Best Minivans: Choosing a Car for a Big Family

Minivans are a special auto category loved by a limited group of US drivers, and the minivan benefits fully meet their expectations. Americans often choose these vehicles for family trips, but this is one of many tasks they can handle. Today, we prepared an overview of the best minivans to buy on the US secondary market.

What is the #1 minivan?

The IAM experts studied reviews of popular minivans from Indiana car lots and determined the five best minivans. These models are superior to all competitors.

Top 5 Best Minivans of 2024:

1. Chrysler Pacifica; 
2. Honda Odyssey;
3. Dodge Grand Caravan;
4. Toyota Sienna;
5. Kia Sedona.

Features of minivans

A minivan is a passenger car designed to transport up to nine people, which makes it an ideal means for family travel.

Minivans are also the best choice for commercial use:

• mini group excursion tours;
• taxi;
• car sharing.

What characteristics are typical of a minivan?

• High ceiling.
• Vertical pillars.
• Large rear doors for easy access even with a stroller or wheelchair.

Chrysler Pacifica - the most versatile and dynamic minivan

The Chrysler Pacifica dynamics is impressive, with acceleration to sixty in 7.4 seconds. The upgraded transmission helped the manufacturer increase the fuel economy of the 2023 Pacifica up to 19/28 MPG city/highway, and 22 MPG combined.

One of the key reasons to buy the Pacifica is the large selection of trim levels, which allows you to choose the best minivan depending on your preferences and budget:

• LX - 8 airbags, Start / Stop system, rearview camera, active noise reduction system, 17-inch alloy wheels;
• Touring – automatic headlights, electric sliding doors, passive entry system;
• Touring L – heated front seats, 3-zone climate control, chrome trim, fog lights, electric rear door, blind spot monitoring, parking and reversing assistance system;
• Touring Plus – heated steering wheel, electric passenger seat, and trunk door, Alpine audio system with 13 speakers, digital instrument panel, heated second-row seats, Uconnect multimedia with 8.4-inch screen;
• Limited – the top version, which in addition to the above equipment has xenon headlights, LED fog lights, panoramic glass roof, premium Nappa leather interior trim, navigation, front seat ventilation, and electric drive in the third row.

Honda Odyssey - safest minivan

The Honda Odyssey doesn't feel as smooth as the Pacifica, but its engine and transmission work together well. Even though the Chrysler Pacifica minivan felt like the fastest car on the road, the Odyssey beats it in straight-line acceleration tests. Honda engineers paid a lot of attention to the steering and stability, which are close to perfect.

All Honda models come equipped with brand safety packages. Honda Sensing includes lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Odyssey minivan also received the best IIHS safety rating thanks to the excellent headlights and high crash-test scores.

Toyota Sienna - best hybrid minivan

The fourth-generation Toyota Sienna has become a hybrid in all versions. Thanks to the new GA-K platform, the Sienna holds a straight line well, rolls minimally and pleases with a good balance between smoothness and density without excessive tendency to rocking and languidness.

Toyota managed to turn an already practical minivan into a comfortable and super-economical car for a large family. Hybrid is already in the base trim, plus optional all-wheel drive, while competitors either do not have one of the above or cannot combine one with the other. Add to this a 10-year battery warranty with a 150 thousand miles limit. Even if the power element will require replacing, the NiMH battery will not ruin the budget.

Kia Sedona - most balanced minivan

The Kia Sedona is neither the most economical nor spacious, but it is still the most stylish, comfortable, and fun-to-drive van today. It is cheap to operate, which will undoubtedly please its owners wherever they go.

The Kia Sedona is the best solution when you don’t want to choose between form and function. The minivan can be a 7- and 8-seater, but there are many more trim configurations and space utilization options. If necessary, the passenger compartment can be converted into a spacious platform for transporting cargo in just a few minutes. In this case, the seats do not need to be removed; the third row folds completely into the floor, and the second row moves forward.

Since Sedona's target audience is large families with children, the car has YES Essentials upholstery as standard with antimicrobial antistatic protection, and stain- and water-repellent properties. In the top configurations, you will find premium quality genuine leather and other natural materials.

Dodge Grand Caravan - durable and time-proven minivan

The Grand Caravan has retained a loyal following despite its production ended in mid-2020. The Dodge Grand Caravan is the best minivan for families looking for comfort and space. This model can boast functional design, reliability, and durability. One of the best years for the Dodge Grand Caravan was 2016 when the minivan received an updated exterior, interior, and advanced technical characteristics. The 2016 Grand Caravan perfectly combines comfort, space, and power. In 2018, Dodge added new safety technologies, an improved interior, and increased cargo capacity. The latest 2020 models received an updated front end, improved aerodynamics, and new equipment.

There are various Dodge Grand Caravan models on the Indiana used car market. Here are the best options to consider:

• Dodge Grand Caravan SE: This base model has a roomy interior for up to seven passengers. It comes with numerous basic features, such as climate control, audio, and more.
• Dodge Grand Caravan SXT: If you are looking for a more advanced minivan, consider the SXT. This Grand Caravan can boast heated seats and a built-in navigation system.
• Dodge Grand Caravan Crew: This modification has even more options, including a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, leather seats, and a blind spot warning system.
• Dodge Grand Caravan R/T: If you are looking for a minivan with a sporty twist, the R/T might be the best option. It has a more powerful engine and stylish design accents.

No matter which one you choose, the Dodge Grand Caravan offers a roomy interior and features that make it a great family vehicle.

The process of selecting and buying the best minivan in Indiana can be challenging as there are many options on the market. However, with the right advice and information from the Indy Auto Man dealership, you can narrow down your choices and find the perfect model in our Indianapolis car lot to meet all your needs.