Honda Odyssey or Honda Pilot

I don't have experiences with Hondas in particular, but I vote for the minivan over the SUV. I love having a minivan even though my "cool" factor plummented. One thing that I never thought of before was the doors. Getting kids in and out of sliding doors is so much easier than getting them out of traditional ones. Also, we have 3 kids and took the seat behind the driver's side out. This gives us enough room to actually get in the car to buckle 3 seat belts which is awesome especially in the winter. Also, it gives a nice space for storage. Good luck and happy hunting!

I LOVE THE PILOT!!!!!!!!!! My parents have one and as soon as I can afford one I will in a heartbeat. I've never been in an Odyssey, but I can tell you that I'm 5"7" and have plenty of room in the middle seat with my mom reclined pretty far back and the seat all the way pushed back. The folding back seat however isn't that roomy for bigger kids. But for littler kids it's perfect. I hate mini-vans so I vote no to the Odyssey.

We have both a Pilot(husband's car) and an Odyssey(my car). They are both great! If it was just me I would prefer driving an SUV. But with a young family I think mini-van's are really nice. I don't find them very cool either, but the usefulness overrides the "cool" factor for me right now.

I love the automatic sliding doors. Really nice when you have your hands full with a baby, toddler or whatever. It is easier to have access to and to move around in the back if you need to help kids in the 3rd row. You can walk between the seats in the second row.

The pilot definitely handles better in the snow, but if you put all-weather tires on your odyssey it makes it handle much better in the snow. The tires our Odyssey came with did not handle well in the snow.

Both great cars, just depends on what you are looking for!

Okay so I'm not a mini-van momma by nature - definitely a SUV person - However, after our second child we were in the same boat - deciding upon the same two vehicles....we chose the van. There is so much more room and it made sense for all the activities we do. We also got one with a jump seat so it actually seats 8 people - so a lot of times with visiting family and nights out with neighbor families, we can ride in one vehicle. I still get jealous when I see a Honda Pilot, but for all practical reasons, the van is the best choice for our family. Best wishes on making your decision.

I've had my Odyssey for 3 years and think it's great, love the sliding doors and I don't feel like I'm driving a huge vehicle (although we did hit a lot of curbs when I first had it--traded my little VW for it!) =-) I have a friend who just bought a new Pilot and paid almost $20k more than what my Odyssey cost, don't have any idea what the new vans are going for these days but mine was a steal at the year-end sale when they changed the body style. Hope that helps!!

When it was time for me to get a family vehicle, I was very opposed to the "minivan". I ended up loving it! We drove our Odyssey for 163,000 miles!!!

A friend of mine who has 2 kids traded in her Odyssey for the Pilot a couple years ago and said it was the worst decision she's made. There is less "leg room" for the kids, she said. I'm sure the Pilot is a great vehicle, just maybe not for younger kids. Getting little ones in and out of the van is so much easier with the sliding side doors!!!!
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I own a Honda Oddyssey and my friend has the Pilot. They are both great vehicles. The difference is in your family. I have the DVD player in my van and it's a lifesaver with little ones. I have two toddlers and so the auto opening doors are so helpful to me! Also the added space I compare to the added space your home seemed to have when you moved in, but somehow you filled it up, right? We have purchased a top carrier for our van for trips because only so much stuff fits in the back. I have 4 kids of various ages so it's a challenge. My friend on the other hand, has teenage boys and so the Pilot is roomy enough for them and she absolutely loves it! As far as seeing to ride, the van sits up high so I can see very well. It drives like a car, not a truck. See if the dealership would let you test drive over a weekend or at least overnight both vehicles and maybe that would help. I always drive home on a test drive to see how it would fit in my garage, which may also be a consideration. Happy shopping!

I have a 2009 Honda Pilot Touring and LOVE IT!!! It has great hidden compartments, our son loves the DVD player with wireless remote and wireless headsets. My husband loves it because its roomy for his height and its comfortable to drive. The 2009 is the revamped Pilot. The service department told us that they 2010 have a redesigned front end in regards to the paint. We also like the extra seating when we want to ride with others.

Good Luck!

We too need a new vehicle. We have a 2.5 year old and twins on the way. Our Civic and Accord just aren't going to work anymore!

We have always said we would never buy a MiniVan. During our "car search" I told my husband we should at least LOOK at a minivan so we know we absolutely don't want it. We did. We looked at the mini van, and honestly, for our situation, I don't see the big deal about them. Ok, the sliding doors are probably easier to get kids in and out.

I wanted something where we could get all three car seats in the middle row and have PLENTY of room for storage in the back. My parents live 5 hours away, so when we go to visit... it's typically for several days and we have a lot of stuff. Our "travel stuff" was diminishing with our 2.5 year old...but now with twins on the way ... we'll have more again.

The dealer told me you could not get 3 car seats across in the middle row with the MiniVan. One would HAVE to go in the back. Which means, my daughter is climbing into the back, I have to climb into the back and then buckle her in. Now, I can't remember exactly, but I THINK the Oddessy did have a clear floor if you took out the middle bit of the second seat. I know the Toyota does not...so you're climbing over this cup holder thing, which just seemed like a BIG pain in the pattoot!

In addition, the "trunk" space just didn't seem like it was going to be accomodating for us... double stroller, packnplay, big diaper bag, suitcases, etc....

I LOVE the Pilot. We are leasing a new one within the next few weeks and turning in our Accord.

I'm almost positive the 2010 DOES have a shoulder belt in the middle seat, 3rd row. Also, depending on what car seats you have, you CAN get 3 across in the second row, which was key for me. Sure, it will be tight...but it can be done. I really didn't want 1 small child ALL the way in the 3rd row when it was just me and kids driving around. I also like that we have the option to have someone in the 3rd row if we need it. My husbands parents live overseas, when they visit, we have the option of putting up the 3rd row, and either I or my MIL can sit back there and the other one in the 2cd row with the twins. I've sat in the 3rd row... for trips around town, it's fine. I certainly wouldn't want to drive to my parents house, 5 hours away back there...but around town when we have visitors...sure. It's fine. And I'm 5'10" ! Which was the consideration with crawling into the back with the minivan... severely uncomfortable for me and cumbersome. Now, I know a 5'2" woman who ADORES her minivan. She also only has 2 kids and can almost stand up straight on the inside. ;-)

If you have older kids, who can buckle themselves and have less "stuff" then, I can see how a mini van might be a plausible option. But for us, the SUV was definitely the way to go.

We just purchased a used Honda Odyssey, and I LOVE it. I didn't want a mini-van - I had a really cute sporty hatchback. But it's incredible! I LOVE the dual sliding doors - when my arms are full with Baby (and #2 is on the way) and shopping, etc., I just hit the key fob and the door opens for me. I LOVE that the rear seats fold into the trunk to form an extra-large trunk. I love the way it drives, too. We have three dogs, too, and all the extra space is worth it (if you have no pets, that is probably not a consideration, but if you do, go for the extra space!) Seriously, I'm thrilled with my mini-van (shocking, I know).

My husband, who didn't want anything to do with having a minivan (he drives - and loves - a Toyota Prius) has started driving my minivan anytime we go shopping as a family, because it's just so much easier to fit everything (stroller, baby, purchases) in it. LOL.

Having said that, it is a bus. I didn't drive the Pilot so I don't know how it drives, but this took some getting used to after my little hatchback. Parking it is the biggest challenge. But I figured it out, in the end, and the convenience and ease of use COMPLETELY makes up for the sort of uncoolness factor.

I would drive them both, and decide how much space you really need, but I can definitely put in a good word for the Odyssey.

Driving a mini-van makes you cool because your not worried about being cool by they car that you drive. At least that's what I keep telling myself as I drive my Honda Odyssey! Aside from the coolness factor, I love it. The doors don't swing open when my kids get out so I no longer worry they are going to dent the car we've parked next to. The back seat folds into the floor so there is amazing amounts of space. You can also remove the middle two seats and have more room than a pick up truck. The best is that if your children have friends that they want to take along somewhere, you can do it in one car. I say go for the mini-van, you'll be so happy that you did.

I love my Odyssey and will probably replace it with another one. Mine is over 10 years old. It doesn't feel big to me to drive and it drives more like a car than an SUV does. Might depend on what you are used to and feel comfortable with. I've never owned an SUV, just driven them as rentals, and I don't like the way they drive. We take a lot of stuff to my parents' cabin in the summer so the Pilot just wouldn't have enough cargo space for us. If you don't need cargo space the Pilot might be just right for you. FYI, Honda is coming out with a new design for the Odyssey late this summer or early fall. It is supposed to be less boxy looking than the traditional minivan. It is called the Odyssey Concept if you want to look it up online. The current Odysseys are priced to move to make room for the Concept. The Odyssey is generally very family friendly, with all of the features you would need for transporting kids and their stuff. My neighbors have a family of four (kids are older, 10 and 13) and have a Pilot so it's probably a matter of personal preference and needs. Good luck.

We just purchased our 2nd Honda Pilot over the weekend from Ed Martin. We actually got Ed Martin and Penske Honda in a bidding war - ultimately, we chose the dealer with the color we wanted.

My husband refuses to get a minivan, so the Odyssey wasn't an option. Everyone we know who has one LOVES it.

We traded an '08 Pilot for an '10 Pilot. Nothing wrong with the '08, we were just fortunate to be able to reduce our payment and get a different vehicle. It's hard to get in and out of the 3rd row with car seats in the car, but we've been very pleased.

I LOVE my Pilot!!! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. Does great in the snow. Is roomy enough for my entire family although if you are looking at needing the third row constantly the storage capacity goes down drastically in the pilot for strollers etc where as i think the odyssey has a tad more room if all seats are used. Im not sure the odyssey comes all wheel drive, not sure if that is a concern but my pilot is a BEAST in the snow. No problems whatsoever its an awesome vehicle.

LOVE my Odyssey. One of the biggest things that I love vs. an SUV is the doors - I press a button on my keys and they are open b4 we get there, and the kids climb right in. Plus, if you are parked in a parking lot, you don't have to worry about somebody parking too close, so that you can't open the door far enough to get in there to latch the car seats. Also LOVE the back hatch that you can pop open as you get close to load your groceries. I have a 2005 and have never had a single repair on it - just AVOID the PAX tires (I am not sure if they are still offereing them, but they are very expensive and wear down super quick)

I currently have a Pilot and have had it for five years. I love it! It is my dream car and it rides fabulously. That said, my family does not fit in it and we are trading it in for the Odyssey. Here's why ... although the Pilot is super roomy and great to drive, when you start putting car seats, and friends in it, it gets very crowded very fast. And, although you have the third seat in the back for others, it is really hard to fit anybody back there unless they are three. There is little leg room inthe third seat and you can only fit small children back there comfortably. Depending on the age of your kids, they will probably be much happier if you got something you can drive their friends around in. That's what happened to me. I will be much cooler with a mini-van. =)

I drool over the Odyssey.

I don't think you can go wrong either way. We needed room for three kids, so I bought the Odessey - somewhat reluctantly.... We live in CO, so I really wanted all wheel/4 wheel drive... HOWEVER I love the Odessey. No, it's not cool, but it's VERY comfy to drive (easier than an SUV -drive one!), it's better on gas mileage, it's cheaper, cheaper to insure, is more roomy inside for people and stuff, kids can get in and out easier, babies are MUCH easier to put in, the sliding doors are heaven. The only downsides - no all wheel/drive, (got new tires and it's more than fine!) and it's not "cool". Drive them both - and go with your gut. You really can't go wrong!

I adore my Honday Odyssey. We were an SUV family until the birth of our second child. Somehow, the Escape we had just shrunk after that! LOL I never thought I'd want "the dreaded minivan!!!" But, then I went to the dealer and drove one! OMG...I was sold. It's so easy to drive. It's got everything your heart could desire! And the room! It's just wonderful! We've driven it several times at max capacity (8 people) and everyone is always commenting on how comfortable it is! The automatic doors and trunk is the best thing ever! I can fold down the seats with one hand. We call it our "heaven on wheels" because it is. It's nice to be the mom who can carry everyone where they need to go. I know I'll always have room for whatever friends the kids want to tag along and everyone will be good and safe in this vehicle. I can't say enough about it. I really can't.

I drive an Odyssey and sometimes I forget I am driving a van. I don't like the SUv because it feels like you are having to step up into it. When I drove a SUV with taking car seats in and out it was a pain in the butt. Extended family have borrowed our van for long trips because of the comfortable seating and leg room. Our kids are now teenagers and I am always giving rides to their friends. I can't see myself ever owning a SUV again. I will probably go to an Accord after I am done with the mini van.

I also prefer SUVs to mini-vans. We looked at the Pilot this summer when buying a new vehicle. It got cut from the list almost immediately. The middle seat in backseat does not have a shoulder seat belt! Since we have 3 kids, this was a deal breaker for us... kids in booster seats need a shoulder belt and it won't be long before we have 3 kids in booster seats. Even without a booster seat, a shoulder belt is alot safer than just a lap belt.

With just 2 kids, it may not be as much of a problem for you. However, keep in mind that as your children get older you'll be carpooling more and more (sports, clubs, school, scouts, etc) and you may end up with a child in that center seat. If you children are young enough to be in boosters, chances are that their friends are still in boosters, too, and therefore that middle seat would be worthless to you. Just something else to think about... :-)

Without a lot of thinking: Odyssey! I have just changed from my minivan to a Enclave because a van wasn't cool :-) Well, the moment you have kids the "coolness" changes. It is so much harder with the opening of the doors (don't hit the car next to yours, getting in and out for the kids, reaching the third row with other kids and even though the trunk is large, the van beats it by far. One other consideration is the gas and the evironment - once again the van is better. I think if I could go back I would keep the minivan till my kids are much older (8 yrs now). Enjoy your new car!

I don't have any experience with the Pilot but we have the "uncool" Odyssey and I love it! I thought the size would be an issue but it really isn't. The DVD player in our van is nice for trips to see the family. Ours is a 2007 and the lease just ended and we ended up buying it and plan on keeping it for a very long time! But all in all, which ever you choose, Hondas are really good vehicles to drive.