2018 Honda Odyssey EX-L vs. 2018 Toyota Sienna XLE: Faceoff Comparison 

Excellent video! Very smartly portrayed. You sound young, but very smart!

As a mechanic and not a soccer mom, I have to go with Toyota.

honda has the better interior and exterior, but Toyota has the more reliable powertrain. even though the Sienna is an older design, the mechanical upgrades make it a better choice in my opinion

Two major factors for me...1 an AWD option and 2 a timing chain engine. You decide!

Really enjoyed this video. Watched it twice. Thank you. Subscribed.

Here in Canada, Toyota's AWD is winner over any other minivans. Even a little push from the rear wheels helps a lot in handling in snow, and most importantly gives you more confidence feeling.

My parents have a 2017 odyssey and I have a 2011 Sienna. There’s many similarities/differences between the functions of this van, it’s very much preferences. The biggest difference between these two is the power train. It’s true when everyone says the Sienna’s power train is bulletproof, with over 200,000km the power is still very linear and smooth unlike the odyssey. My parents would definitely buy a Sienna and I look forward to my next one.

My criteria for minivan: 1. Reliable, don’t let the family stay at the road side; 2. Space, that’s minivan for, otherwise buy a SUV or wagon; 3. Easy to maneuver, bigger interior space but small exterior, easy parking and turn; 4. Good price... top 3 go to Sienna

I HATE CENTRAL MONITORING SYSTEMS YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THINGS WITH JUST BEING ABLE TO FEEL THEM AND NOT HAVING TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF THE ROAD

My 1998 Sienna still going strong..! My uncle's 03 Odyssey had an engine light issue that they never could fix it, even they replaced the transmission.

I would go for the Sienna.

Thanks a lot. The most in depth and practical comparison I saw.

You nailed it! Awesome video! Keep doing what you doing. In the future would like to see Highlander vs... whatever you decide as compatible.... I really loved this video!

Love the side by side take. Best comparison yet

did a good job of comparing this two nice van

Thanks you for your video. I like it.

This was SO helpful!!!!!

I would also note the stowaway jump seat in the Sienna. It fits conveniently into a dedicated compartment in the back without giving up any storage space, which as can be seen in the video is not the case for the Odyssey.

Awesome video, I loved well done the review... now I know which one to buy!😍😍

Excellent documentary, thanks you very much.

Nice review and comparison. Thanks.

Very interesting perspective. The side by side comparison was enlightening.

Thank you for doing this.👍🏼

Why didn't the Sienna get a point for the 110 household outlet? We use that plug all the time. It is very convenient and useful.

Enjoy our comparison on two of the most advanced vehicles on the road: the all-new 2018 Honda Odyssey and refreshed 2018 Toyota Sienna! Also, please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed :)

Thanks a lot for the complete explanation

Great video! very informative

Would have liked a demo of how to remove and re-install the 2nd and 3rd row seats

Excellent review!

I must say, that is one of the better comparison videos I've seen between these two minivans. Well done. The only thing I'll disagree with you on is giving the Odyssey a point for the electronic parking brake. I have never been a fan of those things so that would have shifted the numbers a little toward the Sienna and made this much closer if I were making the judgments. Beyond that, I thought you were spot on and very fair. I'm also not a fan of push button transmission controls. I prefer the good ol shift lever like the Toyota has but I wouldn't applied points one way or the other because of it. One other thing that you didn't focus on is the fact that most reliability comparisons these days tend to give the nod to the Toyota by a fair margin over the Honda. My biggest complaint with the Toyota, and I can't believe I'm saying this, is simply the fact that they seem to be so far behind on the technology. For a major player like Toyota to not have Android Auto and Apple Carplay in their app suites is inexcusable these days but it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

All through the years my YOTAs did well!! thanks for the review looking forward to get 2020 AWD Sienna! ( year of the virus)

Would love to see a comparison between 2019 touring elite and limited elite models of these vans. Though your videos are having me lean very closely to picking the odyssey. I enjoyed this video and the in depth one of the 2019 odyssey elite. Thanks!

My mom has a Honda for 15+ years with no problems.. I got a Honda touring 2016 which is great, I just wish the Honda had all wheel drive.

Car Confections. The Sienna has the new D4-S V6 engine, with both Direct and Multi-Port injection, this eliminates the intake valve carbon build up problems in Direct Injection only engines, which is what the Honda has.

Very carefully completed work like a project. And very thoughtful from customer point of view. Excellent and thanks.

Extremely helpful!

Best comparison presentation that I've seen! I like how you deal with "both the big and the small" , and award a point system. The only slight difference I would make with the excellent option of displaying the presentation as split screen, is to allow maybe one or two seconds longer on each item so a person can take a moment to kind of assess the comparisons a little better. Thank you for this comparison video, it happens to be two vehicles that I'm considering buying. Overall from this I'm liking the Odyssey better, although there are a couple of small features that I would prefer that are in the Sienna.

The Honda Odyssey looks awesome! The Toyota Sienna looks conservative.

Good review!

Just bought the Odyssey. I have NO idea why you’d buy the Sienna. I drove it home in pour rain and it is silent and our pothole infested loop was almost unnoticeable. Our previous RAV4 sounded like the tires would come off. Extremely comfy for a 6’5” guy and technology that is really useful!

my 2005 odyssey touring still runs like new

I had a 99 Odyssey then an 11 Sienna. The Toyota has more room and reliability. I will be getting an 18 soon. So what if the techy screen isn't as good with Toyota. We all need less screen time, especially while driving.

I just bought the 2018 Toyota Sienna for 3 main reasons compare to the Honda Odyssey. Toyota uses timing chain vs Honda uses timing belt(high maintenance long term), Toyota V6 engine with port and direct injection (avoid valve carbon build up long term) vs Honda only direct inject V6, and lastly is the problematic Honda ZF 9 speed transmission.

Great review.....you can’t go wrong with either....press the button and go, practical, high tech....slight edge to the HONDA...I’d drive either !

SIenna for sure; without the worry of transmission issues?

I agree with you on a few details. Temperature controls are much better designed on the Sienna (as a rule, knobs are ALWAYS better, both on media volume control/tune AND temperature controls). I also agree to another reviewer about the analog gauges, it's a pity that Honda didn't include an option of analog-like gauges on the Odysseys digital display. I disagree with the audio/speaker quality, the Sienna sounds better IMO than the Odyssey, Honda was never good with speakers and always use low quality speaker systems for lower models. You have to step up to the top-of-the-line ELITE trim in order to get an improved stereo system. Remember, this is a family vehicle, not a pickup truck!! People wanna listen to some nice, rich music! Power sliding door is also different, the Sienna has a clever design, one button toggles between open/close, simple! The Odyssey with the open/close button and constant beeps is seriously unintuitive. You didn't mention that the center row middle seat on the Sienna is not suited for an adult, the Odyssey is wider and more comfortable. However, in the Sienna you can slide the seat more to the back, leaving a lot of leg room for middle row. Reliability is a big issue on the new Odyssey, maybe because it's built in the US, I dunno, they used to be better. There are a lot of complains, just do a search. Sienna is still more reliable, especially that it's older. But the review was very nice in general. Thanks.

Technology=Odyssey Reliability=Sienna

Sienna the best

Nice detailed vid. I just wish they offered the Odyssey in AWD.

Thanks for the great comparison. I need a minivan since my family is growing. Still very tough for me to decide between the two. I can't afford the new 2021 Toyota, so I have to opt the the best with my budget which is 2018 models. Toyota advantage: - AWD - Timing Chain Honda advantage: - Way better 2nd row bench seat (center seat) compared to Toyota child-like seat that they forgot to add in until after production. - More cabin room for passengers - Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Awesome video

Awesome, thank you🙏

Should have used the Sienna SE in this comparison. 19" wheels and looks WAY better. Also sportier suspension and a nice looking black interior. Sienna is also more powerful and more reliable.

I like this comparison of the two mini vans, but I go for Sienna due to its reliability in this 2018 model comparing to 2018 Odyssey having 9/10 speed transmission issues + doors + central console malfunctioning issues..etc

Both are great, can't go wrong with either one. The Sienna is a little outdated compare to the Odyssey, but Toyota usually offers great rebates and incentives which will attract more buyers who are on a budget.

Great video, thanks. Sienna all the way. My 2004 sienna is 440,000 kilometres - the performance is AWESOME!

We have a 2018 Toyota Sienna XLE, which replaced our 2006 Sienna Limited Trim. With the third row seats flat, tucked in, our two huge German Shepherds have plenty of room to comfortably endure long rides. A few safety measures are missing in 2018 that were standard in the 2006: 1. Front parking Sonar sensors. 2. No cruise control if 2.a the wipers were ON, and 2.b you were driving nighttime into the blinding glare of oncoming traffic or at bright sunrise or sunset.

I like the sienna, but odyssey won my heart. I bought a 2019 odyssey because of its NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings. Safety first before anything else.

Nice videos

I like the analog gauges in the Sienna better. The Odyssey’s gauge cluster is disappointing, I would have given the point to Toyota there. As far as reliability I’d say it’s a draw. I like Honda products in general, however the AWD availability in the Sienna would make it my choice as far as minivans. Good review by the way.

I LOVE my Hondas, but because of the transmission issues, I will never buy another. It's not even having to replace the transmission, it's that Honda doesn't manufacture the new ones so you can only get a remanufactured one and they DON'T feel near as good! I will say, to have a 300,000 and 400,000 mile engine in perfect condition is pretty awesome!

Both van are awesome, but I would go with the sienna because it's the only van with 4wd. So safety come first before looks 😁

Rather than complicated and rather unreliable electronic screens, it sure would be nice to have simple twist knobs for the HVAC and radio.

I have this Honda. No complaints. Very good minivan.

Very good review. If you are the son of tfl dude he should be proud of you

good work

@Car Confections. You forgot to mention that the sienna can be had with 19 inch wheels on the SE trim

Great review with the point system. An important criteria that you should add, is the types of engines. in this case honda used direct injection and toyota uses port and direct injection, and obviously the toyota wins that department. Thats a deal breaker for me considering the cons of direct injection and the pros of multiport injection

I am an Odyssey fan and own the first two generations. However, I am not excited about the curve look of the Odyssey. It's more soccer mom look to me. I still love minivan for their utility nature. My next minivan will be Sienna XLE AWD for sure.

You could not have done a better job. If you are a car salesman, I would not mess with you ; ) You covered everything and did it in a quick and pleasant way.

The savings in price on the Odyssey will not even begin to pay for the transmission you will have to replace. It's Sienna all the way!

I bought my 18 ody in aug 2017, went through couple non safety problem, no regret although I saw the service dude more than my dad lol. The only reason I bought mine without a second thought is the 2nd row slidable captain chairs! I went test drive the Sienna, driving was superior, but the heck was, simply look at the second row, the middle seat has a metal pole expanding out when you take it out lol. What's going on?

Thank you for the review .I went with the odyssey.

Well done 👍

wow great review...looking forward to see more videos on this channel.

i m still driving sienna 2001 . its great but i feel like they dint done with many thinks in 19 years. today i see sienna 2020 and still looks same and looks heavy. but the odyssy i start to feeling love with it

I've owned 2 Toyota vans; one got 254k miles and the second 285k. Had to finally replace the 2nd one in August, before I'd seen this video. However, I'd been looking around for a year or two because of the mileage on my last one--it was still running great, but how long can you drive a 16 year old van? Anyway, the one consistent thing I found was that if you were looking at used models, in my area there were 4-5 available Odyssey's vs 1 Sienna. (My local Honda and Toyota dealers are owned by the same family--between them, they had 17 used Odysseys and only 3 Siennas.) In the end, I bought a CPO'd 2018 Sienna XLE, 2 years maintenance free, plus the mileage I purchased my van at restarted the clock for the 100k warranty, meaning even though I bought it with 37k miles on it, I get powertrain warranty to 137k miles. Get your Honda dealer to do that for you.

Good review! Thanks! I'm utterly astounded that the Toyota wouldn't have integrated Apple or Android already - that seriously is a huge fail for me. I see Dickywhatever making a million comments against Honda transmission, but it's hard to take that seriously when it's like basically one person making all the comments trashing the Honda transmission LOL

All Wheel Drive Minivan = LOVE!

love your reviews. I would suggest though you weigh your point system more accurately. for example, the material on the inside door stuff, should not be worth 1 point, when something like reliability and cargo space is also worth only 1 point each. Something like door aesthetics should be worth more like 0.5 points. Like different levels of points depending on importance.

how nice is that side-to side- 2nd row seat movement, eh parents with fighting kids?

I just looked at an Odyssey. The AC vents in middle row are in mid door. Any rear facing car seat will block and get no air at all 🤷🏼‍♂️. Not sure how that is good for families

Test drove 19 Odyssey with 20 Sienna. The seats on Honda are very uncomfortable. The bulge in the mid of the seat causes pressure to the back and the seat feels like it’s closing in on you. Am positive it will be uncomfortable for long rides. I disagree with the leg space in the mid row. In the Sienna you can move the seats a lot back thus giving a lot of leg room. The seats of Sienna are lot better. The Sienna rode a lot smoother, more quieter. Few things worry me about Sienna is that I have heard the tires wear out quickly. Currently the old Odyssey that my parents have had issues with dual climate control in the 4th year and ac went bust in the 8th year. The sliding doors went bust in the 9th year. Also Sienna has a AC outlet where you can charge your laptop.

How about putting the center seat in the trunk, do you see how bulky how Honda is? And you can configure the legroom however you want.

There's not really a comparison if you're comparing the Toyota sienna limited. Toyota last longer and it's cheaper to fix. The entertainment system in the vehicle is also better. Cabin watch is a useless feature and promotes distracted drivers. The Honda Can't beat the Toyotas all wheel drive. I live in Maine the winters are terrible the roads are bad you need to have something like that.

Have both these vans very good

Can you make a review vs. video with Toyota Sienna vs Honda early models?

Excellent video. I will say it’s not 100% fair to compare both vehicles as the Sienna is not updated yet for 2018 yet the odyssey is.

Do not buy the Odyssey I repeat do not buy the Odyssey. I have been a 2018 Odyssey EX-L owner since February 2018 and it has been in the shop for half the time for the same problems. The infotainment system is a mess riddled with bugs. The locking system and the power sliding doors are not reliable. Honda keeps changing parts out and nothing fixes the problem. I have called Honda USA and they are looking into it. I have even taken it to two different dealerships and still, no one can fix it. At this point, I am looking at pursuing a lemon law claim on the Odyssey. Honda dropped the ball on this model year and if you want a stress free life, get the Sienna or any other minivan.

The Toyota Sienna’s safety system is standard. And to add to that TSS is standard on majority of their vehicles. Honda will make you purchase that. I was looking to buy a corolla or civic, when I heard leds and safety systems weren’t standard on the civic I went to toyota for sure. LEDs and Safety is the main things for cars.

both are excellent vehicles. But like Chris inductivo said Toyota has more reliable powertrain.... so my choice is sienna although 2GR-FE engine is loud

How do they drive in comparison the most important thing to compare omitted?

I like the odyssey better. Especially with the touring headlights. you also need to do a review on the 2018 Kia Forte EX

I feel you should have mentioned engine reliability more in depth.

Toyota Vienna 2018! I love Toyota sienna

Dick Ball - How many times are you going to mention your perceived failing Honda transmission? I sold our '06 Odyssey with 280,000 that ran perfect and shifted smoothly.

Could you do a video on the 2018 Kia Sedona sxl plz it is also a minivan

I have a Pacifica and after this video I like the sienna more than the odyssey

I have a 2016 Honda with 102k so almost 35k miles a year thank God no promblems so far

I'm trying to convince my mom to get a Sienna. She wants an Odyssey or a Pacifica. Sienna is more reliable than both!