Minivans
Used Toyota Sienna vs Honda Odyssey: which should you buy?
By Hari Vinayak · Updated 2026-06-22
The short answer
The two best minivans on the used market. The Sienna offers AWD and standard hybrid power on recent generations with excellent resale; the Odyssey drives a touch better and has clever interior flexibility. Both are family workhorses — buy the one with the cleanest maintenance history.
Model years
2011–2024
Mileage outlook
The V6 easily passes 250,000 miles. Family-hauled Siennas with highway miles are great buys; airport-shuttle or rideshare vans with crushed interiors at low prices are not.
Model years
2011–2024
Mileage outlook
200,000+ miles is common with maintenance. Timing belt service every ~100,000 miles is mandatory budgeting, same as the Pilot. Check oil level on the test drive.
Toyota Sienna
A used Toyota Sienna is the most durable minivan choice, but test the things that actually fail: power sliding doors (cable failures are notorious and run $500–$1,500 per side), oil cooler line leaks on 2011–2016 V6 cars, and transmission shudder on 2017–2020 8-speeds. 2021+ Siennas are hybrid-only and very reliable, but verify it isn't a heavily-used rideshare or shuttle van.
Known issues to check
- Power sliding door cable and motor failures — cycle both doors several times from the key fob, the dash button, and the handles
- 2011–2016 V6: oil cooler line leaks, same as other 2GR vans — check for drips and the updated part
- 2017–2020 8-speed: low-speed shudder and hesitation — test in parking-lot speeds
- 2021+ hybrid: solid record so far; check tire wear (heavy van) and confirm software recalls are done
What to verify
- Both sliding doors open and close smoothly from every control
- No oil leaks at the oil cooler lines (2011–2016)
- Smooth low-speed shifting (2017–2020)
- Interior wear matches the odometer — shuttle vans hide hard lives
Honda Odyssey
A used Honda Odyssey drives better than any minivan but carries known drivetrain quirks: VCM-related oil consumption on 2011–2017 models, torque converter shudder on 2014–2017 6-speeds, and rough early shifts from the 2018–2019 9/10-speeds. Cycle the power sliding doors repeatedly — door repairs are common and not cheap. A well-documented Odyssey is a great family buy; an undocumented one deserves a hard look at the oil.
Known issues to check
- VCM oil consumption and spark plug fouling (2011–2017) — verify oil level and ask about top-offs
- 2014–2017: torque converter shudder at light throttle — a fluid change helps early cases, but feel for it on the drive
- 2018–2019: 9-speed shift quality complaints; the 10-speed (2018+ Touring/Elite) is better
- Power sliding doors: motors, cables, and sensors fail with age — test every door function
What to verify
- Oil level and consumption history on VCM engines
- Timing belt receipt near 100,000 miles
- Sliding doors from fob, dash, and handles — several cycles
- Smooth light-throttle cruising with no shudder (2014–2017)
How to decide between them
On the used market, the better specific car almost always beats the better model on paper. A well-documented Toyota Sienna can be a smarter buy than a neglected Honda Odyssey, and the reverse is just as true. Build a comp set for each, match the model year to its known issues above, and price in any maintenance the records do not cover.
Once you have a real listing for either one, paste it into DealScan to get a deal score, the red flags, a fair price range, and the questions to ask before you visit.
Found a listing for either one? Check the actual car.
Paste any Sienna or Odyssey listing and get a deal score, red flags, and the price you should actually offer.
Check a listingToyota Sienna vs Honda Odyssey: FAQ
Is the used Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey more reliable?
Both are popular used picks, and reliability comes down to the specific model year and how well the car was maintained more than the badge. Match each car's year to its known issues — the Toyota Sienna watch-items and the Honda Odyssey watch-items are listed above — and prioritize the one with documented maintenance records.
Which is cheaper to own used, the Toyota Sienna or the Honda Odyssey?
Total cost depends on purchase price, insurance, fuel, and repair risk for the specific year. Use DealScan's free price checker on each to compare fair market values, and factor in the known repair items for each model before deciding which is cheaper to own.
Should I buy the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey?
The two best minivans on the used market. The Sienna offers AWD and standard hybrid power on recent generations with excellent resale; the Odyssey drives a touch better and has clever interior flexibility. Both are family workhorses — buy the one with the cleanest maintenance history.