Need Your Opinion!!! What Type of Vehicle Should We Get?????

The Odyssey has more room then the Pilot. It also felt better when we test drove it and is easier for the kids to get in and out.

We faced a similar decision not long ago. We could either buy a newish Mazda 5 (the mini-minivan) or an older Honda Odyssey. We went with the Honda because frankly the Mazda is low quality car. We knew it would start rattling and banging and need repair in no time. The older Honda is by far a better buy than a newer Mazda (or Chrysler).

I love my Honda Minivan. LOVE IT. Automatic doors are heaven, the full sized third row is heaven. I don't mind asking my parents (dad is approaching 80) to sit back there. There is plenty of space!

We bought a used Touring, so it has everything you'd ever want. LOVE IT!

IME, the best cars are always the ones that come without payments!
Good luck!

I love my 2011 Honda Odyssey. It has everything I want and need except all wheel drive. You probably don't need that like I do. Before that I had a 2000 Odyssey for 11 years and put about 125,000 or more miles on it. I have found them to be reliable and drive well. However, it depends on what you want and need. The space and seating are different in an SUV versus a minivan. Do you need room for a a lot of passengers? How big are the car seats and how will you arrange them? Cargo space? We travel regularly to a cabin with two kids, a dog and his kennel and lots of stuff. We wouldn't all fit in a Pilot. I would look at the interiors of all of the vehicles you are considering to see how they are configured. I personally don't like the way an SUV drives and I like the kids to have the sliding doors of a minivan--don't have to worry about them dinging another car in the garage or parking lot. But that's a matter of personal preference. I disagree with another poster that the new Odysseys are poorly rated and ugly. Ugly is subjective, but they look less like minivans than the previous models if that matters. They look more like a crossover (e.g. Pacifica). As for ratings, they have been highly rated in all categories and our local Honda dealers have had a hard time keeping them in stock. I love the "magic" seat in the back and the newer models have further improved on that feature by splitting it so you can put up all three seats, two seats or just one.

We got a certified used Honda Oddessy 2009. Love it!!! Don't get a new one; the newer models have been poorly rated and UGLY! 2009-2010 are great! You will not be able to fit 3 carseats across one seat (most likely) so you'll have to use the 3rd row.

The things that I dislike are very minor and not worth mentioning. I love everything else.

With three car seats ? I would go with the Odyssey NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!

Hands down. No, well...maybe. Odyssey - 100%.

I had a Grand Caravan - loved EVERYTHING about it EXCEPT for the maintenance issues.

I now have a Honda Odyssey - LOVE it too. Reliable. GREAT options for the interior and ROOM!!!

There is NO WAY on earth I would put 3 car seats in a Pilot - I would have NO storage room once that third row is up.

MPV is too short. NO room.

Pacifica - do you REALLY want to climb in and out to get the kids in? Odyssey has auto doors so if it's raining - you can open them BEFORE you get to the car. Head room so you CAN get in and out. and storage.

Odyssey - 100%.

We bought the 2011 Honda Odyssey because we have 4 carseats (so far). You can do 3 across the middle row since it has wide-mode for carseats. Thus, we have 3 kids across the middle (rear-facing 1-year-old, and a harnessed 4-year-old and a harnessed 6-year-old). In the back middle is a rear-facing 3-year-old). He loads through the hatch in back. There is top tether in every seating position, and 5 out of the 6 seats in back have lower latch.

Simply for carseats alone, this van is AMAZING. It also has good safety ratings, and is all around a nice vehicle.

The Pilot had a lot less interior space, so that would make all my carseats difficult to work with.

I hope you find something that meets your needs.

I am a Honda person and have always had great luck with any Honda I have owned. Here is a comparison I found on line. It really depends on what your needs are.

Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot

Only $245 separate the base prices of the 2011 Honda Odyssey and $28,825 Pilot, but the differences in interior space are huge. The Odyssey has more cargo space behind its second row than the Pilot has behind the first row. That says more about the Odyssey than the Pilot, but however you look at it, it's clear the minivan maximizes its dimensions. The same is true for legroom. The Odyssey has a startling 42.4 inches of legroom in the third row, far more cavernous than the Pilot's 32.1 inches.

But life is about more than just cargo capacity and space for eight passengers, so how do these Hondas drive?

When the latest generation Pilot arrived, we were impressed for the most part: "Those who genuinely prefer comfortable, controlled cruising to high-intensity corner-carving will love the 2009 Pilot's even more surefooted demeanor and improved ride."

The Odyssey and Pilot use a 3.5-liter V-6 making 248 horsepower in the minivan and 250 horsepower in the crossover. Both offer a five-speed automatic transmission, though high-end Odysseys offer a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy falls in the Odyssey's favor. A five-speed Odyssey is rated 18/27 mpg city/highway, while the front-wheel-drive Pilot gets 17/23 mpg.

From behind the wheel of the 2011 Odyssey, "the news is mostly good," we said in our recent first drive story. "Steering feels overly weighty at low speeds, making the van seem heavier than it is, but at speed it's just right...The brakes apply with a reassuring firmness, and the van corners with less roll than the Sienna or the 2010 predecessor and with surprisingly little fuss from its eco-friendly tires."

Second/Third Row Legroom
Honda Odyssey: 40.9/42.4 in.
Honda Pilot: 38.5/32.1 in.

Cargo Space Behind Third/Second Row
Honda Odyssey: 38.4/93.1 cu.-ft.
Honda Pilot: 18.0/47.7 cu.-ft.

Turning Radius
Honda Odyssey: 36.7 feet
Honda Pilot: 38.6 feet

Bottom Line:

For all-wheel drive: the Pilot. Maximum space: Odyssey by far.

I'm an insurance agent. Can't comment on these since I haven't had any of them, however, when you narrow it down, get the VIN's and check with your agent to see how much your insurance will be. There could be a huge difference in premium and that may help you decide. Good luck!

Love love love my Odyssey.

I own a Subaru. I love it!

However, I have owned both Mazda and Honda cars. I had my fathers Mazda in high school, and hated it. I purchased a Honda in 96 , and the thing is still running well and has been all over the country. For me, Honda's last and are reliable.

Good Luck!

We have the Honda Odyssey and LOVE it. Having the sliding doors is great so kids don't hit other cars with them, and they work well in tight parking spaces. And there is tons of cargo room. There is a deep well in the back that adds space and allows the back seat to fold down in flat if you need more space.

I had a Honda Pilot as a loaner car once. It's a nice vehicle as well, but doesn't have a lot of cargo room.

LOVE our Honda Odyssey! We've had several Hondas, and they've always been extremely reliable. As for the Odyssey, we love it for the space and flexibility. There's tons of room in it (three car seats should fit easily), and you can configure the two rear rows of seats in a few different ways, to get whatever setup works best for you. Very happy with it!

Honda--you pick the model.

I'm definitely not a mini van mom. My friend has the new Honda Pilot and it's really nice! Super roomy inside, all the bells and whistles... Definitely go with that one :)

I absolutely adore my Honda Pilot! My one child says I'm never allowed to sell it because she wants to drive it when the time comes (in 8 years!). The only thing I could ever complain about it the fact it's hard for any adult to climb into the 3rd row seats. Now that my daughter is older, however, she's the one that crawls in back and all is well. Not sure how the Pilot would work with three car seats. I would recommend test driving all the cars with all the seats and kids to know if it really works for you.

I don't have any of them, however Chrysler has a terrible repair problems. Across all product lines. I would never buy a Chrysler. I do have a friend with a Pilot and she loves it - however she has two kids. Don't think it would be big enough. My sister in law got a minivan (Toyota) when the third kid came along. Says it was definately the way to go.

Hi! I know it's not on your list but we have a Chevrolet Traverse and absolutely love it! I also have 3 car seats and they fit perfectly. Plus it has a 3rd row seat if you need it. It gets great gas mileage and looks really nice. Good luck in your vehicle search!

I currently drive a Honda Pilot. Love it and would buy another in a minute. But, my kids are middle school and older.

I would buy an Honda minivan. I had one when my girls were still in carseats and it was the best. You never have to worry about door-dinging another car, you can step inside to lift children into seats (the van's floor is lower) and you have plenty of room for the stroller and groceries. The seats can be configured to meet your needs, its dependable and holds its value better than the Mazda or Chrysler.

I agree with the other post who said to call your insurance agent and compare rates. Sometimes the difference is remarkable.