Anyone gone from Minivan to Expedition Max?

[shane_th_ee]

Eh...Wasn't Acura MDX a dressed up Honda Pilot?

And what do you think a Honda Pilot is? It’s an Odyssey without the sliding doors.

 

[Adieu]

You might be on to something...same mpg, same tow, same price

Kinda looks the same too
https://www.google.com/amp/s/conten...onda-odyssey-whats-difference-281474979904806


...well color me shocked. I always thought MDX looked pretty solid and imposing.

 

[shane_th_ee]

You might be on to something...same mpg, same tow, same price

Kinda looks the same too
https://www.google.com/amp/s/conten...onda-odyssey-whats-difference-281474979904806


...well color me shocked. I always thought MDX looked pretty solid and imposing.

And, much like how Chrysler created the original minivan based on the K-car platform, they're all essentially Accords with different body styles. Similarly, the Sienna, Highlander, and Lexus RX* are all variants of the Camry.
*I think the latest version of the RX may have its own platform, but I'm not certain on that.

 

[EngRWW33]

My wife went from a 2015 Sienna to the 2018 Expy Max Platinum. Behind the third row is where space really mattered to her and so far the Expy has proved to have more useful space, but we have not taken it on a legit road trip yet. She loves the new car, although some of that is "new car syndrome." I think the verdict is still out on practicality of the Expedition vs Sienna.

I am an "outdoor enthusiast" and we as a family go biking, kayaking, hiking, etc. often (once/twice a week). The Expy provides a better platform for hauling bikes/gear where the Sienna fell short. Adding a hitch to the Sienna caused us to drag the rear hitch in way too many places in Western PA. Even out of our own driveway unless we were paying extra close attention.

I personally liked the Sienna better, but that is because it was paid for and the Expy is not yet.

 

[duneslider]

This spring I did mountain bike trip with some buddies. 5 adult males, 4 mountain bikes on a rack off the back, roof top box and a bike on the roof. In a honda mini van. It got better gas mileage than my expedition (averaged over 24mpg) and was easy in and out for all the adults and I was relatively comfortable the whole drive (Salt Lake to Vancouver Island BC).

I am way too cool to drive a minivan though so I will keep the expedition. (Really, I just have a camper I have to pull that exceeds the limit of the minivan). If I didn't need to tow I would be in a minivan.

 

[TheDoug]

Eh...Wasn't Acura MDX a dressed up Honda Pilot?

Yup which shared the odyssey platform... complete garbage

 

[keny01998]

Friends dont let friends drive minivans!

I say that but mynold MDX was essentially a honda odyssey and I couldn't stand it. I have 2 kids 6 and 3 and both can climb in to the Expy just fine.

I just upgraded from 2017 MDX to 2019 Exp and I couldn't be satisfied more. I have 4 kids and 2 older ones (12, 11) had to sit in the back of the MDX and they hate it. There are no leg room and AC vents in 3rd row. It's getting uncomfortable after a while.

 

[Husker4theSpurs]

Well everyone ... just back from a road trip for a family wedding in our 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Limited (all options) while considering all mentioned here. There were 5 of us ... 2 being toddlers. My wife rode in the 3rd row and I folded/stored the short side of the rear seat so we had a flat space for changing a diaper, etc. Our other adult was in the front passenger seat. Kids were in the captain's chairs in their car seats (18 mos & 3 1/2 yrs).

As I was packing the car with our (fairly sanely packed) belongings, I was already saying to myself "Gonna have to order that Navigator L/Expedition Max ASAP!" although I'm not firmly convinced the Max would have that much more overall cargo space than a minivan behind the 3rd row (just shaped differently?). I can see how a large family with either car still often have a cargo carrier on top.

We averaged 29.5 mpg at 70-75 mph for the whole trip and that had me thinking "maybe we need to just hang onto this thing."

Had to take a poorly maintained gravel/sand road due to unexpected road construction and running late to a rehearsal dinner and I was saying "wish I had that Navigator now." Also had to pull into a field that was really bumpy and the ground clearance was an issue ("need that Max"). This wedding was on our family ranch and it's a trip I will be making 4 times a year or so with my immediate family.

So, I'm still pretty confused for the time being. The kicker may be that we can get a bench seat in the Max/L for the 2nd row and put the extra adult in that row (with the two kids) while still having the panoramic moonroof (if you get a bench in the 2nd row in a minivan, you can't get the pano moonroof). Plus the Max/L is a little wider in that 2nd row area.

But then at the end of the trip ... 2 toddlers without naps for two days and poor nights of sleep in a hotel ... lots of anxiety and exhausting running around I said to myself "who the F am I kidding? We're not going on any more trips!!"

Thanks again everyone for the feedback ... we may stay in a holding pattern and see what the GM remodel has to offer as well ... maybe there's a bit of a refresh in order for the Nav/Exp in 2021 model year to keep "ahead" of the remodeled GMs? My impulse is ... I'm tired of driving a minivan ... give me the full size SUV!

 

[Husker4theSpurs]

Add in a DVD entertainment system that actually works well in the minivan ... versus that mess in the Navigator/Expedition.

 

[Shutterbug57]

I'm gonna echo pretty much everything said in here so far. I switched my family cruiser/wife's vehicle from a '14 Sienna SE to a '19 Limited Max a few weeks ago and she absolutely loves it and so do I. We do miss the sliding doors for the laziness of letting the kids just rush out and for tight parking, but those aren't too much of a big deal as we, like many others, just park a bit further out, and assist the littles in getting out.

In regards to kids, I have 5 boys... Ages 7,5,3,2 and 4mo. We got the captains chairs so every seat is full. The only issue we've ran into so far is in the 3rd row. We haven't figured out how to put the 2 backed boosters in with forward facing harness seat. The 2 in boosters have a hard time clicking their belts in because they are flush with the seats and slightly under the harness sest vs sticking up like they were in the sienna. Also, I wish I could disable the power reclining 3rd row seats as kids like to push buttons and that doesn't work too well with car seats.

I also wanted to add a different angle than some have posted about their kids having a hard time getting into the expedition. All of my boys, except for the baby obviously, can get into mine just fine. We found this to be the case with the models that have the power steps as they come down a lot further than the fixed running boards. My younger boys couldn't get into the XLT models without help.

Our main deciding factors were snow, ground clearance, towing and technology. The presence is much better, but parking takes a little more thought as the hood is much larger.

You might want to try some seatbelt extenders. Get the hard ones and the buckles will be high enough for the kids to use. I had to do this in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, it worked great.

 

[gtnator]

Ok you’ve heard all the other arguments, now it’s time for the most practical reason to get an Expedition over a minivan: safety. The Expedition sits higher = safer, and the Expedition is a truck/has a strong truck frame underneath. God forbid you ever get into an accident, you’re family will be way better off in the Expedition. Go get it, now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Boose]

For what it's worth, we never considered a minivan... When my Wife was hit by a drunk in her Taurus the first Expy came along back in 07.

 

[shane_th_ee]

it's a trip I will be making 4 times a year or so with my immediate family.

If you're making that same trip again in less than 90 days, I'd recommend renting an Expedition Max next time you go. The other question I have is, is this your car or your wife's? If it's your wife's, keep the minivan if that's what she wants or get the Navigator if that's what she wants...

 

[Howie Dub]

We just went from a 2011 Sienna Ltd AWD to the Expedition Max Ltd 4x4 after our Sienna's transmission went out at 39k miles. While the Sienna has a lower floor than the Expedition, it's actually easier for people to get in and out of the Expedition because of the power assist step. I used to have to help my 84 year old mother-in-law in and out of the Sienna but she has no problems getting into the Expedition Max. I do have to pick up my 80lb dog now to get him in whereas he used to be able to jump into the Sienna. The Sienna also carries more behind the 3rd row without blocking your view since the cargo area drops below the bumper. The Expedition Max is more difficult to park, the although the 360 surround view option helps. The fact that the mirrors don't tilt when parking from the factory is annoying when that feature was on my 8 year old minivan. That said, we're happy with the Expedition Max. It feels a lot safer than the minivan and also has a much better engine. Technology is so much better,I although I'm sure a newer minivan would have similar features. I love the clearance; you never have to worry about scraping the curb or parking blocks.

 

[Husker4theSpurs]

If you're making that same trip again in less than 90 days, I'd recommend renting an Expedition Max next time you go. The other question I have is, is this your car or your wife's? If it's your wife's, keep the minivan if that's what she wants or get the Navigator if that's what she wants...

That's a great point and I do plan to rent one for a week at some point.

I am the primary driver of this car ... currently the minivan. (And I agree with you on getting her what she wants if it's her car)

 

[Husker4theSpurs]

Ok you’ve heard all the other arguments, now it’s time for the most practical reason to get an Expedition over a minivan: safety. The Expedition sits higher = safer, and the Expedition is a truck/has a strong truck frame underneath. God forbid you ever get into an accident, you’re family will be way better off in the Expedition. Go get it, now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, this is a good point, but also the bigger and heavier a car the more overall force exerted in an accident which is probably good for the person driving the car but maybe not for the other person or overall damage or potential harm in general. Point taken though.

 

[Husker4theSpurs]

We just went from a 2011 Sienna Ltd AWD to the Expedition Max Ltd 4x4 after our Sienna's transmission went out at 39k miles. While the Sienna has a lower floor than the Expedition, it's actually easier for people to get in and out of the Expedition because of the power assist step. I used to have to help my 84 year old mother-in-law in and out of the Sienna but she has no problems getting into the Expedition Max. I do have to pick up my 80lb dog now to get him in whereas he used to be able to jump into the Sienna. The Sienna also carries more behind the 3rd row without blocking your view since the cargo area drops below the bumper. The Expedition Max is more difficult to park, the although the 360 surround view option helps. The fact that the mirrors don't tilt when parking from the factory is annoying when that feature was on my 8 year old minivan. That said, we're happy with the Expedition Max. It feels a lot safer than the minivan and also has a much better engine. Technology is so much better,I although I'm sure a newer minivan would have similar features. I love the clearance; you never have to worry about scraping the curb or parking blocks.

Thanks for your input! It helps. My main beef with the minivan we have now is the hunting for a gear regarding the transmission. The Exp/Nav felt much smoother and (obviously) more powerful.

 

[Artie]

I’m about to jump in my rental minivan for the week so I’ll report my feelings after daily’s in my Navigator.

 

[dlcorbett]

Which minivan they give u? At first when scott was like " my sienna rides better than my ccd expy" i was shocked, then i remembered the current sienna is one of the best riding cars in autodom as rated by edmunds. Im sure most minivans dnt ride as good as the sienna or expy. Wifey was a no go on the minivan.

 

[Jace]

You might want to try some seatbelt extenders. Get the hard ones and the buckles will be high enough for the kids to use. I had to do this in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, it worked great.

Ya know I totally forgot about these. I'll have to do a little research now, thanks!

-Jace