2013 Honda Odyssey or 2013 Toyota Alphard

**top_speed** · October 24th, 2013 12:03 AM

With a growing family, I am in a hunt for a premium van. Topmost in my list are the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Alphard. Which in your opinion is the better choice in the following:

a. Driving Pleasure
b. Comfortable seating capacity
c. Passenger riding pleasure
d. Features and accessories
e. Price of parts and maintenance
f. Value for money

If you happen to own either of these vans, kindly post pictures.

**niky** · October 24th, 2013 12:48 AM

The big question is: How many people are you carrying? If you're carrying more than seven, they won't fit comfortably in the Alphard, but may fit in the Odyssey.

Otherwise:

a. Driving Pleasure - Tie. The Odyssey has better steering and a more controlled suspension, the Alphard is quicker and easier to thread through traffic (narrower)

b. Comfortable seating capacity - Odyssey

c. Passenger riding pleasure - Alphard. Middle row captain's chairs swivel, recline and have power-footrests. Front passenger chair has a power foot-rest. Third-row isn't quite as nice, but still great. Also, back-rest recline has better geometry than Odyssey. Odyssey seats are uncomfortable when reclined to sleeping position.

d. Features and accessories - Alphard. Huge glass roof with mood-lighting. Power seats. Etcetera. Odyssey has a better stereo, but that's about it.

e. Price of parts and maintenance - You expect either to be cheap?

Both share V6s with the Camry/Accord, but other parts do NOT carry over. Don't expect to find them outside the dealership.

f. Value for money - Alphard, definitely. The Odyssey is the better big family hauler... but if you're looking to carry a lot of people, the Starex and Super Grandia hold more people for less money. The Alphard is a great executive express, and a worthy alternative to a big SUV.

Case-in-point, since it came out, two relatives plonked their money down on Alphards. One prefers using it over his S-Class. ;)

**LNopal** · October 24th, 2013 09:07 AM

If you have money to burn, get the odyssey. I have one and it's always a pleasure to drive especially for long drives. I am not familiar with Alphard, but niky gave you an idea. Test drive both and if you could also be the passenger, it'll be great to compare how it feels to be a passenger for both vans.

**top_speed** · October 24th, 2013 09:09 AM

Thank you for this very intelligent reply....

The big question is: How many people are you carrying? If you're carrying more than seven, they won't fit comfortably in the Alphard, but may fit in the Odyssey.

When your looking for a van, the number of people you can comfortably accommodate would be of high importance. Looking at the seating configurations of both, the Alphard can at best comfortably seat 6pax, driver and passenger in front, two using the Ottoman seats and only two in the third row. While with the Odyssey and its width advantage, I can see 8pax comfortably transported.

a. Driving Pleasure - Tie. The Odyssey has better steering and a more controlled suspension, the Alphard is quicker and easier to thread through traffic (narrower).

I believe the narrower the vehicle, the less stable it is in cornering.

b. Comfortable seating capacity - Odyssey

On the Alphard, when third row seats are deployed, cargo space is severely compromised.

c. Passenger riding pleasure - Alphard. Middle row captain's chairs swivel, recline and have power-footrests. Front passenger chair has a power foot-rest. Third-row isn't quite as nice, but still great. Also, back-rest recline has better geometry than Odyssey. Odyssey seats are uncomfortable when reclined to sleeping position.

Agree, Agree, Agree

d. Features and accessories - Alphard. Huge glass roof with mood-lighting. Power seats. Etcetera. Odyssey has a better stereo, but that's about it.

Odyssey has back-up camera and Bluetooth hands-free system. Both should have a DVD entertainment system given their price tags.

e. Price of parts and maintenance - You expect either to be cheap?

Both share V6s with the Camry/Accord, but other parts do NOT carry over. Don't expect to find them outside the dealership.

f. Value for money - Alphard, definitely. The Odyssey is the better big family hauler... but if you're looking to carry a lot of people, the Starex and Super Grandia hold more people for less money. The Alphard is a great executive express, and a worthy alternative to a big SUV.

Given the discounts offered to me on a BNew 2012 Odyssey, it will come out over P600K cheaper than the Alphard. The difference is equivalent to the price of a compact car. I find this very tempting.

Case-in-point, since it came out, two relatives plonked their money down on Alphards. One prefers using it over his S-Class. ;)

**top_speed** · October 25th, 2013 10:40 PM

I decided to get the Honda Odyssey. I will take it out from the dealer tomorrow. :-)

**niky** · October 26th, 2013 02:01 AM

If you're getting it for 600k less than the Alphard, that is definitely a good deal. Honda sometimes has runout sales like that for units they can't shift.

Congrats on the purchase!

**LNopal** · October 27th, 2013 06:51 AM

Good choice. Goodluck with your new Odyssey; enjoy!

**top_speed** · October 27th, 2013 07:45 AM

I am extremely happy with it. It drives just as good as my BMW X5. Very responsive engine and suspension belongs to elite brands of cars. It very spacious with a lot of features included. Overall, this is one of a hell people mover. Kudos to Honda

**top_speed** · November 3rd, 2013 02:35 PM

Just came back from a long vacation with wifey, kids and yayas in tow. After having gone to Subic and Baguio, it's ready for its first 1000km check up. The Odyssey is a blast to drive. Highly responsive engine and very manueverable especially on the twisties of Marcos Highway. The seats are superbly comfortable and the space was never wanting despite the over ten luggages that we brought along. It averaged a little over 8km/ltr for the entire trip despite bursts of 140kph in SCTEX and heavy traffic in some stretches of the McArthur
Highway.

Overall, I believe that this is the best executive class VAN in the market and at its price, its a steal. And for those whose opinion point in favor of the Alphard driven largely by their favorable perception of the Toyota brandname and despite its clear disadvantage in spaciousness and seating capacity, I can confidently say it is time to take a second look on the Odyssey.