2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors were a boon for parents, making it easier to load toddlers into car seats without the hassle of narrow SUV doors. The Odyssey offered a comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpool kids with ease. Its cargo space was impressive, rivaling that of a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded down and the second-row seats removed. Despite the minivan stigma, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim. The interior was spacious, with leather upholstery and a user-friendly centre stack, although the switchgear placement initially seemed haphazard.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to shed the traditional minivan image with its sleek design, reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. The Sienna offered a variety of trims, including the sporty XSE with 20-inch wheels and the new 25th Anniversary Special Edition. The interior was well-received, featuring high-quality materials like brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents. The Sienna provided seating for seven or eight passengers, with the option for three-across car seats in the middle row. While the Sienna's design and features were appealing, it was the practical aspects, such as the power-sliding doors and power liftgate with kick sensors, that made it a smart choice for families.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls, but lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, unlike its competitors. The Odyssey's fuel consumption was estimated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, which was higher than the hybrid Toyota Sienna's 6.6 L/100 km. Despite this, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes were prone to heating up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, came standard with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with electric motors for a total of 245 horsepower. While this was less powerful than the Odyssey, the Sienna's chassis and steering were praised for their nimbleness and ease of driving. The Sienna offered multiple drive modes, but the CVT's sound and lackluster acceleration were noted drawbacks. Despite these issues, the Sienna was fun to drive, especially in city settings, thanks to its light steering and tidy turning radius.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered a spacious and practical interior, with easy access due to its low ride height and wide-opening doors. The Touring trim featured quality leather seats, tri-zone climate control, and an onboard vacuum cleaner. Storage was abundant, with numerous cubbies and trays throughout the cabin. The Magic Slide second-row seats were a standout feature, allowing for flexible seating arrangements and easy access to the third row. The Odyssey provided 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,452 litres with the third row folded, and a massive 3,984 litres with the second row removed.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna also excelled in interior space and storage solutions. It featured a large open cubby below the centre console, a long shelf across the dash, and numerous cupholders. The Sienna's cargo space was impressive, with 949 litres behind the third row and 2,129 litres with the third row folded. However, the middle row could not be removed, limiting total cargo space to 2,860 litres. The second-row captain's chairs were highly functional, with extending ottomans and long sliding tracks for added comfort. The Sienna's third-row seats offered ample legroom, accommodating adults comfortably.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. However, the infotainment system was considered outdated compared to rivals, with a small screen and lack of a tuning knob. The Touring trim included CabinWatch and CabinTalk systems, a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. Despite these features, the Odyssey's technology package was seen as underwhelming and in need of an upgrade.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, while not featuring Toyota's latest tech, offered a reliable infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included physical buttons, which were appreciated for their ease of use. However, the interface felt dated and required wired connections for smartphone integration. The Sienna's 12-speaker JBL audio system was praised for its sound quality, but the overall technology package was seen as lacking compared to newer models.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. However, the system lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety credentials.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its comprehensive safety technology, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. These features were part of the Toyota Safety Sense package, ensuring a high level of safety for families. The Sienna also received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, matching its competitors in safety performance.