Hey all, father of 2, maybe more in the future. I'd like to get a van for my wife and kids. I'm looking at a relatively new, ~'23 >Kia Carnival>Honda Odyssey>Toyota SiennaDo any anons have any opinions on the listed vehicles? I think the Kia looks the best, but it's a minivan, so no matter what it's not going to be sexy. I'm leaning towards the Honda Odyssey, because it just seems to check the most boxes, but was hoping someone here could provide any guidance from their own experiences.
>>28688070Sienna is in demand due to hybrid mpg. If you cannot get a good deal on one, get the Odyssey.
>>28688070Just get an SUV
>>28688075Thanks for the reply anon. I'm a little wary on the hybrids, aside from the MPG, I haven't seen too many positives from the hybrids. Performance seems lacking and inconsistent. Lastly, I have a fear that since it's hybrid, there's more shit to go wrong.Do you have a Sienna/Odyssey? Where is your opinion coming from?
>>28688089Don't be this faggot.
If Mazda made a minivan using the Toyota hybrid drive train, or even straight 6, like they got in the CX-50 I'd get in that. I have an Odyssey, always recommend it. Just looks the best of the offerings, and they last forever. MPG is lackluster, but it's got great power. I'd seriously recommend you take your time and find a deal on a used one.>VCM, cylinder deactivationBuy the tuner and plug it in, super easy. Otherwise you get a janky drive as it aggressively dumps a bank of cylinders depending on VCM version to maintain ECO. In all you lose like 1 highway MPG, but not blowing piston rings and needing a potential rebuild is worth it. Also engine mounts prematurely fail due to the VCM because they are electrically actuated to dampen in response to dropping the operation of 3 cylinders, they're expensive, just get the VCM Tuner and never look back.>Mom machineHonda designed this thing around moms. It's incredibly thoughtful and intentional with storage and little hooks and stuff. >looksDoesn't look like a mouth breathing retard like the sienna or a rectangular fuck like the Kia clownshow. Also>KiaThe Odyssey has mechanically been the same thing since its inception. Highly recommend.
>>28688099>no argument SUVs are superior in every way that matters
Unchanged perfection for decades
I work for a honda dealer. Odysseys are dope, and actually pretty fast. The new ones are pretty nice but you can't go wrong with one from the last ten years.
>>28688070Odyssey is great. Tons of room, real comfortable even on long rides, and a higher trim one has all sorts of useful little doodads (trunk vacuum cleaner). Buddy had a Sienna which was also pretty great. I liked the interior a bit less though. I'd pretty much ignore Kia unless you want to introduce breakdowns into your family road trips
>>28688095>Performance seems lackinganon, its a minivan. If you want performance in a brat wagon look at real SUVs.
>>28688137Pretty expensive for what you're getting but you are getting a 400hp 6.6 liter V8.
Go with the Sienna or Odyssey.I wish Toyota would stop fucking around and brought the Alphard to the US.
>>28688112>Mom machineThat's exactly why we're buying it.>VCM, cylinder deactivationIs there a specific tune you'd recommend looking at?>>28688231I'm not looking for performance, but when I've seen videos of the hybrids, they seem to be inconsistent or "lag" while driving.
>>28688145Truth
>>28688241We have the Alphard here and considered one but they're not meant for families. Far too luxe (delicate materials and switches), and the captains seats don't play nicely with isofix. There's a reason they're largely used for business.
I am a dad and I'm just gonna buy a chevy express when my family outgrows (in number of kids and the MOUNTAIN OF SHIT you haul around per kid) my wife's cx-9. I like minivans fine but my wife hates them so I guess it's large cuckover -> proper van
>>28688241based Chad Alphard enjoyer
>>28688348Proper van is a truck chassis and can haul fucking everythingYou are based for this
>>28688095>Do you have a Sienna/Odyssey?I'm looking around for them.>Where is your opinion coming from?The Toyota hybrid system is a very mature system and is very easy to service. The Odyssey has been the choice for people who want the "fast" van.I would advise against the Sienna if you're constantly hard on the throttle, haul very heavy, and/or do both on very hilly terrain, basically using the vehicle beyond its capabilities on a regular basis. It will run out of batteries and you're left without the electric assist. Most Sienna owners are never going to reach that point, but a buddy of mine does since he uses it to haul frozen meat for his restaurant. That minivan is essentially a fuel-efficient pickup truck for him so he constantly overloads it. It's great when he's not using the van as a truck.>>28688304>they seem to be inconsistent or "lag" while drivingThat's just inherent to Toyota's hybrid system. It uses an eCVT and that "lag" is the engine spinning up as the CVT looks for an ideal ratio.
>>28688123>SUVs are superior in every way that mattersIn doing so, you've totally ignored what OP wanted in a car, which is a wife and kid hauler, and he has plans to breed his wife some more. He's probably looking for a big car that is easy to live with.That pretty much means the minivan with sliding doors and big strollers are in his future, not a SUV. He stated no intentions of off-roading or towing.
>>28688393>big strollers are in his futureyou've clearly never owned a Wonderfold or a BOB if you think you're fitting that in a minivan with its third row up, and if you have it down, you might as well have a full size SUV at that point
>>28688393>>28688394OP here, this is also a gift from an old relative. They wanted to get us "a van", and gave us freedom on what to choose. Given a van makes sense for our situation, I wouldn't want to come back and say, "how about a suburban." I wouldn't want to upset them, or blow it as this will be a massive upgrade for us.
>>28688304>Is there a specific tune you'd recommend looking at?I believe I got VCM Tuner, plenty of options. It only intercepts the engine temp sensor input to the VCM system. Once the engine is warmed up the PCM will allow ECO mode, so by spoofing the 1 temp signal, the VCM never kicks on. It's not supposed to be an engine tune, it just withholds the coolant temp signal unless you are trending way above average, in which case it disables itself and passes the actual temperature to the driver and system. This little device is built for any Honda that uses the cylinder management system. Only problem is newer models (I think 2023 and up) use a more complex registry of parameters to decide when to enable the cylinder management.
>>28688070just make sure to keep a handheld air horn with you for when the horn breaks
>>28688070Yes 2015 Sienna limited Love it
>>28688932>I wouldn't want to upset them, or blow it as this will be a massive upgrade for us.Thanks for the update. My answer still stands. Go for a Sienna or Odyssey.>Toyota SiennaAWD, trim it to XLE and above.>Honda OdysseyTrim it to EX-L and above.You will find reasonable availability for the Odyssey, the Sienna you'll probably need to call around for since they've yet to actually meet demand.
>>28689617My wife is really into the Honda since that's all she's ever known. I'm really partial to the ventilated seats, so I'm only looking at the Elite. We're going to test drive it tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes.>>28689566Thanks for the explanation. "Tuned" makes it sound much more intrusive than what you described. Assuming we go with the Odyssey, I'll give this some serious thought.
Kia Carnival is much nicer and newer than the alternatives.
>>28689714>We're going to test drive it tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes.I see you've already set an expectation. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy the Odyssey.
>>28688070I have a '25 Carnival and love it. The diesel engine is a gem. I'd describe driving it as being like a whale drifting through the ocean, unperturbed by smaller creatures.The worst part about the car is how it beeps and bongs at you constantly. It's really aggressive about it, almost hateful. It really detracts from an otherwise incredibly serene driving experience. You can turn the beeps off, but I still haven't even figured out how to get it to stop loudly telling me about speed cameras.The other cars will be good too, but make sure you look into the little details like how they do their seating configuration. I'm a little bit annoyed about how the second-row seats can't be easily removed in Australia (because of a wiring harness), but they can in America. If I couldn't get a diesel, I would have gone for a hybrid.>>28689617AWD seems like a meme for this kind of car, I doubt you're really going to find any situations where it would actually help.>>28688166Instead of permanently mounting a vacuum in your car, why not just carry a better one in the boot? I swear I remember some minivan having a fridge built into the centre console, now THAT is a gimmick which I would love to have.>>28688241Alphards (etc) have significantly worse boot space than other minivans. Their seats don't fold into the floor, so you're stuck with them in an awkward spot on the wall. The ones here are all older too, so you don't get the (genuinely indispensable) modern camera systems.Personally I keep one of my third-row seats folded up and the other down, because I have a spare child seat mounted on the third row. It leaves me with a long flat area for prams and other big things, and a nice little well area to carry groceries.
>>28688070I have 4 kids. My wife drives a 4runner with 3rd row seating. Before we had our 4th kid she drove a Camry. You don't need a minivan for two children, you are wasting your money.
>>28690062>4runner using 3rd row seat, van-like, configuration>4runner costs exactly as much, if not more than any of the minivans listed>cannot read that the vehicle is being given as a giftAnon, do you have an extra chromosome?
>>28688070white man, married, 4 kids here. I have a 2021 hybrid sienna, and its awesome. comfy smooth ride, everything just werks, easy maintenance.
Is Jazz a minivan?
>>28690062This. Have 2 kids (6 and 4). I drive a 2019 Audi S4, Wife drives a 2018 4runner (w/o 3rd row). We don’t need more space. If we had a 3rd, then we’d look maybe, but this guy gets it.
>>28690122No. You don’t understand. He’s saying minivans are unnecessary with the current brood.
>>28690062>>28690176if you can only afford 1 vehicle and need something that does everything, then an SUV is worth considering. but nothing beats the ride quality and comfort of a minivan for road trips or going to grandma's house.
>>28688070giwtwm
>>28690122Shut up retard. You obviously didn't comprehend my post. Do not procreate.
>>28688070Check out the savagegeese comparison video on the three.Personally I'd go Sienna or hold off and pray that the Odyssey gets a hybrid refresh soon enough.Love that the Odyssey has removable seats. Hard to beat the Sienna for reliability.Carnival only makes sense with the V6 but even then I wouldn't trust the Kia further than I can throw it. My sister has a Carnival and the things consumes oil.
>>28689939We ended up test-driving a '26 Odyssey. The saleswoman was super curvy and was a nice treat to the experience. Not super pushy. My wife wants the Odyssey, I'm going to start negotiations tomorrow or Tuesday. I'm looking for a '25 to hopefully find a desperate dealer to dump it prior to EOY. Sticker price is already like 5k cheaper compared to the '26.>>28690176>>28690184>>28690468You clearly didn't read this >>28688932 post. I'm being given "a minivan" as a gift. I'm not going to bite the hand that feeds me. A 2026 Odyssey is a giant upgrade from wife's current CR-V, so I'm grateful.
my dad didn't have no fagass minivan ever, infact I don't think he has ever owned anything with 4 doors.
>>28690923>You clearly didn't read this >>28688932You should have included it in the OP. I'm not going to read every faggot ass post in every thread I visit when half of the board is retards slapfighting and forced memes
>>28690496Not OP, but the Carnival is the only option here; no Odyssey, Sienna, or Pacifica. I really don't want a crossover or SUV.
>>28690946Lol. Lmao even. Came back to seethe though.>>28690969Why Carnival? In my anecdotal research, mechanically it doesn't seem to compete. I originally was looking at the Carnival, but I've read multiple "stay away" type comments, even beyond this thread.
>>28690982For some reason, the only market where the Carnival has any real competition (the US) is also the only market where they don't offer its main engine option, the 2.2L diesel. It's arguably one of the best commuter diesel engines on the market. At least, it's probably the most popular.
>>28690946>doesn't read the atmosphere on a tuvaluan competitive diplomatic cloud watching union forumWhy are you even here?
>>28690929ackshually they have five doors my nibba
>>28691115Americans hate diesel commuter cars.
>>28688070My mom bought an AWD Pacifica and likes itShe didn't want a sienna, was almost sold on the Honda but apparently every Honda dealer in our area is full of jackasses, the next option was chrysler.
>>28691254Pacifica is ancient by this point. My coworker bought one new had a bunch of mechanical problems within a year of ownership.
