help me decide odyssey vs MDX ?

[inspectoring]

I need to get a new car and I need your advice.

I am moving to buffalo and I have one 1 yr old and a second one on the way.

Currently given the fact that MDX had a year end sale - makes it almost the same price as Odyssey.

I need to know what is the best for long road trips? Also - for snow for the wifey -

It will always be 4 of us in the van/suv.

I also want something that is safe- in accidents as well as snow.

Thank you for the advice !

 

[stobes21]

I expect the Odyssey will be easier to load kids into and out of, it gets better gas mileage, and will feel roomier. But it is FWD only, so in the snow it is at a definite disadvantage compared to the AWD MDX. The MDX should feel more luxurious and fun to drive (though it's still a big SUV, not much fun in my book). Both should be very reliable and safe, and both should hold their value well.

Personally I'd prefer to go with the Toyota Sienna to get all of the advantages of a minivan over an SUV but get AWD. But between the MDX and Odyssey I would probably go MDX if I'm going to be doing a lot of snow, and Odyssey if I only expect moderate snow.

 

[Explorerkid]

I also would go with the MDX. They are both nice, but if you can have the sales to bring the MDX within the same price range as the Odyssey you might as well get the slightly nicer car that has the AWD. Out of the two the MDX will do much better in the snow. It may not be as easy to load kids, but the height of the MDX will be a better advantage for two reasons, the clearance will be better in the snow, and in the unfortunate event of a collision you will fair better.
Both are nice, but I believe that the MDX will be the better all around vehicle.
Good luck with which-ever you choose!

 

[withoutink]

My wife and are on out third Odyssey. I was apprehensive at it at first, but these are really amazing. They are pretty quick, handle well, and can haul anything. Extremely comfortable on long trips and are just plain old great vehicles.

The dogs get in easy, the kids pour in and out like water. Everyone is happy in our Odyssey.

Two thumbs up.

 

[Obsessed]

Last year I was in a somewhat similar position, deciding on a Pilot vs. an Odyssey. My thinking is that you should get the Odyssey unless you really want or need 4WD (which you very well might in Buffalo). We got the Pilot for that reason, but the Odyssey is more practical for a family with small kids.

In case you don't know, you can check out crash test results at

www.iihs.org
www.safercar.gov

 

[AndrewWiggin]

Get an MDX. There's no tradeoff in quality since they're the same manufacturer, but I've always preferred SUVs to mini vans. The Odyssey may have more leg room but there will be no trunk space, whereas the MDX will have smaller leg room but you can actually put something in the back.

Besides, Acura is the "luxury" line for Honda, so if you can get them for the same price, go with the Acura.

 

[Bobtrumpet]

We've got about 148k on our 2001 Odyssey. Great around town, for hauling kids and stuff - sometimes both - and has been really comfortable for riding and driving on long trips.

The only big problem was a transmission defect in the 2001 model that caused ours to fail at 66k - Honda covered everything even though it was out of warranty. The defect has long since been remedied.

I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

 

[VR6ofpain]

My brother just traded in their Pilot (the Honda badged version of the MDX) for a Sienna (he actually started of looking at an Odyssey, but liked the Sienna's ride and features more). He will be having his second child in about 2 weeks.

If you have 2 kids, get the minivan. My father leases and Odyssey, it is a great vehicle. The 3.5L V6 in those things is very responsive and the ECO mode that shuts off 3 cylinders really helps gas mileage.

 

[rickw]

I'd go with the All Wheel Drive version of the MDX. Test drove one about two years ago when my wife wanted to take my Jeep to Pittsburgh. That and the CX9 were high on my list.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

I know that you will get several opinions on this so I will just add my thoughts. I do what I can to support US car companies. I know a Honda and Toyota are quality cars, no denying that at all. However I also know that a Ford and a Chevy or a Dodge are just as good. My thoughts (just offering more options) are as follows:

Dodge Caravan
Ford Edge
Chevy Traverse
Ford Taurus.

Here is the deal....my mother and step dad own a 1996 Chevy and it has 275000 miles on it. My dad has a 1998 Ford Taurus company car with 329000 miles on it. I own a 1994 Ford Escort with 170000 miles on it. Forget what Comsumer reports says....any car if you take car of it will last a long time. Safety to me is not something you can guage from a "controlled test". How a car performs in a real world crash is totally different. My dad bought for my step mother in 2005 a Ford 500. If you want room, it is hard to beat. It has a larger interior volume that a Crown Vic and gets 30MPG highway. That car is the new Taurus now. Do yourself a favor and take a serious looks at Ford. I am not telling to not get a Honda, but look at a Ford as well. I know they say that a Honda and Toyota are made in America, BUT they are still a Japanese company at heart and somehow that money is still going to Japan. I am sorry to harp on that but that is how I see it. I hope you do get the right vehicle for you. By the way you can get the Taurus in AWD if you are worried about snow. No amount of electronic gadget (traction control, roll control, stability control, etc) will overcome psysics so buy what YOU like and forget the hype, ads, and magizine reviews.

 

[inspectoring]

wow ! - there is almost no hope ! I thought that I would get some sage advice here but everyone is almost split in the middle.

What would be more comfortable when taking 5-6 hour trips?

I really don't have a clue about the buffalo winter but I know when it snows - it doesn't hold back !

 

[inspectoring]

Last year I was in a somewhat similar position, deciding on a Pilot vs. an Odyssey. My thinking is that you should get the Odyssey unless you really want or need 4WD (which you very well might in Buffalo). We got the Pilot for that reason, but the Odyssey is more practical for a family with small kids.

In case you don't know, you can check out crash test results at

www.iihs.org
www.safercar.gov

Again the same problem - I don't really know if I need the AWD in buffalo. I consider myself a safe driver and would never speed/cut off/change lanes unless necessary etc.
But there are the stories I hear about the roll over and I just get very nervous!

 

[MoJoe]

Remember one thing when it comes to kids - it will not only be you the wife and the two kids. You'll always have to haul one or both somewhere with one or more friends. This may not be true for you now but will be on a few years. Hauling stuff in a minivan is much easier than with an SUV. The SUV is clearly better for the ego.

I have 3 kids and my wife drives our Odyssey. It's a great van is agile and is fast vor a vehicle it's size and carrying that much weight. Ours has close to 120k miles and other than routine maintenance we had to replace a wheel hub and some engine mounts (that due to vibration from the cylander shut down). Sorry, but I have no info on handling in the snow being I live in North Carolina. Either way they're both good products and you'll do well either way. Good luck.

 

[82R100]

I'd venture that you don't need AWD in Buffalo. The terrain isn't terribly hilly and FWD is pretty darn good with traction control anyhow. Winter tires might be a good idea though.

- Chris

 

[inspectoring]

Thank you guys...I just did some research on the web and found out that both have the same % of rollover chance.

Another thing is that this will be strictly for another 4 years (my son is 1 year and the other one is in the oven).

We really don't have any ego issues - but just like the interior of the MDX a lot more.
http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.db847bd57e3dc1f885dfc38c35a67789/?vgnextoid=c95df2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&vgnextrefresh=1&ID=7568

Slightly higher head injury criterion than the van.

http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.db847bd57e3dc1f885dfc38c35a67789/?vgnextoid=c95df2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&vgnextrefresh=1&ID=7577