When it comes family vehicles these two minivans have a lot to offer Maryland minivan customers. While both minivans offer a V-6 engine, the Toyota Sienna also offers a four-cylinder engine. In the Sienna, shifting duties are handled by a six-speed automatic for either engine, while the Honda Oddesey comes with either a five- or six-speed auto depending on trim level. The Odyssey’s EPA-estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, while the Sienna’s numbers are 19 city and 26 highway making either minivan able to save Bethesda MD minivan drivers at the pumps. But drivetrains are almost secondary. If football is a game of inches, the minivan wars are all about features.
Maryland Bethesda Honda Odyssey Minivan Comparison
Sienna emphasizes legroom for Maryland drivers with its second- and third-row passengers with the second row seats in the seven passenger version having 23 inches of travel back and forth and the third row has been moved back two inches from the previous model. In the eight-passenger configuration, the center second row seat can be removed, revealing cup holders and a storage tray. Honda Odyssey can be configured as either a seven- or eight-passenger vehicle depending on the second row’s configuration. New for this generation is the ability to put three child seats in the second row versus two for the previous model. Both minivans, Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna, are Bethesda MD favorites and feature a bevy of compartments, bins and pockets, along with more cupholders than the number of passengers.
Honda Odyssey Bethesda Dealership Test Drive
Rear-seat entertainment systems are a minivan staple and Bethesda Honda dealers can demo the vast option and functions for you and your family’s enjoyment in Bethesda Maryland. Toyota Sienna entertainment center new wrinkle is the Dual View Entertainment Center. Two side-by-side displays can create a seamless 16.4-inch widescreen image from a single source; serious Maryland minivan shoppers should view this first hand at their Toyota dealership. When the kids can’t agree on what to watch, the screens can display different programs, such as a video game on one and a DVD on the other. Odyssey also has a 16.2-inch split-screen, along with a 12-speaker audio system, satellite navigation, an HDMI input and a choice of music hard drives, 2GB or 15GB of space. Both offer a backup camera as an option; however Toyota offers wide angle version on the two upper trim levels.
Minivan Safety: Honda & Toyota | Bethesda Drivers
When it comes to safety features for Bethesda MD driving conditions, Sienna and Odyssey include front, side and side-curtain airbags, but Toyota adds one for the driver’s knees. Both feature stability and traction control, antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist. The front of the Honda has a pedestrian injury mitigation design, while the Toyota’s stability control orchestrates braking, traction control and steering to enhance vehicle control in an emergency maneuver. Odyssey received an overall safety rating of five stars for 2011 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, while the Sienna is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2011 Top Safety Pick. For more information on minivans, visit the friendly professionals at Honda of Annapolis.