Sounds like you want to make the change. They're both great cars, but seems like the CRV will serve your needs better than the Odyssey. And AWD is not an insignificant consideration. Are you in snow country?

Are there any other make/models you're considering besides the CRV?

 

Thanks for all the replies.

As far as living in snow country...we live in NJ. We do get a fair share of snow. That being said, the snow plows do a great job around here. But, what if we're caught in a snowstorm?

We have also considered the Subaru Outback.

 

gas mileage wise, not a huge difference between the van and the CRV, and then factor in what you will pay for the new CRV, def not going to make up any of the savings!!

I would recommend tryin gthe new Hyundai Tuscon! We loved it, but ended up going with our 2011 CRV which we love!! But for the price difference in the Tuscon, we would have loved it more I think,lol Especially since we now live in Nicaragua and my CRV already has a few dings by the moronic drivers here!!

 

for one or two children the CRV is perfect, my son and his wife did just what you did and they wish they still had the CRV. I am getting 28+ mpg around town in my 2012 CRV and it just turned 1,000 miles. But I am 63 and don't drive it like I stole it. I never own anything but a 4 cyl.

 

Real world MPG (on the AWD Models) is right about 26-28 MPG (per Tank mixed driving) on 87 Octane. Filling my CR-V up with 12 gallons nets a cost of ~$50.00 in NY State. I traded in a Toyota Highlander for the CR-V and I did notice a substantial Fuel savings for sure. That being said; the CR-V's 4 Cylinder Engine feels a bit pokey compared to any V-6 out there and as such; you will end up driving differently. I've owned my CR-V since Jan of this year and I can tell you that overall; I really like the car. That is not to say that there are no issues though. IMO, the Technology in the CR-V is some of the worst I've seen. The "Premium" Audio is just an insult, The GPS picks the worst routes, the Voice recognition feels like it's still in Alpha testing, and the Phonebook pairing/speed dial function needs a ton of work. My only advice would be to pass on the Honda Nav and buy a Garmin OR if you have an Android Smartphone with Google maps; get a decent mount for that. Mechanically, you just can't beat the car and the ride noise was addressed (I still think they can do better), so it's a smoother, more quiet ride.

 

The GPS picks the worst routes, . . . My only advice would be to pass on the Honda Nav and buy a Garmin OR if you have an Android Smartphone with Google maps; get a decent mount for that.

Doesn't Honda's Nav use the Google Maps software? I've always thought that you're far better off with a $200 Garmin than a very expensive factory Nav system, whether it's Honda's or BMW's. The Garmin gives better routing, more accurate ETA's, and more information than the factory built in units.

 

Icy,

You seem to have pretty much made your own case for going back to the CR-V. I've been having this conversation with myself, but only in reverse. I'm in a Rav4 currently, after having driven a number of minivans since 1995. Left the minivan world in April of this year, and thought I would never think about a van again. I certainly like the better gas mileage. But the utility, luxury, and storage in a minivan can't be beat. I test drove an Ody the other day, and while I like the drive and handling of a smaller vehicle (Rav4 or CR-V) better, I was put off by the Ody at all. I would want to put in a much longer test drive on it, and have a long conversation about the comparative lack of fuel economy . . . but I think it will be considered when the lease is up on the Rav.

So, here is the important question: What does your wife want to drive???

 

Deep down inside, I think she wants to drive the CR-V. She has expressed on more than one ocassion, how she misses the AWD. I also think she feels like she's driving "too big" of a vehicle with the Odyssey as she sometime's refers to it as an "aircraft"!!!