Honda Acura Examiner takes a closer look at the race between Honda and Toyota to dominate the family minivan segment. It’s a darn close sales race between Odyssey and Sienna. As we take a closer look at Honda’s ‘refreshed’ 2016 Odyssey SE, we rank 2016 Honda Odyssey SE # 1 in the minivan segment for superior standard features.
End-production-cycle Odyssey (mostly) unchanged for 2016
We won’t see any engine or transmission changes for Odyssey in 2016. With the dealership arrival of 2016 Odyssey the week of August 4, buyers may be compelled to sign the bottom line on a new Odyssey lease or purchase-ownership.
Odyssey's base MSRP($29,275)remains unchanged for 2016, with the addition of a SE model into the Odyssey lineup. Honda and Toyota dominate the minivan segment, it's a close competition with Odyssey outselling Sienna in July by 1300 units. Year to date, Sienna is in the sales lead with 82,797 units sold, compared to Odyssey's 75,487. like I said, it’s a very close “Battle of the Minivans” with Toyota Sienna taking the sales lead by less than 7400 units.
Odyssey/Sienna takes the ‘mini’ out of minivan
Featuring the utility of a stretch cab F150, the interior accoutrements of a Lexus or Acura TLX, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna present a drive and ride experience akin to many premium cars on the road today. They’re not the minivans of the last century. Gone is the truck-based platform, cab-intrusive engine housing and live rear axle hump, replaced by a roomy and quiet flat-deck ride and haul environment.
Greater utility, car-like handling , greater fuel economy
Today’s modern minivan offers the utility of a highly transformable interior, passenger/ hauling configurable seating technology with near flat-deck capability. And, they’re fashionable enough to take out on the town without forwarding a list of excuses to your running partners.
Arguably, 2016 Honda Odyssey is the most progressive, family friendly, future forward minivan design presented by Honda to date. We've reported on the Odyssey drive and ride experience in length, so, what’s new for Odyssey in 2016?
Odyssey SE Edition @ $33,375 beats Toyota Sienna on the bottom line
Honda brings a greater standard feature-packed Odyssey online in the form of the 2016 Odyssey Special Edition. Priced between the entry level Odyssey EX($32,425) and the Odyssey EX-L($35,925) the Special Edition will come standard equipped with a rear entertainment system,(EMS)115 volt power outlet, Sirius FM radio, and Honda’s award winning rear Honda-Vac ™ built in vacuum system.
A comparably equipped Toyota Sienna SE Premium 8 passenger MSRPs at $39,780 +, but the devil is in the details. We find Toyota’s internet shopping tools to be a bit tricky when comparing competing models.
Honda utilized this Special Edition branding strategy toward the successful sell out of the Honda Ridgeline pickup, we anticipate the same success for 2016 Odyssey. Scheduled for a total redesign in 2017, Honda Odyssey will return to market with the most advanced suite of active safety features in minivan history!
In an apples to apples comparison of these two top minivan contenders, we give the nod to Honda for greater standard features(Toyota does not pack a built in vacuum cleaner) and Toyota the thumbs up for exterior design, and uptick interior finishes.
Written by Park Mcants
Honda and Acura Examiner
