For winters in Canada, is it better to go with AWD or stick to FWD if you have winter tires on a minivan? A friend of mine who works at Honda says the new Odyssey is better than the Hybrid Sienna AWD. They say it has less maintenance because of the V6 engine and is more spacious. I’m not a fan of Honda’s sliding seats or the button gear shift. Has anyone compared the two? If you’ve looked into both, what made you pick one over the other?
I live in the Canadian prairies. I almost went with the Odyssey because it was easier to find here, but I felt like I’d miss AWD, the hybrid option, and I really dislike the push-button gear shift.
Luckily, the 2024 Sienna XSE AWD I ordered a year earlier arrived just in time, and I switched to that instead of the Odyssey. I put Blizzak winter tires on it, and it’s been fantastic this winter.
I can’t compare directly since I didn’t buy the Honda, but I hope my experience helps. And yes, it’s normal for a Honda dealer to push their product—just like people here might lean towards Toyotas .
@Jones
Thanks for sharing your experience.
With the same tires, how would FWD ever be better than AWD in snow?
GARAGETOY said:
With the same tires, how would FWD ever be better than AWD in snow?
Good question. I plan to use winter tires no matter which option I choose.
I have a 2019 Sienna XLE AWD with a V6. I went for a used one because it was much cheaper here in Canada (about 40k versus 65-70k for a new one). Some say AWD doesn’t matter much if you have winter tires, but this van is amazing in the snow.
We drove through a heavy snowstorm around Bracebridge recently, and I was so glad we had it. I also have winter tires on it, and it’s been solid.
We test drove a similar Odyssey, but found the space in the back was a bit tighter, and the controls felt awkward. We’re big Toyota fans, and so far, it’s been a great van. We bought it with 80k km and hope to hit at least 250k. I do get why some are cautious about hybrid systems, though.
@Huxley
Thanks for the detailed feedback.
I have an Odyssey and love it. It’s great in the snow with winter tires, but if I lived somewhere with heavy snow like Canada, I’d go for AWD. I’m in Southern California, so snow isn’t a big deal for me. If the weather gets bad, I just use my Q7 with snow-rated tires instead. AWD might not be a must, but having extra traction is always nice.
@Kelby
Thanks for your input. I’m in Canada, and we get a lot of snow. Plus, we’re planning winter road trips once the kids are older.
I have a 2020 AWD and wouldn’t switch to a new FWD even if it was free. I live in Oregon and do a lot of skiing trips. With Michelin CrossClimate2 tires, it handles all conditions really well.
allson said:
I have a 2020 AWD and wouldn’t switch to a new FWD even if it was free. I live in Oregon and do a lot of skiing trips. With Michelin CrossClimate2 tires, it handles all conditions really well.
Appreciate your feedback.
My 2024 AWD has been excellent in the snow. It’s not as good as my old 4WD vehicle, but it handles snow and ice in Edmonton really well.
It also has two electric motors that recharge when braking, which I assume the FWD version doesn’t have.
@Palmer
Thanks for the info. How does the gas mileage compare in winter versus summer?
WildWildWest said:
@Palmer
Thanks for the info. How does the gas mileage compare in winter versus summer?
Winter mileage isn’t great. In the city, I get about 8-9L/100km, mostly because the engine runs more to keep the car warm in the cold.
@Palmer
That’s still better than what I’ve heard about the Honda.
Hybrids usually need less maintenance than older V6 engines.
Mica said:
Hybrids usually need less maintenance than older V6 engines.
Thanks for sharing.
I don’t see how Honda is better. Sure, it might look nice and cost less, but I think AWD is the way to go for snowy conditions. Plus, Toyota’s resale value is better.
Vesper said:
I don’t see how Honda is better. Sure, it might look nice and cost less, but I think AWD is the way to go for snowy conditions. Plus, Toyota’s resale value is better.
Thank you for your input.