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Toyota refers to Sienna as the original "Swagger-wagon,"and granted, it’s cool looking in a soccer-mom kind of way. In steps Honda Odyssey, the best selling minivan in the U.S. for the month of July. Well, Honda is in the middle of its “Summer Drive Event,” with .09% financing offered on the Odyssey.
End-production-cycle Odyssey (mostly) unchanged for 2016
With 2016 models coming to market the week of August 4, buyers may be compelled to sign the bottom line on a new Odyssey lease or purchase, with new ownership pushing the sales numbers up a bit. Honda has just pulled a 'wild-card' buyer's incentive with 2016 Odyssey Special Edition.
It's a close competition with Odyssey outselling Sienna in July by 1300 units. Year to date, Sienna is in the 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 take 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.
Whats it do, whats it cost…
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?
Greater standard features, less $. Odyssey SE Edition $33,375
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,115 volt power outlet,Sirius FM radio, and Honda’s award winning rear Honda-Vac ™ built in vacuum system.
Which minivan offers the better value in premium minivan ownership?
A comparably equipped Toyota Sienna SE Premium 8 passenger MSRPs at $39,780 +, but the devil is in the details. You may view comparably equipped Honda/Toyota offerings here.
Honda utilized this strategy toward the successful sell out of the Honda Ridgeline pickup. Scheduled for a total redesign in 2017, Honda Odyssey will come to market with the most advanced suite of active safety features in minivan history, and a combined MPG exceeding 30 highway.
With Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna battling for the retention of the #1 spot in minivan sales, both makers present an exceptional package, combining, comfort, performance and safety in a good looking, aerodynamic people mover. For me Honda Odyssey takes the lead for innovation and bulletproof mechanical reliability, with Toyota taking a slight edge in aerodynamic good looks.
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