The Best Minivans for Families

The once not-so-sexy minivans have become the latest and greatest for families who want more space and high-tech features. See what vehicles made our list of best minivans to help you find your next family ride.

Families everywhere are rounding up kids, pets, and spouses for the daily commute to school, daycare, work, football games, and dance practices. Parents are looking for the easiest way to get everyone together and dropped off on time, but there are only a handful of vehicles that live up to the expectation of maximum passenger space and great gas mileage.

To meet that goal, more and more families are looking for the best minivans to make life simpler and more efficient. If you’re constantly on-the-go, it may be the perfect time to upgrade for cargo space and your sanity.

But what minivans should make your shortlist?

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the first of its kind. There are no other minivan hybrids on the market currently, which makes it a great choice for those wanting to save the earth while toting around kids, groceries, and gear. Drivers love the Pacifica Hybrid because of its quick acceleration and overall efficiency. Less gas means more cha-ching! Just plug your Pacifica Hybrid in and you’re set for the road ahead. Let’s see why the Pacifica makes our Top 4 best minivans.

Ranging from $39,995 to $45,545, the Pacifica Hybrid is more expensive than its competitors no matter how you slice it. Generally, the Pacifica Hybrid will be more expensive than the rest of its competitors, no matter how you slice it. The price hike comes exclusively with the hybrid model, but if you’re interested in a standard gas-powered Chrysler Pacifica, you can expect the base model prices to reflect the market more appropriately.

The standard features inside the Pacifica include automatic climate control, satellite & HD radio, and a UConnect touchscreen infotainment system.

• Navigation system
• Panoramic sunroof
• 13 or 20 speaker system
• Single row DVD system
• Theater package (2 10-inch seatback touchscreens, 115V power outlet, three extra USB ports, Blu-Ray & DVD player, HDMI inputs, and wireless headphones)

• Fuel Efficiency
• Killer acceleration and handling
• Every trim level comes with amenities like climate control, touchscreen infotainment center, and Apple Carplay/Android Auto
• Brakes are strong and responsive, unlike most other hybrid vehicles

• More expensive than its counterparts
• Less seating than other competitors and the gas-powered Pacifica
• Engine can be loud at high speeds

Kia’s Sedona is known for its safety ratings and comfortable ride. Even though the Sedona ranks well amongst its peers, it lacks in a few areas where its competitors offer more. For example, the Sedona has a lot of cargo space, but it doesn’t offer as much passenger room as the Honda Odyssey.

But don’t let that deter you from considering the Kia Sedona if you want a minivan that’s priced at a great value and don’t need all the bells and whistles, it’s clear to see why many families love this vehicle.

Let’s dig in a little deeper.

The updated 2019 Kia Sedona wears a price tag between $27,200 to $41,100. Depending on what trim-level you like, you’ll have an array of features to choose from, but not as many as other competing minivans. The good news is that the offered technology is easy to use, and you still have enough space to accommodate 7-8 passengers. The only reason the Kia Sedona doesn’t match up with other minivans is that its competitors surpass it only slightly in a handful of areas like cargo space and extra tech features. With that said, you can expect these features on any of the Kia Sedona trim-levels:

• UVO Infotainment Center with 7-inch touchscreen
• Four speaker audio system
• Bluetooth, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto
• USB port
• 3 full sets of LATCH connectors to make car seat installation easy

Despite the base model lacking a few features that other minivans offer, you can up the ante on a Kia Sedona with a few optional features. Here are the upgrades available on the Kia Sedona:

• Sunroof
• Rear-seat entertainment system
• Upgraded infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen
• Navigation system
• Eight speaker system from Harman Kardon
• Satellite radio
• Additional USB ports
• Wireless phone charging system

• User-friendly technology
• 7-8 passenger seating
• Rated highly in safety testing

• Average gas mileage, but Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica offer more efficiency
• Not a ton of cargo space, with only 34 cubic feet behind the rear seats
• Doesn’t offer a ton of technology or features in comparison to other minivans

The Toyota Sienna is a family favorite for more than just the average Mom or Dad. Celebrities like Mark Wahlberg love the Sienna for all its capabilities and its capacity. With the option for all-wheel drive, drivers who live in harsh climates can have peace of mind that their minivan will last through the years and keep their family safe. The Sienna also compares well to the Honda Odyssey, the minivan with the most cargo space, while packing more horsepower than its competitors. While there are some trade-offs, you can expect the Sienna to deliver more on power, performance, and cargo space than most of its peers.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Toyota Sienna before you decide to buy.

The Toyota Sienna is a great value vehicle because it offers everything you need without the price of a more luxurious vehicle. The Sienna hasn’t been redesigned in recent years, but it provides everything you need for a safe, comfortable, and efficient ride for the whole family. The Toyota Sienna price ranges from $31,415 to $49,190, which puts it at the slightly higher end of the spectrum for minivans. Though the price may seem a little steep, you reap the benefits of having a vehicle that can provide excellent driving conditions while giving you the little luxuries you expect in a family vehicle. Here’s a list of the Sienna’s standard features to give an idea.

• 2 full sets of LATCH systems for easy car seat installation
• Entune infotainment system and 7-inch touchscreen
• 6 USB ports
• A 6-speaker stereo system
• Bluetooth & WiFi Hotspot
• Apple CarPlay
• Automatic climate control

If the standard Toyota Sienna features aren’t enough, you can easily upgrade your ride with a few of the optional features:

• Navigation system
• JBL 10 speaker system
• Satellite radio
• Driver Easy Speak (an in-car PA system)
• Rear-seat entertainment system

• Great gas mileage
• A powerful engine that packs a punch
• Lots of standard features for the whole family
• Available in AWD for harsh climate drivers
• More cargo capacity than any of the previously listed minivans

• Can be noisy on the road when driving highway speeds
• Not as modern or luxurious as its recently redesigned competitors

There’s no need to squeeze the whole family into the Honda Odyssey; they’ll fit just fine. With the most overall cargo space, the Odyssey offers the most for minivan-loving families who need extra room for gear and kids. The Honda Odyssey also offers the most technology across the minivan board for base models which makes it one of the best value minivans on the market. Let’s see why the Honda Odyssey is the best minivan for families heading back to their daily routines.

You can own a Honda Odyssey of your very own for roughly $30,190 to $47,070. For the minivan that gives you the best of all worlds, you can see why many call the Odyssey the best value minivan on the streets. Though the standard features may not exceed expectations, they deliver exactly what you need with great functionality and usability. Here’s everything you can expect from a Honda Odyssey:

• Four sets of LATCH connectors for installing car seats
• 5-inch display screen
• 7-speaker sound system
• Bluetooth & hands-free texting
• 2 USB ports
• Built-in vacuum on Touring and Elite trims

While the Odyssey offers standard features comparable to that of its competitors, there are several features that can be upgraded or added to make your minivan the coolest one in town. Here are all the optional features you can add on to your Odyssey.

• 8-inch touchscreen
• Android & Apple Carplay
• Satellite radio
• Navigation system
• Rear-seat entertainment upgrade
• WiFi Hot Spot
• 11-speaker sound system
• Wireless phone charging
• Parking assist
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Honda Sensing technologies – pre-collision braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warnings, etc.,

• Easy to use technology and features
• Great gas mileage, though not the best
• Lots of room for extra kids, gear, and groceries
• Modern design outside and in
• Was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• Comfortable, smooth ride that prevents passengers from feeling imperfections in the road.

• Need to upgrade trim-levels to get a few of the extra bells & whistles
• Has a little lower horsepower than the Toyota Sienna

Now that you’ve gotten the full rundown of what minivans fit the bill, which minivan would you choose? Would you go for the hybrid to save on gas or would you want a minivan that delivers on power and performance? Is cargo space the most important thing you need? Let us know what which minivan you’d drive in the comments below!