The Sienna minivan has decent cargo capacity but is not the largest in the minivan segment. It offers more interior room than any crossover, with 33.5 cubic feet of storage behind the third row. The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas has a rating of 7.3 out of 10, while the 2024 Toyota Sienna scores 7.3 out of 10. The Sienna interior features a standard Toyota utilitarian look with two instrument gauges and a customizable 4.2-inch center info screen. The 2021 Toyota Sienna has an upscale interior with quality materials, generous seating space in all three rows, and an intuitive infotainment system. Cargo space lags in the Sienna.
The Atlas has 96.8 ft3 of cargo volume with the seats down, while the Sienna has 150 ft3 of cargo volume. The Sienna is larger than today’s minivans and very square, but has terrible gas mileage. The maximum loadspace width of the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo van is 1230mm, but is slightly reduced on the rear.
The Sienna Minivan 2020 is 46.2 cm longer and 18.7 cm lower compared to the Volkswagen ID Buzz Van 2022. It has 0.5 cm more ground clearance and offers plenty of space for kids, carpooling, and stuff. Power sliding doors are easy to use and don’t cause kids to bashing other cars.
📹 Here’s Why Minivans are Actually the Best Vehicle to Buy
Minivan review. Here’s Why Minivans are the Best Vehicle to Buy, DIY and van review with auto mechanic Scotty Kilmer. The best …
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I love minivans! People spend way too much on 3 row suv’s when they can just get more of a practical vehicle. To be honest i think that minivans are cooler than suv’s because most people buy an suv over a minivan because they want to look “cool” but people who buy minivans don’t care if their cool or not so buying a minivan just shows that you don’t care what other people think of you.
I’m currently on my 5th Chrysler mini van. The current version, a 2017 Pacifica, has 99,000 miles. Total cost of repairs so far $0.00. The previous van was a 2006 Grand Caravan. It’s currently owned by my son and has 305,000 miles. Yeah, it burns a quart of oil every 2000 miles. It’s gonna happen with that many miles. I religiously change the engine oil & filter every 5000 miles. I change the transmission oil every 50,000 miles. Oil is cheap, engines and transmissions are expensive.
Queen size 3-in memory foam mattress in the back of my 2008 with middle row seats removed and still have space behind the front seats for gear! Plus you can still pile stuff on top of the mattress when you’re not using it for road trips or camping. Carry three more people by folding the mattress forward and popping up the back seats. Still a 5 passenger vehicle with cargo space and a 3-in queen size memory foam batteries‼️ So very versatile. Made drapes from cheap Costco sheets using safety pins and pointy curtain hooks. Tie some nylon cord above all the rear windows and behind the front seats, and now you have removable curtains for privacy, installed and removed in about 5 minutes or less.
I agree that minivans are the most practical if you need space for either people or cargo. Sliding door is perfect for children, can’t be opened against other vehicles. Drives like a car, hauls like a truck. Also better priced because of stigma. Who cares what strangers think? Had one, a “Dustbuster” Lumina APV, tremendous vehicle. The vanishing nose was actually shorter than one imagines, so never a problem. Five rear seats were very comfortable individual reclining Captain’s chairs. With those removed, it could haul a 22 cubic foot freezer still in the padded box. No Suburban can do that.
Thanks Scotty for this great informative clip! My kids are all grown now, but my everyday vehicle is still an extremely reliable 2006 Toyota Sienna. Its costs me so little to drive, with the middle seats removed the fuel economy is about 22Mpg in the city and insurance and repair bills are so minimal. This vehicle has done everything for me from taking my 3 kids, towing a small travel trailer to hauling all kinds of stuff, all for a very minimal cost. There is just nothing that compares to the usefulness and cost-savings of a minivan and that is why I can’t justify getting rid of this awesome 17 year old vehicle.
I was never opposed mini-vans to begin with, but what really sold me on them was when we moved 20 or so 4×6′ heavy mirrors, and did it in my in-law’s Sienna. My Father in law was explaining how they designed the space to fit plywood sheets comfortably and it made me rethink when I would ever need a truck over the many uses of a minivan.
You are so correct. I have 3 vans currently and had 5 vans prior for the pass 30+ years. It the best vehicle experience that I had and will continue to be. Now that the children are grown and have the their own vehicles. I still favor van over SUV or pickup. I removed all middle seats and fold down the back seats turned it to a cargo van. It still looked like a family van but instead it’s full of tools and equipments. Positive side, 4×8 plywood or drywall fit perfectly inside and when I get to a work site I can take only the necessary tools with me and leave the rest in the van without signaling valuable tools inside to be stolen, plus better fuel economy, less insurance coverage, smoother ride and finally the vehicle does not reflect my pride. The only negative that I have experienced is moving the refrigerator. I can still move it but have to wait a day to plug it in.
Minivans are looked down by all who focus on looks and style. It is all about image and the need to be cool. Anyone who has owned a minivan can attest how useful and versatile they are. They can fit more cargo than many trucks (when height dimensions are not an issue) and carry all protected from the elements. Odyssey and Sienna are top sellers for very good reasons. I no longer need such a large vehicle but I still miss the flexibility and appreciate all the benefits I used to have with the minivans I had.
I’ve had about seven Chrysler minivans. I always bought them cheap from the auction or Facebook marketplace. All of them rock-solid reliable. I used them for HVAC work in Florida. They have a built-in ladder rack with the luggage rack on top and you can haul 4 by 8 sheets in the back and they’re pretty good at towing small trailers up to 3,500 lb. I think the 5th generation Chrysler Vans are the best ones ever made. I have driven all of them to well over 250,000 miles with no issues. And the stow and go is for the win. The worst minivan I ever had was a 2003 Honda Odyssey. But it was still really darn good.
I went with the Pacifica for the seat stowage. It’s got its Chrysler foibles. The passenger side A pillar is nearly blinding. You have to learn to look very carefully, it can totally obscure an oncoming car. It’s ok once you get the hang of it. Beats the hell out of a pickup truck because you stow everything inside out of the elements. 4×8 sheet goods fit flat inside. The front end has super low clearance, I’m constantly smashing it on ramps and inclines. You can learn how to angle it to avoid such. I’d prefer a Toyota product but that Stow and Go seating seals the deal for me.
My Ford Windstar (2003?) was a game changer vehicle for me, when my kids and older parents (and dogs) needed to be moved around easily. Also… I cannot say how much it saved my finances with yard/garage sales. It was better in every way (compared to an SUV) for that period of my growing family’s Life. Thanks for the article.
Funny I read an article many years ago about how they surveyed a ton of people to find out what their ideal vehicle was. Their list of desired features essentially described a mini van… but no one wanted to drive one. 😂 I myself still have a 2005 Chrysler T&C. It has saved me SO much $ over the years and is still running strong! I’m really conflicted about possibly switching to an SUV. I don’t want to give up 2nd row bucket seats!
I fell in love with minivans 25 years ago when my mom got a dodge caravan. Excellent comfort in travel. Could make the 400 mile trip from her house to mine on one tankful, and still have quite a lot left. Can camp out in them comfortably. If suddenly become homeless; a minivan can be a home. I really miss that van. I would like to purchase a Sienna for my next car. A used 2017 or more recent would be perfect.
I agree with Scotty. My 2012 Honda Odyssey van is my luxury vehicle – the sliding side doors are my helping hands with groceries, getting kids and large items like a loveseat loaded and unloaded, gets 30 mpg on trips and premium sound system. I maintain every 5000 miles and have 156000 miles and want to keep it as it is comfortable for my older and short body. I like Lexus style but love the low cost of my older van.
Having rented numerous vehicles over the years, I am a big fan of minivans. Living in your former hometown of Houston, most truck-derived SUVs are used to drive strictly on the streets, and are almost never used off-road. A minivan is a superior in handling, cargo space, and gas mileage, but not cool factor. Station wagons, and their successor, the minivan, became associated with the “family man” and “soccer moms”. They lacked the testosterone of a hulking SUV Crossovers were faux SUVs, but still cooler than minivans. Here in Texas, we have a saying, “All hat, no cattle.” That sums up the vast majority of suburban SUV and pickup truck owners. Minivans just make more sense for the majority of people who need to carry more than 4 or 5 passengers or haul a lot of stuff on a regular basis.
I love minivans. They’re the best cars for driving fast. As super stable and road hugging as a sports car, with the low center of gravity and a wide body and long wheel base. Great for cornering at high speeds, plus you get all the utility stuff on top of that. Minivans are superior in every single way. Way more fun to drive, like being in a go cart. Plus they don’t flip over like SUVs. I worked for Enterprise as a car relocation, moving cars dropped off at airports in the NYC tristate area, and moving them back to local Enterprise lots to be rented out again. I got to drive pretty much everything on the road. The Toyota Sienna handles the winding Pennsylvania mountain roads as well as a BMW 2 series or a Camaro or a Dodge Charger, but it feels more stable and the chassis is more communicable to the driver. It’s super easy to feel the way the body is rolling and compensate for it, it’s so dialed in on its torsional rigidity and matching tight suspension that it honestly feels designed for sports. And by sports I mean 100mph on the interstate. It’s incredibly good handling and more confidence inspiring than a sports car because of its shape and design physics, it just communicates more and is actually physically more stable.
We’re on our 4th mini-van since 1991. I tried living without one in 2012 and that only lasted a year. Love my Dodge Grand Caravan R/T. Fold the seats into the floor and it will haul anything. Flip the seats back up and six of us can go out to dinner, no problem. Yeah, not cool to most people but I don’t care. Works for me.
I had a minivan which I traded into an SUV for the 4 wheel drive in the winter. I traded back into a minivan as soon as I could because even though it didn’t have the 4 wheel drive, it handled even better in the winter than the SUV did. I want a truck, but the banks always told me “no”, so a minivan it is until they give me a “yes” (I don’t know if that will ever happen now that domestic truck companies have proven they don’t want to sell trucks). You can’t beat the cargo space that a Dodge Grand Caravan offers with the full stow and go seating. Way more cargo space than any SUV could dream of having.
From Dodge Caravans Thrown in a Plymouth Voyager to my current 2011 Chrysler Town and Country Limited, they outweigh everything else if you use them as a cargo and people hauler. With both rows of seats stowed I can haul a lot of cargo, lol I wonder why I get called by my family to haul stuff. Then this last week I had 5 adult passengers fit comfortably. They are worth their value.
Our family owns a 2005 Sienna, 2007 Rx 350, and 2013 Venza- all have between 60-100k miles. The Sienna holds more, drives smoother, and gets slightly better mpgs. I like the fact that you can walk between the bucket seats in the middle and straight to the back to get something, and you can haul far more goods because of its boxy shape. If people just get over the look of them they would choose it outright if they had a chance to utilize all three. The footprint really isn’t that much bigger either, quite honestly…
I have a minivan and am 😍. I shopped all the cross overs. I hesitated because it was missing the cool factor, but selecting a minivan was the adult decision and checked all the boxes that aligned with my needs as a new mother. I made sure my minivan had every thing so I didn’t feel like I lacked anything. My only regret is not getting a sienna, I hated how they looked. But this 2023 is looking nice. I got a 2018 hybrid Pacifica despite the recalls I still love it. I just wish Chrysler can get their engineering act together. My next minivan will be a sienna.
A proud owner of 2018 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV mini van Fully loaded. Bought for 45k tax credit of 7.5k and gas savings of 3k till now I would say the cost is only 35k of the car. Completely happy luxurious, best of both world (electric and gas), comfort, flexible and safety. Can never get this any other vehicle and the best deal over anything.
Scotty I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan with over 250,000 miles that I love. Still runs and handles great. Gets less fuel mileage than when it was new and uses a little oil between changes. I turned 70 my last birthday and I don’t get the mileage I use to either. So I guess we’re a match! 😊 Needless to say my next vehicle will be a minivan. Keep up the good work. See ya next time.
I’m 23 and have a mini van and I love it! I can fit 4 kayaks inside the car, two 125 CC dirt bikes, full size mattress, and basically whatever I want. There’s so much interior space you can literally walk in circles in your van. It also does drive like a car. My 2012 odyssey has a better turn radius than my 2016 civic
Great gas mileage, ultimate comfort, vacation-friendly, calming with kids, utility for construction projects, great for towing/launching small boats (fwd doesn’t put drive wheels on slippery moss-covered boat ramps), versatile seat configuration allows for maximum people hauling or maximum cargo hauling and everything in between, easy parking, safety…the list goes on and on. Best overall vehicle type on the market, and mandatory if you have a family and can only have one vehicle.
Have had 2 Siennas over the past 27 years…they are absolutely the most useful vehicles…wife has been doing real estate/home improvement for all those years and we utilize the van for everything…we haul furniture, 2X4s, tile, wood floors, etc (yes we do push the weight limit)…and the biggest difference with our pick-up is everything we leave in the van is at least semi-secure and we can lock it up and go somewhere for lunch or leave in driveway and deliver the haul next day…and the best thing…after everything is unloaded…we use it for its original use…to pickup groceries, the kids and all their friends….highly highly recommend the Sienna for its reliability, its utility, and it can still fit for every occasion (vacations, fishing trips, dinner nights, picnics, etc.)…and we live in the DC area…so we do airport runs for visiting family and friends at least every other month…and it fits any load of luggage and the family…go buy one…I also used to say our household will always need a pick-up…Ive changed…I’ve sold our pick-up since we barely use it…we will always have a quality minivan.
Love my Sienna. It is the biggest minivan we have owned. Started with a 1995 Nissan Quest, then the larger 2004 Nissan Quest, now the 2015 Sienna. Road trips are so much nicer in the “big” mini. Just wish they had bucked the CAFE squeeze of the government and kept the V6. Going for keeping this one as long as possible, have already exceeded the miles on the 2004 Nissan by ~30,000 with much less touble.
Our family started with an ’85 Chevy Station Wagon, but eventually got a used ’89 Grand Caravan til the transmission went out, then a 96 which went to my sister, a 99 which took out a deer, then an 06 which admittedly also had transmission issues to the 14 Town & Country we have now and I have never once scoffed at the versatility of these econoboxes. I still see 80s/90s caravans around used by tradesmen because they’re cheap and can haul a lot. Praise be the ‘mini’-van, let them roll forever until Valhalla!
As a proud minivan owner, writing this from the back of my minivan, I can proudly say that I knew exactly what I was doing 2 years ago when I bought this thing and lo and behold the necessity has come to fruition. Best $4400 spent in my life, vehicle had less than 100,000 miles on it and was owned by an elderly couple for 16 years prior.
Picked up a very nice 97 mercury villager, low miles, like new interior, for almost nothing. I’m old enough now that I’ll take comfort over looking cool and the captains chairs in that villager are mighty comfortable. And I can throw the dogs in the back and they got plenty of room to move around. Best part is that they were a Nissan driveline and known to be very reliable so I don’t mind driving that thing around.
Thanks for this Scotty. — I have a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country that about a year-and-a-half ago, I had to park because of how it was behaving. I bought a 2010 GMC Acadia to replace it and regretted it because I found out that it’s very much a lemon! My son was able to get the minivan started again when it went completely died and there’s some issues we need to work out on it, but I’ve been taking it for very short drive a lot lately. And I realized the day before my son stumbled upon this article, that at my age, I am now sold on minivans for life because my minivan is so much more comfortable to drive! — I used the word comfortable but it’s not really comfort at my age. The Chrysler Town & Country does not put stress on my body that seems to be damaging my body further, but the Acadia does! (That’s a lot more more important than comfort!) When I bought the Acadia I was open to any kind of vehicle, but now I’m only want a minivan. So seeing this article only helps to solidify thay I’m sold on replacing my Acadia with a minivan now and I’ve begun the search. Thanks!
We recently bought used 2021 chrysler voyager, It has everything we need and nothing we don’t. Beautiful leather interior design, Stow and go seat. 2nd and 3rd row can go completely flat, 287 hp Gas mileage 28 highway and 19 in the city and it is actually more powerful than our Mitsubishi outlander 😅😅😂 I’m only 39 and i absolutely love everything about minivan and i wish I’d bought it sooner. I think minivans are so underrated😊
We used to tour in a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. 4 guys, a stand up bass, and drums. we took out the rear row and two fender deluxe reverb amps fit perfectly in the third row fold down space. We had a top luggage from sears on top for merch. Truly amazing how much we could fit for the vehicle. Cost me $6500. Got thousands of miles and hundreds of shows on it but a jiffy lube blew it up =/
I’ve said this for, well, decades now. People don’t need SUVs and are simply wasting money. They cost more to buy and cost more to maintain and cost more to operate. People really only need a sedan for 99% of their driving needs. For those who actually need more space, a minivan is the best bet. Only a few really need an SUV.
I bought an older Sienna to use for camping. I love it for the space that I use to haul furniture, lumber etc. I took out middle row seats put 3rd row down in stow n go for hauling and put them back up if I need passenger seating. My daughter was so impressed she got one. Neither of us ever considered a minivan. It’s just a great option to haul bikes, wheelchairs, skis
100% agree! My wife stills wants an Escalade though. I think minivans are great. My parents liked their Toyota Sienna so much, my dad sold his truck and got a second one. Minivans are are the best for comfort and MPG, great cargo space, and the best part is you can help people move but aren’t ever expected to help when it comes to the furniture or appliances. That’s a win win.
My best family car was Dodge Caravan with Mitsubishi engine 25 years ago. I did a lot of travel with it. It was so convenient to unbuckle and go get something from the cargo area without pulling aside and stopping to open a trunk. Kids had a plenty of room, no fighting. So much cargo space, I would fit in bicycles without taking of wheels, so convenient! Great visibility and good traction even in snow.
I own the full sized 95 Chevy G20 that I absolutely love. However, after recently renting a minivan for a cross country trip, I have to admit that I am now looking into buying another minivan. I had the Toyota Previa for a time in the past and that was a great van. Rear wheel drive, small, fuel efficient engine, comfortable to drive… 🤔 Yeah. I want another minivan.
I have 2017 Honda Odyssey. For my needs, this is a great vehicle. I have 3 kids in sports. The minivan provides the space and comfort. The sliding doors are great since my kids won’t ding up other people’s cars. Another note, my wife is 5ft tall. She had a c-section with our last kid. Because I couldn’t always be there with her, she needed to put the car seat in the van constantly. The wide sliding doors and low height made it ideal for her. She did not have to reach to high seats to instal the carseat We recently took it on our vacation. Nine hours on the road. Seven of us (myself, wife, my parents, and kids) went on this trip and was a comfortable ride. This includes all the luggage that we took. Maybe when my kids are out of the house I’ll get something more ‘snazy.’ But for now, the mini van is the perfect vehicle for us.
We bought our first minivan, a Ford Aerostar, after my Mazda was stolen and totaled. For the next 30 years, we had at least on minivan in the driveway. They are just so convenient for everyday life. Drove them from Maryland to Florida with four kids in tow for 20 years. The last one, a Dodge Grand Caravan, had over 250,000 miles on it when the transmission gave out. Now I’m looking at buying another one.
I’ve had a mini van since the early 90’s. I’m about to buy my 5th one. I prefer it for many of the reasons you listed. I’m a grandma and my grands are precious to me. Too the minivan is lower, which makes it easier for the kids, me and great grandma to get into. It’s not too low and it’s not too high. It’s like an enclosed truck. I can carry what I need. I love a mini-van! ❤
Mini vans are the smart move. And a fully optioned minivan can be very cool. I have a wrapped minivan with wide tyres and smart suspension and it gets more looks than an SUV. I also halved my fuel consumption, halved my service costs, and almost doubled my reliability. And the wait for a new minivan is a few weeks rather than a few months. But I hope the sheep keep buying SUV’s so I can enjoy the low cost for insurance and running costs. If I am going bush in Australia I have my MB Unimog.
When I was going to Myrtle Beach for my 21st birthday. My mom and I rented a Dodge Grand Caravan and it was a comfortable ride, It had Leather seats, it had slide doors that you just hold the handle and it opens automatically, it was a gas guzzler though. But it was still a great van to take on a long car trip.
We bought a Chrysler Town and Country for my wife as she has a wheelchair. The second and third row seats store into the floor(not on top of it) making a flat floor, also side sliding doors and tailgate door are electric which are great for people with limited physical abilities. The floor is reasonably low so you don’t have to be a mountain climber to get in.
I was staunchly against mini vans and owned only trucks till recently (I now have a beater car for transit to work and now a minivan as well for family). But I have to say. After using it a while, I’m loving them. Better visibility than a car, I’ve loaded this down multiple times with plywood, 2x4s, paint, furniture, etc. I’ve hauled visiting family around like I’m on a tour bus. I still get “reasonable” gas mileage compared to my diesel truck. Long family trip? Van. Eating on the road? Van. Camping out in the back? Van. If you live on the road, a van is hard to beat. Yeah I thought people would think me a dork, until I started paying attention to the people getting in and out of suburbans snd the fact a lot of friends lost their trucks to their tiny wives going to school functions lol. The only thing I want now, is a bigger van!
I used to be those people that swore to never drive a minivan.. but I just had my first child a few months ago and am feeling a little sad because I just found myself fixing an old minivan that I’ll be driving soon, instead of doling out a ton of money on a newer and more hip full size SUV. Thank you Scotty, for helping me with my self esteem. Hahaha 😅
I’m in the market and what stops me from wanting another mini van is that they are low to the ground and I wanted something with 4×4. Also. I’m looking for a way that my older children can get into that 3rd row seat while my babies are in their car seats in the second row. Buckling those babies in the back would be so difficult. But you might have changed my mind from the toyota highlander to consider a mini van again. I guess I need to get out to the dealerships and take a look. Then go to scotty and see what he thinks about what I find. Thanks for helping busy moms like me make valuable decisions, Scotty.
this article was AWESOME! really no room to argue. my mom had a Nissan Quest my entire life, it was super reliable. my best friend drove a Chevrolet Venture when we met, which eventually became my first car. and now I am 3 years into owning my Dodge Grand Caravan which i absolutely adore. people assume that it was given to me and that i begrudgingly drive it, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. SUVs are a selfish choice most of the time.
After spending over $600 a week ago for parts I did not need, p0171 code at some stupid shop, I’m still sitting at home right now with the same code that came back. THIS time, they want me to come back because they want to try a fuel pressure test. Should of that been done when I first brought it in and paid the $180 diagnostic test? Still cannot find a Scotty like shop around where I live, so fricken annoying! >:O
If we’re talking minivans, the Chevy Uplander was the last American minivan GM made. They are absolutely adorable looking cars but are also what I think is GMs last good vehicle line before basically all their cars had major problems, heck their replacement for the Uplander the Traverse has transmission problems from the get-go
I love my 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT model, but it has no bells or whistles. My wife hates vans but I think she would have liked my van more if it had built-in GPS or rear tv screens. Since my van is a base model apparently the fanciest upgrade in technology is the radio has an aux cord… Verrrrrry basic but at least I can haul a lot of stuff around lol. I’d definitely like one of those new Pacificas though! Currently riding at 169,000 miles with the tranny rebuilt at 143k.
I actually own a mini van myself at the age of 20. It’s a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica S Limited, and mannnnn let, let me tell you. It may not be the cooolest thing to pull up in but the experience inside of the vehicle! Great audio system, if feels like a transformer with all of the robotic doors. Panoramic roof, tooooons of room to walk around in 😂 and the luxury is great. And I get 470 miles of range on one fill up 🎉 I consider everyone looks into purchasing a minivan, just for the ease of life.
I have 3 daughters. My wife uses our Honda Odyssey to take them and their friends to all of their activities. It has room for multiple children and all of their gear… from double strollers when they were younger to bags of sports equipment or instruments now that they are older. The third row is surprisingly comfortable and spacious. It gets decent gas mileage for such a large vehicle, it’s safe, and that 3.5L V-6 is extremely reliable. It has all the ‘luxury’ features we could ask for. Plus, it is perfect for road trips, able to pack the kids, the dogs, all of our luggage, coolers for snacks on the drive, and even keep the kids separate enough that they don’t bother each other. I’ve got many friends who say they’ll never drive a minivan. They don’t want the soccer mom vide, or family man look. I’m and engineer and a Marine, I’m built to solve problems AGGRESSIVELY. Our minivan checks all the boxes. If anyone is worried what others think, I just tell them that everyone who’s opinion matters is in the minivan with me, and they all love it!
I work in grocery retail and had to pick up bananas from a different store on occasion. I had a 2020 colorado and cold only fit 10 banana boxes in the bed due to the layout and how high i can stack the boxes without straps. My 2015 sienna though, with all seats folded down, i took a full days worth in one trip which was 21 boxes of bananas! And i still had 3rd row and the cargo space left to use! From that day on with my personal practical uses, why would i need a truck? Plus i can keep my product cool in sunny CA with the AC blasting in the sienna! Definitly surprised my bosses!
I gave my 250k mile Odyssey to my son. He just traded it in for another Honda at 360k mi. As a bicycle enthusiast, he had it in spades over his fellow bicyclists that had trucks, cars, trailers, bike racks, or SUV’s. His bikes were always secure and if needed he could sleep in the van. On occasion, he’d also employ a bike rack and roof rack hauling 6 bikes and 3 other riders. As a kid, we hauled him and his sister to all the youth hockey games. Stinky but effective.
I love minivans, almost everything about them. I drove a minivan as my first car at 15.5 years old and immediately was hooked on how useful they are. I continued to drive a minivan until I had my first kid at 31 years old as funny as that sounds, and that’s when I got a GX460. The minivan is inherently less safe and since 50,000 people die every year driving I want the biggest, heaviest, safest car I can drive.
Al that I can say is… My Uncle Lou Jennings worked for Walt Disney, the man, as a lead architect. Space Mountain was his major project and he retired prior to France. He always drove German or English vehicles. When the Mini-Van came out, he immediately purchased one, Chrysler Town and Country, and seldom drove anything else.
I bought a new honda odyssey in 2007 when pregnant with Twins. They are almost 15 now and we still drive it daily. We travel around the country full time in it and it has 265,000 miles and it keeps running. We took one of the middle seats out so that we have more space. I don’t care if it looks cool or not. And the article is right, when the doors open, I don’t have to worry about the kids hitting the cars next to us
I’ve been driving my 2005 Toyota Sienna for the last 18 years and don’t want to drive anything else despite 323K miles on its odometer. The Sienna is spacious, reliable, cheap to keep, smooth ride and long lasting. I haven’t had to spend any money on major repair. Its engine, transmission, AC, suspension all original.
Owning a SUV is not ‘cool’, but just following society’s materialist and superficial trends of the middle-upper class who want to get more in debt to show off and keep up with the Jones, and do not care about doing their part for the environment (in general). Mini vans seem like a better option to adapt them for living. SUVs tend to be super big and luxurious at the front, not leaving that much space behind the front seats. Thanks for your input as a mechanic. Which 6 cylinder compact mini van would you suggest to live off the grid? I was thinking about a GMC Safari.
Pickups and SUVs can do some things most minivans can’t do, but minivans do everything else better. When my wife and I finally bought a van (Honda Odyssey) I was like, “I wish we had bought one of these years ago (before we had kids).” Before we became parents we did all kinds of road trips and camping trips and a van would have been downright luxurious.
I totally agree with Scotty! I am 65. My wife and I have no kids living at home and we have a 2022 Sienna AWD Platinum and a 2022 Rav4 hybrid Limited. Both good but the Sienna blows it away in so many ways and the real world difference in mpg is really only about 4 mpg. I love my Sienna. I wish folks would get over the Mini-van stigma for their own good!
Scotty, I’m with you on ALMOST everything about the Pros on minivans. The only thing holding me back is the ground clearance. I will never go off-roading, but the poor state of our city streets and highways has presented many obstacles to me over the years. We frequently take long road-trips to states with terrible highway maintenance and do get me started about driving in New Orleans. Need a Honda Odyssey Road Warrior Edition.
This is wild, about 14 hours ago i was telling my wife how cool and functional minivans are, as i helped stuff bags of clothes for donation in the cargo area of her 14 Odyssey. I said, “if only they could make them look cool..” 😂 Kia Carnavale atleast tries making the van look like an suv.. pretty soon, it’ll be perfected!
Minivans especially the Siennas are the most practical choice plus they’re styled better than ever these days. But so many people have personal image problems that they MUST HAVE the coolest car of the month regardless of price, reliability or functionality. So until people realize that most other people don’t care about you (as much as you think) then you’ll continue living your life for the wrong people.
I bought a 1989 Caravan with the 4 cylinder back in 1996 for $3000. Was very nice in excellent condition. Drove it for 7 years until just shy of 200,000 miles. The engine was getting very tired. We took that thing on many vacations stuffed full of my family of 5 and all the camping gear. Kids used to laugh when we’d go up hills on the highway and the thing would slowly lose speed. It tried real hard. Currently drive a 2005 Grand Caravan with 172,000 miles. Original engine and trans going real strong. Both have been very dependable and easy and cheap to fix.
I rescue and transport greyhounds all over the country…mini vans are by far the safest, most comfortable way for dog lovers to roll…and the Sienna is best in class HANDS DOWN!!! It is literally like sitting in the comfort of your favorite couch at home -on wheels LOL I have literally driven from Florida to NJ and back..non stop without blinking an eye and only stopping for bathroom breaks and gas!!!🎉❤❤❤🐶 🐕
For those perusal this article take around 5-8 mpg from whatever he says I have owned the Escalade, Wagoneer, Grand Cherokee L and a few minivans, the advertising is crazy . It’s based on the best conditions such as, engine, tires psi, weather, geographical location, altitude . Speed . Driving skills . Trust me on this . Or not look up real reviews
apparently car insurance doesn’t matter what you drive… in the last 1 year my premium went up 30 percent with nothing to do with my driving record…. they just increased all insurance premiums across the board…. unless you have liability …. which is what i have now, because those didn’t change….
since families are not have as many or any kids there is just no need to have rows of seating or room for huge grocery hauls. as for cargo room pickup trucks have a massive amount but aerodynamically they are terrible and that will just eat your mpg. it would be ideal to have a work vehicle to carry bulky items when needed and a daily commuter that is small with small baggage room and two seats. while a crossover is a compromise i think its for a target market of consumers that is shrinking 🙁
I think a minivan is a much more comfortable choice. However, what I don’t like about minivans and SUVs is that all your junk is just laying there for you to look at. I would much prefer a trunk. Better to deter thieves and psychologically better so you don’t have to look at all that junk behind you. they are kind of useless as a truck because you scratch it all up. If you try to move anything big inside it and you get it full of dirt if you’re doing yardwork. So I do not think a minivan replaces a truck like you showed for the Ford F150. However, I do think for comfort there’s nothing that beats the minivan.
Gotta love how he choses to compare a toyota sienna to a cadillac escalade even though there are several full size SUV’s offering the same cubic space as the escalade V that are far closer in price to the sienna than the escalade. Than he proceeds to use the sienna which is best in class fuel economy to that of the full size suv’s when majority of the vans on the market are getting epa combined of 20-22 which is also nearly on par to that of the full size long wheel base saburban and expedition not to mention both the grand Cherokee L and grand wagoneer L all of which are cheaper than the escalade and all of which offer a similar amount of cargo space and fuel economy to most vans on the market all while still giving you more capabilites to adventure with your family whether that be towing a small camper trailer or toy hauler or just towing some dirt bikes to go to the desert or even doing some overlanding for some off the grid family camping. The only thing that makes a van better is utility and i guess you can argue saftey, but if you look at the incredible crash testing of the expedition it makes any mini van crash testing look like garbage. So while I agree a mini van is a great option for families, I still believe a full size long wheel base SUV offers more to a large family than any mini vans utility features. All of this explains why Crossovers, SUV’s, and Trucks are all selling better than mini vans. For most families in america an automobile is now more than just a means of transportation, many are using their automobiles as a way to entertain the family especially when full size SUV’s and even some crossovers are capable of towing 5 thousand lbs+ hell most long wheelbase full size suv’s have tow ratings of 10 thousand lbs now.
The oddest thing about Japanese or American mini vans is that after 30 years, they still have not come up with the simple but brilliant design of VW Vanagon’s versatile interior with table and seat that converts to bed. I bet they can sell millions more if they come up with weekender modle. Mini vans are not just for family with kids, I use it for camping and sadly VW doesn’t import the beautiful “California ” model to US…..what a shame.
I bought a 99 Caravan 14 years ago to use as a roughneck crew truck. Couldn’t afford a crew cab F250 4×4. The only shortcoming was going through deep mud. Especially after a semi had left semi-tire-deep ruts in it. But the thing ran good and hard until I sold it after 50000 miles and two years of abuse. It was a comfortable sleep spot with the middle captain’s chairs removed. Seller’s remorse.
Great review Scotty! My wife and I purchased the very first (of the “new generation”) 1999 Honda Odyssey that our local Honda dealer received in our city. Since then we purchased 4 more as they were updated by Honda. Our last was a 2018. I liked it but didn’t “love” it. The 2nd row seats would not fold flat and were a booger to remove. Didnt’ like their new 9 speed transmission quite as well as the previous 6 speed. Traded for a new Pilot. Love the Pilot’s new 10 speed transmission. HOWEVER, the 2023 Odysseys now have 2nd row seats that fold flat and much easier to remove (still heavy but easier) AND have their new 10 speed transmission which is MUCH better than the 9 speed that we had in our 2018. We actually like driving the Odyssey better than the Pilot, especially now that it’s upgraded from our 2018. SO…will definately go back to an Odyssey. 2023 before they are gone…or 2024?????
can I tow a 3500kg trailer with a minivan? NO! Pickup trucks are stupid, so a SUV it is! and if you get a 7 seater, you can comfortably sleep in it when folding down the seats… with the right engine they can be good on milage too! I have Land Rover Discovery 5 with a 3.0 diesel and it checks all the boxes…
I have an old Volkswagen Vanagon, because there just doesn’t seem to be another vehicle that allows you to have a little flip up table to sit at, and also be able to flip the back seats down for a comfortable bed. As soon as you can do that it’s a total game changer. I’m not in it for the cool factor, I just can’t seem to find another vehicle with those features. It all allows me to use my vehicle as a little mini room, and also be able to just drive away with no plans and sleep anywhere comfortably.
Finally, someone who tells things as they are! I’ve had my 2010 Chrysler Town & Country for several years now. I use it on camping trips, haul people to other cities for events, and (most of the time) haul building supplies, tools, and junk to job sites with it. I know this article compares minivans to SUVs and crossovers, but … to be honest, an SUV isn’t versatile enough, and a crossover doesn’t have enough cargo space. I do more work with my minivan than anyone I know with a pick-up truck. It’s low enough to the ground that I don’t have to break my spine loading it. The automatic doors make it convenient to load & unload stuff, and I don’t create door-dings. The coolness factor? Not interested in others’ idea of cool. Personally, I really like the look of my minivan! I have a powerful 4.0 litre engine with low kilometres. I pull a trailer with literally tonnes of stuff (usually heavy junk or building supplies). The only way you will make me give up my minivan is when one of us is dead. If it’s the Chrysler, I’ll go get another one. 🙂 Thanks for posting! Very enjoyable!
I’ve got an old low milage 97 Toyota Regius and it literally is the best car I’ve ever had. Older style bombproof reliable engine. Literally enormous space. Drives like a dream on the highway, is a 4 wheel dr and high ground clearance so can use off road, is very comfortable long distance with masses of leg room. Best part is its versatility. Am a carpenter and use it as a family car and work vehicle. Tools are safe and covered and masses of space more than a pick up. Literally love this vehicle and won’t go back to a bakkie/pick up or sedan. Just better in everyway.
After my hatchback was totaled, I upgraded to a used 2015 Ford Transit Connect wagon for carrying music gear, occasional extra passengers, and camping. I’m in love. It has an even smaller footprint than most minivans because it’s based on a city van; and while the engine isn’t exactly powerful and it’s only FWD, I average 27 MPG with the way I drive, only 4 less than my husband’s 2015 Kia Forte sedan. I also think the boxy design makes it more visually attractive than any crossover I’ve ever seen, not to mention the full-length vertical tail lights reminiscent of those elegant station wagons. Too bad it was such an underrated vehicle because they aren’t sold in the US anymore; cars with excessive ground clearance, questionable practicality, and no handy sliding doors will prevail for now. Having a car like mine only makes me more excited to have kids.
I’ve driven sedans all my life. When I started major home renovations, I bought a used Kia Sedona van. After a year of driving, I found it to be one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven, and in a way that cannot be achieved in a sedan – the driving position is more similar to sitting in a chair where the legs are not so stretched forward. There is plenty of space. I already know that this is my type of car for the rest of my life.
Shame there aren’t enouigh Minivans/MPVs in Europe (Ireland in my case) that are a decent size – it’s all SUVs and crosseovers. The third row in most minivnans over here are not suitable for adults – adult size in the case of my older kids. Completely useless for my family of 6. I’m sortng to Jap imports (which I fairness I love) but I wish we could get what the USA has.
I like cars. I’ve got a manual 1983 Delorean, manual 2010 Audi S5 V8 (for sale), a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV, …and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV minivan. The minivan is the most luxurious, highest tech, and most useful vehicle I have ever owned. I’ve had everything from trucks to vintage VW’s. It drives like a car, gets 30mpg HWY, but hauls more cargo and more people…at the same time…than even a larger gas-guzzling SUV! There are very, very few areas where an SUV is a better fit than a minivan. Unless you “need” 4×4 capabilities with higher clearance. Then again, a Prius will do 99.9% of what most SUV/Truck owners actually use them for. Those who know, know it’s minivan for the win. 🙂 -Johnny
Recently bought a 2010 Sienna XLE fully loaded. ❤❤❤ it! On a fixed income, I didn’t want a car payment and at 7k cash it sure worked for me. I’m a craigslist queen 👸 and always needed a friend’s truck or suv to bring home my finds. I’ve also wanted a vehicle I could sleep in for camping 🏕❤❤❤. (If only the 2nd row seats stowed instead of having to remove them. Oh well next car. Maybe the van will drive me around by then)
The average minivan has like 2x the average cargo space of a large SUV, way better visibility (yay for not running over your neighbors dog), and will seat more people and do so more comfortably. It’s lower to the ground so easier to load and also often has better fuel economy. There’s a reason why people with huge families and workers driver minivans / vans. They’re just more utile. More people drive SUVs in cities than in the country, let that sink in.
I have a Dodge caravan, the 3rd row stows but being a fairly basic vehicle, no technology😉 except an am/FM radio that connects by cord to my cell. Can’t be tracked with its own technology, less options, less to fix. My 2nd row is in the garage and the space under the floor offers a lot of out of sight storage. Benefits of cargo and passenger space 4 w/o second row, 6 with, I bought it to travel and sleep in.