I absolutely love my Pilot. It’s the best car I’ve ever owned. It has good space and access to the 3rd row. But buy the Odyssey. Trust me! I drove an Odyssey and then a Sienna for many years. I miss having a minivan. There’s simply no comparison in terms of convenience and space. The Pilot 3rd row is fine but even with captains chairs not as easy for an adult or teen to access. And with the 3rd row in use, the storage space is minimal. When I can leave the 3rd row folded, cargo space is great and I’m at the point where I can do that most of the time. But when I have to drive a carpool or we take a family vacation, I miss my minivan.

Really didn't want a minivan but now we're on our second Odyssey. Each time we took a hard look at all the 3 row SUV's, including the Pilot, and the third row seating just doesn't compare. If you are going to use the third row regularly, I'd go with the Odyssey. Can also fit our bike when we fold down the third row, as others have said.

We have an Odyssey - I can put two adult bikes with the front wheels off and two kids bikes in the back with the third role folded down.

I love, love, love the Odyssey - so easy to fit so many people comfortably.

I have a Honda Odyssey and the captain seating is very easy to get in and out of the car

It’s too bad the Odyssey is so ugly. With the crazy random line cuts on each side.

No comparison. I have an Odyssey. There's SO much room in front of the second row of seats. The Pilot just felt cramped. We did test drive both. The Pilot was similarly priced, but just felt smaller and less user friendly. Those sliding doors are fantastic!

Take a look at the Subaru Ascent. I just got one and love it. You can choose captain's chairs or a second row bench. It's a fabulous vehicle. I'm a previous Subaru owner so that's why I gravitated toward it.

I have an odyssey and we can put a bike in it with only half the rear seats folded down — so we can transport three kids plus a bike. It’s tight but doable.

Anonymous wrote:PP Honda Pilot poster here, Also, my kids are in elementary school and can get in and out of the 3rd row very easily with the 1 push button feature it has. If I had kids younger than 5, the minivan may have had more appeal but my kids can handle the 3rd row access easily.

Awesome- thank you. My kids are elementary aged as well.

PP Honda Pilot poster here, Also, my kids are in elementary school and can get in and out of the 3rd row very easily with the 1 push button feature it has. If I had kids younger than 5, the minivan may have had more appeal but my kids can handle the 3rd row access easily.

I just bought a Pilot and love it. I bought the middle trim level because of the 6 speed transmission mainly, (I'd heard the 9 speed had problems on the 2 higher level trims). The trim I bought doesn't have captain's chairs so we can technically seat 8. I mainly compared it to the Highlander in the back and it has way more room in the 3rd row.

We don't carpool that often but we've already used it way more than when we only had a 5 person SUV. I can't compare it to the Odyssey but I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

I have a SUV with a third row (Infiniti - not Honda) and I often wish I had a minivan or SUV with captains chairs for carpooling. It's annoying to have to bend the 2nd row forward and the sliding doors of a minivan sound wonderful to me.

Anonymous wrote:I have an Odyssey.

I have fit one adult bike and 3 smaller bikes of varying sizes in the back. It was tight, but doable.

In terms of carpooling, the seats in my van are much easier to access and more comfortable than the Pilot's. Even adults fit in the back seat. The Pilot has the seating but it's a bit more awkward in the 3rd row.

thanks!

I have an Odyssey.

I have fit one adult bike and 3 smaller bikes of varying sizes in the back. It was tight, but doable.

In terms of carpooling, the seats in my van are much easier to access and more comfortable than the Pilot's. Even adults fit in the back seat. The Pilot has the seating but it's a bit more akward in the 3rd row.

I am looking to replace my sedan with a 7-8 seater vehicle so that I can participate in carpooling with other families. We have narrowed it down to the Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot for many reasons, after much research and considering price.

Does anyone with an Odyssey have experience putting full sized bicycles INSIDE the van (with third row folded down)?

Bench seating vs. Captain's Chairs?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks!