2023 Toyota Sienna Has 1 Huge Thing Honda Odyssey Doesn’t Offer
Minivans aren’t as popular as they were a few decades ago — but the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are keeping the torch lit for the segment. Both models have some positive attributes. However, the 2023 Toyota Sienna has one huge thing that the 2023 Honda Odyssey doesn’t offer: an efficient hybrid powertrain.
Unlike the 2023 Honda Odyssey, the 2023 Toyota Sienna has an efficient hybrid powertrain
Toyota is the automotive industry leader for hybrid technology — and now they’ve applied it to the 2023 Toyota Sienna minivan. All Sienna models have an efficient hybrid powertrain, which combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors.
The most obvious advantage of the Sienna’s hybrid powertrain is its high fuel economy. The Sienna gets a fuel-sipping estimated gas mileage of up to 36 city/36 highway mpg. In comparison, all 2023 Honda Odyssey models have a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, with an estimated gas mileage of up to 19 city/28 highway mpg. Compared to the Odyssey, the Sienna gets 17 more mpg for city driving and eight more mpg for highway driving.
The average price of gas has dropped since the record highs earlier in 2022. However, gas is still a significant cost of vehicle ownership. An efficient minivan like the Sienna results in considerable savings when filling up the fuel tank.
Also, the high-level efficiency of the Sienna adds to the convenience of the minivan. This is because the Sienna can travel farther than the Odyssey on a full tank of gas. As a result, Sienna owners don’t have to stop at a gas station as often as Odyssey drivers.
The 2023 Sienna’s hybrid powertrain doesn’t mean it has poor performance
Some people might assume that the 2023 Toyota Sienna, with its hybrid powertrain, is weak on the performance front. This notion dates back to the early days of hybrids — when they had a reputation as not being fun-to-drive.
However, the performance of hybrids has greatly improved since those early days. The Sienna’s hybrid powertrain doesn’t mean that the minivan has poor performance. It still gets a respectable output of 245 horsepower, which isn’t a major drop-off from the 2023 Honda Odyssey’s output of 280 horsepower. Also, the Sienna and Odyssey can tow the same amount of weight, with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Furthermore, the Sienna has favorable driving dynamics that defy the long-held perceptions of not only hybrids — but also minivans. With its precise steering and smooth-riding suspension, the Sienna has sedan-like handling.
Additional advantages of the 2023 Sienna over the 2023 Odyssey
In addition to its efficient hybrid powertrain, the 2023 Toyota Sienna has some other benefits over the 2023 Honda Odyssey. Unlike the Odyssey, the Sienna offers an all-wheel drive system. The traction that the all-wheel drive system provides is helpful for driving in adverse weather conditions, such as snowy and icy roads.
Also, the Sienna is slightly more affordable than the Odyssey. It has a starting price of $35,385 MSRP, compared to $37,340 MSRP for the Odyssey. Additionally, the Sienna offers some other features that are not available in the Odyssey, such as heated rear seats and a head-up display.
The hybrid powertrain in the 2023 Toyota Sienna is a big advantage that the minivan has in its favor when comparing it to the 2023 Honda Odyssey. If you’re a minivan shopper that places a premium on high fuel economy, then the Sienna is a good choice for you.
