeeze and eighth person into the Sienna SE’s “occasional” half seat you might want a Vegas magician to cut them in half for the ride home.

Cargo room is also far more ample and the cargo hold behind the third row is deeper and more usefully shaped than the Sienna SE’s still more than ample cargo hold. But you do notice there is more room to stretch in the Odyssey. Cargo room is also more than ample even with all three rows in use with 38.4 cubic feet of cargo room still available. Behind the second row of seats there is 93.1 cubic feet of space and with all the rear seats folded cargo volume explodes to a studio apartment swallowing 148.5 cubic feet.

So although the Sienna SE boasts a perfectly adequate and well- designed cargo bay, it just can’t compete with the Odyssey when it comes to being the perfect all around family car package. Still not convinced? The Odyssey is the only minivan to have passed the NHTSA test with a five star crash test safety score and also win a “Best Safety Pick” honor from the insurance institute of highway safety. Your minivan hauls your family; shouldn’t you buy the safest one?

Conclusion (Winner: 2014 Honda Odyssey)

In all honesty, Toyota should have offered up the SE suspension/steering/handling fixes on all of its models and I take issue with having to buy a “special edition” of a minivan just to feel my pulse. Lastly, as I don’t have kids I often times rent a friend’s family (3 kids, mom, dad) for the weekend just to test out they withstand real life chaos.

Let’s just say the Odyssey was a calmer, happier, quieter place and all of the three kids kept begging me to leave the keys with them the entire time. Safe and happy children might be the greatest gift besides you own driving pleasure that comes with 2014 Odyssey ownership. Oh yes, that and the built in wastebasket for back seat passengers. Now why did not one think of that before? This invention comes from the “why did no one do this before file” and could have saved parents from years of the pain and anguish from sticky lollipops and spilled Sippy cups full of milk. And that’s just priceless.

Why This Ride?

– The Odyssey’s interior is of a higher quality, has more handy features and is simply more comfortable

– Only the Sienna SE is really fun to drive thanks to suspension and steering modifications

– All Odyssey models are fun to drive

– The Honda has a built in vacuum. Enough said.

– Our very own Honda tuner Jon Gala called the Odyssey “a whole lot of fun to drive, nothing like a minivan”

Photos by James Hamel and Todd A. Allen