Choosing the right car for your whole family can be very hard and when consumers must choose between the 2014 Toyota Sienna and 2014 Honda Odyssey they have a tough decision on their hands. But one factor that seems to shine through in the debate is fuel efficiency. Little lower fuel economy at highway the 2014 Toyota Sienna will improve by offering the new 2014 Toyota Sienna Hybrid.
The Odyssey and the Sienna both offer confident handling, roomy interiors, high safety ratings and a choice of seven- or eight-passenger seating. The Odyssey’s second-row seat is uniquely versatile, and its V6 engine is unusually fuel efficient. The Sienna offers all-wheel drive, front fog lights as standard and6-speed automatic transmission. Despite its bigger size Odyssey offers a little less room for passengers and their luggage.
The Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 248 horsepower. Only front-wheel drive is available. Fuel economy is 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway.
The Sienna’s standard 187-horsepower 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine can be upgraded to a 266-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Buyers can also choose between front- and all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway for the smaller engine, 18/25 for the front-wheel drive V6, and 17/23 for the AWD V6. Also Toyota is going to offer the 2014 Sienna Hybrid which will rise the fuel economy to 30 mpg city/29 mpg highway.
Both vehicles offer a full complement of safety devices. The Odyssey earned five stars and the Sienna earned four stars on the NHTSA side pole crash test. The Odyssey integrates a premium audio system paired with 12 speakers, 5.1 Surround Sound Theater Mode, 15 GB hard drive memory, speed-sensitive volume, and rear sound controls. The rear DVD entertainment system features one screen and HDMI technology. The Sienna’s system uses ten speakers, surround-sound, auto sound leveling, and music streaming via Bluetooth. The rear dual-view DVD entertainment center uses a 16.4-inch display.
After adding up the characteristics for each minivan, it appears the Honda Odyssey comes out ahead mainly due to more advanced technology and more versatile second-row seating. However, these advantages come with a price; the Odyssey usually costs more than competing minivans with comparable features. When 2014 Toyota Sienna Hybrid comes to market it will be way in front of the competitors