Minivans consistently prove their mettle as the ultimate family haulers, outperforming SUVs in numerous crucial aspects. While they might not boast the same towing capacity or rugged aesthetics as their SUV counterparts, minivans compensate with superior spaciousness, enhanced comfort, greater flexibility, and often, better fuel efficiency. Interestingly, a significant portion of the minivan market now offers all-wheel drive, and a majority are embracing hybrid powertrains for improved economy.
In this competitive landscape, the 2025 Honda Odyssey stands out, even without offering all-wheel drive or a hybrid option. It remains front-wheel drive and powered by a reliable 3.5-liter V-6 engine, achieving a combined 22 mpg. Similarly, the 2025 Toyota Sienna presents a compelling option, available with front- or all-wheel drive, and boasting an impressive EPA-rated 36 mpg combined thanks to its standard hybrid powertrain.
Both the Odyssey and Sienna are packed with features and advanced safety technology, making the choice between them a significant decision for families. So, which minivan emerges as the better choice? Let’s delve into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
Price and Trim Levels: Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna
When considering budget, the trim levels and pricing of both minivans play a crucial role.
Honda Odyssey Trims and Pricing: Honda has streamlined the Odyssey lineup to four well-equipped trims: EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, and Elite. Prices range from $43,315 for the EX-L to $52,275 for the top-tier Elite, including destination charges.
Toyota Sienna Trims and Pricing: The Toyota Sienna, exclusively a hybrid, offers a broader range of trims, including LE, XLE, XLE Woodland, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The price spectrum stretches from $40,635 for the base LE to $58,355 for the premium Platinum trim (all prices include destination). All-wheel drive is an available option for an additional $2,000 on most trims, and comes standard on the XLE Woodland. For those needing maximum passenger capacity, only the LE and front-wheel-drive XLE configurations offer eight-passenger seating.
Value Picks: For a balance of features and value, the Honda Odyssey EX-L and the Toyota Sienna XLE represent strong choices in their respective lineups.
Toyota Sienna Trim Breakdown
The Toyota Sienna offers a variety of trims to cater to different needs and budgets:
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Sienna LE: Starting at $40,635, the LE trim includes essential minivan features such as power sliding doors, a comprehensive suite of safety technology, and a user-friendly 9.0-inch touchscreen compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
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Sienna XLE: Priced slightly higher, the XLE adds desirable upgrades like a sunroof and comfortable synthetic leather upholstery, enhancing both style and comfort.
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Sienna Limited: Stepping up to the Limited trim brings luxury features such as genuine leather upholstery, a premium JBL audio system, integrated navigation, and an in-car intercom system, facilitating communication with rear passengers.
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Sienna Platinum: The top-of-the-line Platinum, especially when equipped with all-wheel drive, surpasses the $58,000 mark, offering every available feature and the highest level of refinement.
Honda Odyssey Trim Breakdown
The Honda Odyssey, while offering fewer trim choices, ensures each level is generously equipped:
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Odyssey EX-L: The entry-level EX-L, starting at $43,315, is far from basic. It features a 7.0-inch instrument cluster with a digital display and analog speedometer, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration, and a convenient wireless device charger.
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Odyssey Sport-L: For a sportier aesthetic, the $44,465 Sport-L trim adds black exterior accents and black leather upholstery with striking red contrast stitching, appealing to those seeking a more dynamic look.
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Odyssey Elite: The flagship Elite trim, priced at $52,275, epitomizes luxury with two-tone perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power tailgate, among other premium enhancements.
Pricing Advantage: Toyota Sienna
Considering the starting prices and the hybrid powertrain offered as standard, the Toyota Sienna holds a price advantage, potentially offering lower long-term ownership costs due to superior fuel economy.
Performance and Powertrain: Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna
Performance under the hood is a key differentiator between these minivans.
Honda Odyssey Engine and Performance: The Odyssey is powered by a robust 3.5-liter V-6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This powertrain delivers brisk acceleration for a vehicle of its size, though the 10-speed automatic can sometimes exhibit hesitation during quick shifts at lower speeds. The Odyssey’s independent suspension excels in absorbing road imperfections, providing a comfortable and smooth ride, with controlled body lean in corners.
Toyota Sienna Engine and Performance: The Sienna utilizes a hybrid system combining a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with either two or three electric motors, depending on whether it’s front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The total system output is 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive models gain an additional electric motor powering the rear wheels independently. The hybrid powertrain provides good low-end torque, making it responsive in city driving, but its power delivery can feel less potent at higher speeds compared to the Odyssey’s V6. While the Sienna’s drivetrain isn’t as refined as the Honda’s, its suspension offers more composed handling and better stability on highways and through corners.
Drivetrain Options: Odyssey vs. Sienna
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Honda Odyssey Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive only.
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Toyota Sienna Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive available (standard on Woodland trim, optional on others).
Towing Capability: Comparable for Both
Both the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna offer a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, suitable for small trailers or recreational equipment.
Performance Advantage: Honda Odyssey
While the Toyota Sienna offers adequate performance, the Honda Odyssey’s V6 engine provides a more powerful and refined driving experience, especially for those prioritizing confident acceleration and smooth power delivery.
Fuel Efficiency: Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna
Fuel economy is a significant consideration for minivan buyers, and this is where the Sienna truly shines.
Toyota Sienna Fuel Economy: Thanks to its standard hybrid powertrain, the Toyota Sienna achieves exceptional fuel economy. Front-wheel-drive models are EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined, while all-wheel-drive versions achieve 35 mpg combined.
Honda Odyssey Fuel Economy: The Honda Odyssey, with its V6 engine, lags significantly behind in fuel efficiency, rated at 22 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway). It remains the only minivan in its class without a hybrid option, putting it at a disadvantage for fuel-conscious buyers. Competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Kia Carnival offer hybrid variants.
Fuel Economy Advantage: Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna’s hybrid powertrain delivers a substantial advantage in fuel economy, making it significantly more cost-effective to run in the long term, especially for families who drive frequently.
Interior Space and Cargo Capacity: Toyota Sienna vs. Honda Odyssey
Interior versatility and cargo space are paramount in the minivan segment.
Seating Configuration and Flexibility: Neither the Odyssey nor the Sienna offers second-row seats that fold into the floor, a feature unique to the Chrysler Pacifica. However, both feature third-row seats that fold away to expand cargo space.
Honda Odyssey Interior and Cargo: The Odyssey excels in interior flexibility. Its second-row seats, often referred to as Magic Slide seats, can be configured in multiple ways. The center seat can be removed, and the outboard seats can slide laterally, allowing for easier access to the third row or creating a wider center aisle. These second-row seats are also removable for maximum cargo space. The Odyssey offers a generous 38.1 inches of third-row legroom, comfortable for adults. Cargo space is impressive, with 33 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet with the second row removed and third row folded.
Toyota Sienna Interior and Cargo: The Sienna also seats up to eight and offers a well-designed front cabin with ample storage. Its second-row seats are more like captain’s chairs, offering up to 25 inches of fore-aft slide and available ottoman-style footrests in higher trims, prioritizing second-row passenger comfort. However, unlike the Odyssey, the Sienna’s second-row seats are not removable. Instead, the seat cushions flip up, and the entire seat folds forward against the front seatbacks to improve access to the third row and expand cargo space. The Sienna provides about 101 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume with the second and third rows folded.
Interior Space Advantage: Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey offers superior interior flexibility and maximum cargo space, thanks to its removable second-row seats and versatile Magic Slide functionality.
Safety and Driver Assistance: Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna
Safety is a top priority for family vehicles, and both minivans are well-equipped.
Standard Safety Features: Both the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna come standard with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies, including:
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic high beams
- Blind-spot monitoring
Advanced Safety Options: The Toyota Sienna offers an optional surround-view camera system, providing enhanced visibility in tight maneuvering situations. While the Odyssey lacks a surround-view camera, it offers a CabinWatch® rear-seat monitoring system, allowing front passengers to easily view the rear seats. Toyota also offers available features like a head-up display and a digital rearview mirror for improved driver awareness.
Crash Test Ratings: Both minivans have earned top safety ratings. They are both IIHS Top Safety Pick recipients and have received 5-star overall safety ratings from NHTSA. However, the Toyota Sienna has performed slightly better in certain front impact tests compared to the Odyssey.
Safety Advantage: Toyota Sienna
While both are exceptionally safe, the Toyota Sienna edges out the Honda Odyssey slightly in crash test performance and offers a surround-view camera system, enhancing overall safety.
Design and Styling: Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna
Minivan design has evolved, and both the Odyssey and Sienna attempt to blend practicality with modern aesthetics.
Exterior Design: Both minivans incorporate styling cues from their respective SUV lineups. The Toyota Sienna adopts a more rugged and sculpted appearance, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Highlander with its pronounced fender flares and assertive front grille. Some might find the Sienna’s front-end styling polarizing. The Honda Odyssey, while due for a more significant redesign, presents a more streamlined and car-like front fascia. Its side profile previously featured a distinctive “lightning bolt” design element, which has been toned down in recent updates.
Interior Design: The Toyota Sienna boasts a more contemporary and sophisticated interior design compared to the Odyssey. The Sienna’s interior feels more premium, particularly in higher trims. The Odyssey’s interior prioritizes functionality and storage, but the materials and overall design aesthetic are less upscale, with a noticeable use of metallic and glossy plastic trim. Honda’s newer SUVs, like the Pilot and CR-V, showcase more refined and fashionable interior designs.
Design Advantage: Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna generally has a more modern and upscale interior design, while exterior styling preferences are subjective. Neither minivan is necessarily a design leader in the segment when compared to rivals like the Kia Carnival or Chrysler Pacifica.
Conclusion: Which Minivan is the Better Choice?
The Honda Odyssey earns a TCC Rating of 6.3 out of 10, while the Toyota Sienna scores a 6.7 out of 10. The Odyssey shines in driving dynamics, interior space flexibility, and ride comfort. However, the Toyota Sienna’s exceptional fuel economy significantly outweighs these advantages for many buyers.
The Winner: Toyota Sienna
For families prioritizing fuel efficiency and lower running costs without sacrificing essential minivan practicality and safety, the Toyota Sienna is the superior choice. Its standard hybrid powertrain and strong safety ratings make it a compelling and responsible family vehicle. While the Honda Odyssey offers a more engaging driving experience and greater interior versatility, the Sienna’s fuel economy advantage is a game-changer in the minivan segment.
