Car Reviews
Honda Odyssey vs Toyota Sienna - The View from the "Mom" Pit
So you've already decided you want a minivan? You may have narrowed it down to these two popular models. What's the difference? Leave it to a mom who has tested both the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey, to tell you the stuff that really matters.
Performance:
Torque Schmorque. The Toyota Sienna feels slightly lighter and more sporty on level turns. But it's slow to accelerate on hills. The Honda Odyssey rode steady and never lost power on us.
Score: Honda Odyssey
Car Seat Placement:
Honda's Odyssey gives you three places to latch a kid's carseat, two in the second row and one in the center of the third. Toyota's Sienna supports your brood by giving you four placements - two in the second and two in the third. This may all be moot, however, if your carseat is the style that uses the latch plus the lap belt, and the placement of the latch makes buckling the belt (or the adjacent passenger's belt) impossible. You really do need to get yourself, your kids and all their assorted carseats to a dealer, and strap everyone in. But hey, it's fun to watch the salesmen's faces when you drag four crumb strewn carseats out of your car and introduce them into the floor model!
In a nifty addition the Toyota Sienna offers a front and center seat option that allows you to pull the second row center seat, closer to the front row, which can be reassuring for parents with small kids.
Score: Honda Odyssey
Comfort and Convenience:
We found the seats in the Toyota Sienna a little stiff and unyielding. Fine for short trips but not very comfy for long rides. The Honda Odyssey seating, on the other hand, was as cush and supportive as it gets. Even after a long day of driving, there was no telltale bum ache.
Both cars were similarly equipped with automatic sliding doors and remote rear liftgate. The control buttons for the Honda Odyssey were located to the left of the steering wheel on the dash, which takes some getting used to. The Toyota Sienna places the door and lift controls on the ceiling above the center console. The price for this is moving the sunglasses storage to the left side of the ceiling, just inside the driver's door. Either way, lefties will rejoice, righties will complain.
Both vehicles offer enough cupholders for everyone to drink two fisted. I lost count after a dozen. It's more cupholders than anyone really needs. I'm telling you people, when you have more cupholders, you have more forgotten, leaky, sticky, smelly drinks growing weird cultures in your vehicle.
Finally the rear liftgate closes on it's own at the push of a button when you are done unloading the Honda Odyssey. In the Toyota Sienna you will need to pull on a strap to get the liftgate to close. Pull hard, it's not for the faint of heart. At that point, you may as well close it yourself!
Score: Toyota Sienna
Electronics and Entertainment:
Both models were similarly equipped with DVD, Navigation, Rear View cameras, Auxilliary inputs and CD and Satellite radio. The problem was getting to it all in the Honda Odyssey. The auxilliary input , DVD player and car charger location were placed on the center console below the pull out cupholders. Technically you did not need to use these cupholders, but if you do, you'll need to get someone to ride shotgun to plug in your cell. And their cell had better be fully juiced. There's only one jack up front.
The Toyota Sienna is also challenged. The DVD needs to be loaded into the console in the ceiling, closer to the second row than the first. It would be a challenge, even at a stoplight, to get a video loaded for your wee offspring. You'll need someone with DVD loading experience, to sit in the second row to handle this. Fortunately most four yr olds have that skill. Unfortunately they don't have the height to accomplish this without unbuckling! The good news, Mom and Dad can both charge their cells at the same time.
Score: Honda Odyssey
Appearance:
My test model Toyota Sienna was a dukey tan. Which has got to be my least favorite minivan color. Sure it's practical and does not show dirt. But I'm not one to be thrilled about "not showing" how dirty I am. I tried not to let it color my opinion of the vehicle. The Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, was a sleek black. Sleek like Shamu, anyway. I think any way you slice it, a minivan looks like a minivan. It's not cute, sporty or sexy. It is what it is. Neither of the two tested vehicles made me look like I'd lost ten lbs and both probably aged me at least five years. Something I was willing to accept in return for a key fob that flung all the doors open from across the street.
Score: Neither!
Cargo Space
We did not notice a difference in how many kids, grocery bags or strollers fit into either of the models tested. Both were formidable in their ability to haul our large family and mountains of stuff. Technically, according to the specs however, the Toyota holds more.
Score: Toyota Sienna
Final Analysis:
There was no clear winner in this article. Ultimately it's up to you to choose - but knowing the "little things" like where the sunglasses cases are located - can sometimes be just the thing to swing your vote.
September 17, 2008 in Car Reviews, Editorial | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: honda, minivan, Odyssey, Sienna, Toyota
Britax Boulevard Car Seat - Fashion, Safety and Convenience
I researched so much about car seats when I was pregnant that I thought my head would explode. There are like a million infant car seats on the market and several of the brands come very highly rated and recommended. I found toddler car seats to be an easier market to navigate, from day one I knew I wanted a Britax seat.
The Britax Boulevard is the top of the line convertible Britax seat. It's safety features are numerous and I love the fashionable prints it comes in. It can accomodate children up to 65 lbs and 49". My favorite part of this seat is the side wings, it has head and torso safety wings that help keep your child safe during a side-impact crash. And in case you didn't know, side impact crashes are a leading cause of death for 6 to 14 year-olds. I also want to dispel any concerns you might have about the depth of the side wings. My daughter went from a Marathon to the Boulevard with no complaints. The side wings don't cut her off from the rest of the world and she still points out all the neat things she used to see as we ride around.
It also has built-in lock-offs, a 5-point harness with front adjuster, tangle-free webbing, a push button release LATCH system with Versa-Tether®, and a sculpted base that ensures an easy installation with a secure fit. I found installing this seat to be a breeze, the LATCH connectors snap in with ease and they remove just as easily if you need to reposition or remove the seat. I also love the beautiful prints that the Britax car seats come in. I have the Boulevard in the Shannon print, a beautiful purple and floral pattern, and it looks fabulous against the tan leather interior of my SUV. If you keep an eye on online retailer sites, you can usually catch a GREAT deal on Britax seats!
By Car and Caboodle Guest Reviewer Bronwyn Phonseya
July 22, 2008 in Car Reviews, Car Seats, Gear Reviews | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags:
To Minivan or Not? Moms Sound Off in "The Minivan Wars"
"I don't care how much my SUV costs me, you'll never catch me in a minivan!"
"The sliding doors, the space, I don't know what I would do without it."
"I wouldn't be caught dead..."
"My elderly parents and kids matter to me more than looking cool."
If you want to start a heated debate amongst moms, forget about politics. Ask them about their cars. Then ask them if they would ever consider driving a minivan. Now put on your safety goggles and buckle up because the conversation could get very bumpy.
I recently polled a large group of moms, asking them for their candid car stories and reasons why they loved or hated their vans. It wasn't just for fun. I'm currently in the market for a new car. As the mom of four kids, size is really an issue for us. We have two young stroller-aged kids in carseats and two older ones that frequently bring along their nearly adult-sized friends and piles of school and sports gear. Thus there are days when I have wondered if I'd be better off with a maxivan. Something akin to the airport shuttle. Especially if they'd drop me by the terminal and let me gate check myself for the next flight to Tahiti.
When you have three or more kids, everyone knowingly advises you to get a minivan. It's practically a given. A given that makes many moms bristle - like you've questioned their right to vote.
While every vehicle option seems to come with strings (be they social, environmental, or other) no vehicle stirs up strong emotions amongst moms quite like a minivan. It's the old station wagon on steriods and as a social icon, it's fully loaded with more than a DVD player and leather seats.
When I set out to write this piece I hoped to set aside my own emotions and learn from the insights of others. And in my quest for automobile enlightenment I came across some fine tales.
Stay tuned over the course of the next few days. We're bringing you both sides of the argument and we welcome comments from readers as well. I already know what I am buying. Perhaps this discussion will help another mom (or dad) make up their mind as well.
In the meantime, here's an episode of "Mom my Ride" for you. It's an oldie, but a goodie!
Part 2: The Minivan Wars: Moms Against Minivans
Part 3: The Minivan Wars: Moms Who Love Their Minivans Speak Up
July 7, 2008 in Car Reviews, Editorial | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (2)
Tags: minivan, Moms
The 2008 Acura RDX Does Not Serve Chicken Soup
My car, a well travelled Acura MDX, is in the shop today, getting new brake pads. So today I have a loaner car; a smaller, springier, and sportier Acura RDX.
For about the first seven miles I spent with the loaner, I felt freed. Like I'd just stripped off a fat suit. Maybe it's all the minivan test driving I have been doing lately but when I accellerated? Woo Hoo! I did not mind for even a minute that I could not drive carpool today for lack of seating.
And then something strange happened. A light flashed on the dashboard. Telling me that it was high time for check up. And then another. Check tire pressure already! Mere moments later a voice boomed over the car's sound system admonishing me to buckle my seatbelt, and as message after message flashed urgently at me, jarring me, I started feeling a little bit less like I was having fun and a little bit more like the spirit of my dear departed and overprotective Grandma, was inhabiting this vehicle.
I'm all for safety. My kids might even say that I am a lot like dear Granny. But there has to be a limit here if I am going to enjoy driving and not be startled into crashing for fear of missing the 10k check up.
Plus if any car is going to nag at me like that, it had better make me great chicken soup and send me $10 checks in a heartfelt card on my birthday.
May 28, 2008 in Car Reviews, Editorial, Quick Picks | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: acura
Conserving Gas with the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Car: 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
First Impressions: With the popularity of Toyota's Prius Hybrid, we were excited to try out the family-friendlier hybrid from Toyota, the Highlander. The hybrid engine is a real attractive option for families these days, with gas prices going up over $4 a gallon. While some claim the savings at the pump and increased fuel economy are a mere "feel good" factor, we've found that spending $80 on a tank of gas does not make us feel good. In fact it makes us feel bad, so bring on the SUV that makes us feel good!
Price Point: $34 - $40,000
Mileage: 28/25 - The hybrid model of the Highlander boasts the best mileage of any CUV currently on the market
Best for Families: With three kids or less. Although there is ample access to the third row seating, there is very little storage when the third row seating is in use, making this a better full time vehicle for families who will only want to use the third row as an option for carpooling and occasional trips, not fulltime.
May 16, 2008 in Car Reviews | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: crossover, Highlander, hybrid, Toyota
Test Drive: 2009 Pontiac Vibe - Fun for Starter Families
I've been driving big cars for so long that it's nice to be reminded of the simple joys of a smaller car. Nimble darting between cars, taking the curves and hills of windy roads, and easy parking is just some of the things missed when an SUV is your everyday car. Well, last week, I had the chance to test drive one of the first 2009 Pontiac Vibes. While the Vibe might not have the charm or cache to be the star of a movie like the Mini Cooper, this product of a Toyota/GM joint venture is just a fun car to drive.
Great for Starter Families
What makes the Vibe interesting for families, especially starter families, is its versatility and pricing. For the price, this car meets a lot of small family needs. Plenty of storage, lots of air bags, three rear seat Latch positions, GM's OnStar standard in all models, and an optional 320-watt booming stereo system. For young parents on the go, the Vibe's versatility includes a fold-flat front passenger seat to let you pack a surfboard to get away, or a ladder to help your buddies paint. If you stop by the dealer to see the Vibe, ask to see the unique Cargo Management system to see how it stores your milk bottles and jumbo pack of diapers for easy organizing and security.
The fun part comes with Vibe's AWD or GT version that comes with a spry 2.4L engine, sportier handling suspension, and 5-speed driver select mode.
Budget Friendly
Best of all, the Vibe is friendly on the budget in terms of price and gas economy. Starting at $15,895 for the base 1.8 L model to $19,895 for the GT and $19,495 for All Wheel Drive model, this is a lot of car for the money. Throw in 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway fuel economy (base model) and what's not to like? My only wish is that the 1.8L engine base model performance was not as fun driving but still a great entry price for a true starter-family friendly car.
Visit our 2009 Pontiac Vibe Test Drive Photo Gallery at Flickr.
Related Pontiac Vibe Links:
2009 Pontiac Vibe Website
First Look: 2009 Pontiac Vibe [Car & Driver]
Sampling the Past To Create the Future [Edmunds Inside Line]
February 11, 2008 in Car Reviews | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: pontiac, starter family, test drive, vibe
My Date with the Mazda CX-9
The Car: Mazda CX -9
First Impressions: This car is a "he". An attractive and athletic dude. He's well endowed but totally unpretentious, smart but not a geek. He's clearly going to be popular and you can't help but want to hang with him since he's cooler than so many other cars on your choice list. He's still keeping it real though. Did I mention he's very attractive?
Click on the extended post to read all the details and see several photos of the Mazda CX-9 in action
February 8, 2008 in Car Reviews | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Permalink | Comments (2)
Tags: cx-9, mazda
Upcoming Car Reviews
We're new and we're just getting started. Here's a few upcoming car reviews we're working on:If you have a car you'd like us to review, leave it in our comments section. Thanks!
- Mazda CX-9
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid
- Mazda Tribute HEV
- Pontiac Vibe
January 16, 2008 in Car Reviews | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (3)
Tags: cx-9, mazda
Carmel to LA: Our Mazda CX-9 Road Trip
One of the reasons we launched Car & Caboodle started with a road trip we took when our daughter was just seven weeks old. We were offered the chance to try out a new 2007 Mazda CX-9 and drive it from Carmel, California to Los Angeles. Despite concern about how our newborn daughter would take to a 6-hour car ride, the CX-9 was one of the cars we were considering to buy, and this seemed like a great way to see if we really liked the car.
You see, since the birth of our daughter, my wife and I were just beginning to consider what kind of new car we should get. Some of the questions we asked ourselves included:
- What is the right size car for us? A bigger car means more room for stuff, but you gotta wonder if all that stuff is necessary to schlep.
- What's the gas mileage? Should we go hybrid? With gas prices over $3 a gallon, this seems important.
- Can we stay hip and how do we avoid a minivan? We're not going to be one of those families, are we?
- Will the car have room for both our baby and Labrador Retriever? Pre-baby, we took our dog to the beach, on hikes, and to dog parks. Is it possible to still do that in one car with our baby?
- Does it have driver side memory seats? For us, this is a highly personal issue, maybe not for you, but we love it when we don't have to readjust the seat, mirrors and steering wheel every time we switch drivers.
- Does the car seat fit in the back row? We found out that in some cars, a car seat in the back meant sacrificing passenger legroom in the front.
As for our road trip, there are reasons why the CX-9 won Motor Trends SUV of the Year. The design details, the power, and the room for lots of baby gear makes this a good car choice for families. With its third row option, there's room for your children's friends, and still some usable storage behind it. My one drawback is that the car's sleek design lines and powerful engine doesn't necessarily match the softer steering feel. When I mentioned this to Mazda, they told me that their smaller CX-7 had a sportier ride while the CX-9 was designed for a more luxurious ride. Overall, we enjoyed our road trip, took longer breaks to feed our daughter along the way, and thought that the CX-9 was a worthy choice to consider for our family.
Best of all, the road trip started the conversation that launched Car & Caboodle.
Related CX-9 Links:
Official CX-9 Website [Mazda USA]
Our Road Trip Photos [via Flickr]
CX-9 lets suburbanites ditch safari dreams [MSNBC]
Rigors of Extreme Camping No Match for Crossover [Mother Proof]
December 6, 2007 in Car Reviews | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: cx-9, mazda, road trip
Ford Flex at LA Auto Show
One of the more interesting family crossover cars at the LA Auto Show was the Ford Flex (see our slideshow). As an alternative to the minivan or SUV, I found the boxy design of the Flex to be refreshingly different look. At first glance, you can tell the Flex is a big enough car that can accommodate large families. Set to sell in summer 2008, some family friendly features include an interior refrigerator, second-row footrests, Ford Sync™ in-car communications and entertainment system, and a 2,300-song personal juke box. Looks like there's hope yet for those families wanting to avoid the all-purpose minivan.
Related Ford Flex links:
Ford Flex at Ford
Ford Flex Debuts (video) [Autoblog]
Ford Flex Sneak Preview [New Car Test Drive]
Ford Flex Fails to Wow [The Driver's Seat at MSNBC]
November 21, 2007 in Car Reviews | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: crossover, ford, ford flex
Mazda CX-9 Wins Motor Trend 2008 SUV of the Year
At first glance you have to love the styling of the Mazda CX-9 SUV Crossover. Motor Trend just awarded the CX-9 it's coveted 2008 SUV of the Year Award.
The CX-9 reigned supreme out of a diverse crowd of 11 contenders, one of the highest quality fields Motor Trend has seen since it started evaluating sport/utilities. A category once reserved for a few off-road specialists, the sport/utility or crossover class now offers a vehicle for practically any driver, from almost any automaker. Angus MacKenzie, editor in chief of Motor Trend , noted that this year's field, while smaller than last year's, includes significant new entries, including the best Buick in decades-"not just the best Buick SUV, but the best Buick, period"-and a Hyundai that may have car buyers think twice about Lexus.
Mazda's victory, however, was a unanimous decision by the panel of judges.
October 15, 2007 in Car Reviews | by Robert | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: cx-9, mazda
