Schomp Honda

Safety

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Odyssey deploy with different levels of force or don't deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Odyssey's side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Sedona's side airbags don't have smart features and will always deploy full force.

 

The Honda Odyssey has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Sedona doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

 

The Odyssey Touring has standard parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Sedona doesn't offer a front parking aid.

 

The Odyssey Touring Elite's blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. The Sedona doesn't offer a system to reveal objects in the driver's blind spots.

 

Compared to metal, the Odyssey's plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Kia Sedona has a metal gas tank.

 

Both the Odyssey and the Sedona have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

 

Warranty

 

The Odyssey's 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sedona runs out after 100,000 miles.

 

There are over 61 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier to get service under the Odyssey's warranty.

 

Reliability

 

The engine in the Odyssey has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Sedona has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 20th.

 

Fuel Economy and Range

 

On the EPA test cycle the Odyssey Touring six-speed Auto gets better fuel mileage than the Sedona (19 city/28 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

 

An engine control system that can shut down half of the engine's cylinders helps improve the Odyssey's fuel efficiency. The Sedona doesn't offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

 

Environmental Friendliness

 

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Odyssey higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Kia Sedona (5 to 6). This means the Odyssey produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sedona every 15,000 miles.

 

Brakes and Stopping

 

For better stopping power the Odyssey's brake rotors are larger than those on the Sedona:

	Odyssey	Sedona
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13.1 inches	11.9 inches

 

Tires and Wheels

 

For better traction, the Odyssey has larger tires than the Sedona (235/65R17 vs. 225/70R16).

 

The Odyssey's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sedona LX's standard 70 series tires.

 

For better load carrying, ride, handling and brake cooling the Odyssey has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Sedona LX. The Odyssey Touring's 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Sedona EX.

 

Suspension and Handling

 

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Odyssey is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Sedona.

 

For better maneuverability, the Odyssey's turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Sedona's (36.7 feet vs. 39.6 feet).

 

Chassis

 

The Odyssey uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sedona doesn't offer active noise cancellation.

 

Passenger Space

 

The Odyssey offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Sedona can only carry 7.

 

The Odyssey has 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear hip room, 8.4 inches more third row legroom and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sedona.

 

Cargo Capacity

 

The Odyssey's cargo area provides more volume than the Sedona.

	Odyssey	Sedona
Behind Third Seat	38.4 cubic feet	32.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	93.1 cubic feet	80.1 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	148.5 cubic feet	141.5 cubic feet

 

Servicing Ease

 

A Maintenance Minder is standard on the Odyssey to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, spark plug replacement, air filter replacement, tire rotation, radiator flush and transmission fluid replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Kia doesn't offer a maintenance reminder on the Sedona.

 

Ergonomics

 

The engine computer on the Odyssey automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The Sedona's starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

 

The Odyssey's front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sedona's power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver's window opens automatically.

 

If the windows are left down on the Odyssey the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the Sedona can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

 

The Sedona's power locks don't automatically lock the doors. The Odyssey's standard power locks automatically lock the doors when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights. (The power lock's automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)

 

The Odyssey has standard lighted power door lock, power window, power mirror and cruise control switches so that they are easily found at night. The Sedona doesn't have lighted switches.

 

When the Odyssey Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Sedona's mirrors don't automatically adjust for backing.

 

The Odyssey Touring has a standard center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The Sedona doesn't offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

 

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Odyssey's passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation, which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Sedona doesn't offer a filtration system.

 

The Odyssey's available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service available in a limited number of metro areas.) The Sedona's available navigation system doesn't offer real-time traffic updates.

 

With available voice command, the Odyssey offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls, cell phone and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Sedona doesn't offer a voice control system.

 

The Odyssey (except LX) offers an optional 115 volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters which can break or get misplaced. The Sedona doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

 

Recommendations

 

The Honda Odyssey outsold the Kia Sedona by almost five to one during the 2010 model year.

* [1]  Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.