Hi All - We currently have a 2001 Odyssey and we LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It has 240,000 miles and we are thinking its time to trade it in and get something newer, before it dies on us. My first thought was to get another Odyssey, but living in New England, 4WD does come in handy. So, maybe its worth looking at a Pilot. Must have a 3rd row, b/c we have 3 (and possibly 4 at some point down the road) children. If the 3rd row is being used as seats, is there still trunk space? How much room does the 3rd row have? Enough for 2 Britax seats?
Anybody with a larger family have an opinion on a Pilot? Does it work for you? Or do you think a van is the way to go?
Thanks!!!!
Thanks for your feedback. We'll probably stick with an Odyssey. Its a great car, and its been very good to us. I'll just stay home when the roads are bad. ;) Appreciate all your feedback!!!!
TOugh decision-I love my Odyessey too but it is not great in snow unfortunately. And did you know the new odyesseys are one of the only cars on the market that can fit 3 full sized child seats in the middle row? And the middle seat slides up to the driver for a baby.
I don't think the Pilot would work. We had a Volvo XC 90 and traded it because there was no good way to get to the 3rd row if there were 2 car seats in the middle row. Once we had #3, my oldest (who had just turned 5 and was still in a car seat) would have to jump over the 3rd row and that got old, fast! In my Volvo, you had to slide the 2nd row seat (split bench) forward to squeeze to the back. This was impossible when there was a car seat. (I hope that makes sense).
We are not fond of mini-vans, but like the idea of two captain's chairs in the middle (instead of a bench seat). We decided to go with the GMC Acadia and LOVE it! My older son (now 6) can walk to the back and buckle. Also, if I have to get back there, I don't have to hop over the second row. You can also get the 2nd row captain's chairs in the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave.
It's like a SUV on the outside and a mini van on the inside--perfect for us. And, I have AWD.
I have four kids and looked into the Pilot. It just wasn't roomy enough. Nice car, too small. : ( I would stick with an Odyssey.
Why would you ever give up automatic doors?!?!?!?!!?
Good decision. We love our pilot and it fits 2 britax seats in the third row; however, not much storage when using 3rd row and it would be a pain to have more than 2 car seats because of how you get to the 3rd row.
Stay with the Odyssey!!!
The 3rd row isn't that comfortable and once it is up, you have no storage space - or at least not enough that made me want to buy it.
And the 3rd row would be VERY cramped for two BRITAX - take them with you when you are car shopping - that's what I did and that SOOO helped me make my decision...
stick with the Odyssey!!
I have a Toyota Sienna - it's AWD & a minivan. My mom has the Odessey & I like the way the Toyota drives better than the Honda. Just food for thought
We currently drive an odyssey and love it. We are expecting our 3rd child in about 6 weeks. We had a pilot when we had only one child and there is no way I would go back! The 3rd row seat was barely useful with very little space behind it when in use. The Odyssey is also my preference because it is much easier on my back to lift little ones into car seats in the much lower odyssey than the pilot. Good luck! I never thought we would be minivan people....but I don't think we'll be going back anytime soon! Oh, and we have 3 britax car seats...the two larger ones are the largest 5 point car seats they make!
The Odyssey drives soooo nice !
I love vans !
