Here Are the Minivans at the Top of Our Rankings Right Now
Minivans were once all about the basics: how many cup holders and how much cargo space? But now, minivans boast plenty of high-tech comfort and safety features and near-luxury creature comforts. However, not all new minivans are created equally.
Some offerings have been on the market for quite some time, while others are welcome newcomers. No matter what your needs, the latest crop of minivans are available with features like power sliding doors and rear lift gates that can be remotely operated, making a parent’s life that much easier.
Most new minivans have either standard or available high-tech safety equipment like forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. These features ensure the driver is aware of any potential unseen threats when driving with precious cargo.
Keep in mind that our rankings can change as new expert reviews and data become available.
You don’t need to shop for SUVs to get a great family vehicle. Read the following slides to learn about how the top minivans of 2017 stack up.
The Dodge Grand Caravan is the least expensive vehicle on this list, but that price is largely due to its age. This platform has been on the market since 2008, and despite a 2011 update, it has gone largely unchanged for nearly six years.
The Grand Caravan’s age means that it lacks any crash prevention technology, such as forward collision avoidance. On the plus side, the Grand Caravan now comes standard with a backup camera and a 6.5-inch touch screen.
The Kia Sedona is a tremendous value for the segment, as it offers safety features like automatic emergency braking as available equipment. The Sedona has excellent safety scores and is a Top Safety Pick, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The Sedona features a hushed, upscale cabin, with nice materials and fit-and-finish, and a powerful but easy-to-use infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
At 142 cubic feet, it is just narrowly in front of the Grand Caravan (140.3) in terms of cargo space. If you don’t have a great need for max cargo space and care more about quality and features, the Sedona is a great choice.
If cargo space is a concern, the updated 2018 Toyota Sienna has plenty, boasting 150 cubic feet. The V6 engine in the Sienna was updated for 2017 and now puts out 296 horsepower. The Sienna is also the only minivan on this list to offer all-wheel drive.
The Sienna bridges quantity with quality, as the cabin materials are upscale, and the features list is long. The Sienna also comes standard with advanced safety features like forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beam, as well as navigation and five USB ports.
Parents have plenty of other tools in the Sienna, such as a wide-angle mirror to keep an eye on rear-seat occupants. The available Driver Easy Speak is an intercom to the third row, so you can communicate with the way-back without yelling.
Available entertainment packages include a dual-view fold-down rear video screen so the little ones can each watch their own video – perfect for long road trips.
The Pacifica is a solid-driving minivan, with a standard V6 engine that produces 287 horsepower and can return as much as 28 mpg on the highway.
It also features a fantastic interior layout, with plenty of storage solutions. Its Uconnect infotainment system is one of the easiest to use on the market.
The Pacifica Hybrid uses Chrysler’s venerable 3.6-liter V6 combined with electric power and a lithium-ion battery back under the second row (in place of the middle row’s Stow ’n Go seating system). It provides up to 33 miles of all-electric power, qualifying for the full $7,500 tax credit.
The EPA has rated the Pacifica Hybrid at 84 miles per gallon equivalent; it returns 32 combined mpg when the electric power is exhausted. Using a 240-style quick-charging system (that must be installed at home), the Pacifica Hybrid can be fully charged in just two hours.
Chrysler’s innovative Stow ’n Go seats fold effortlessly into the floor, providing a completely flat load floor without the need to remove heavy chairs. For this reason and others, we gave the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica our Best Minivan for the Money award.
The Honda Odyssey builds on the accomplishments of past models, and raises the bar, with an incredible 158 cubic feet of cargo space, making it the new best-in-class among minivans. The Odyssey features a V6 with a 280 horsepower rating paired to a nine-speed or available 10-speed automatic transmission, providing great acceleration and fuel economy. The Odyssey is actually quite enjoyable to drive, for a minivan.
The Odyssey features an attractive, well-equipped cabin. It comes standard with features such as push-button start, a multi-angle backup camera, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and hands-free text messaging. Uprated trims of the Odyssey feature wireless smartphone charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and even an integrated vacuum cleaner.
If you’re still deciding on which car is right for you, visit our new car rankings for research to compare your top contenders.
Once you’re ready to buy, use our Best Price Program to find the dealers with the best prices in your area. Shoppers who use our Best Price Program have saved an average of $3,279 off MSRP.
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Here Are the Minivans at the Top of Our Rankings Right Now
Minivans were once all about the basics: how many cup holders and how much cargo space? But now, minivans boast plenty of high-tech comfort and safety features and near-luxury creature comforts. However, not all new minivans are created equally.
Some offerings have been on the market for quite some time, while others are welcome newcomers. No matter what your needs, the latest crop of minivans are available with features like power sliding doors and rear lift gates that can be remotely operated, making a parent’s life that much easier.
Most new minivans have either standard or available high-tech safety equipment like forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. These features ensure the driver is aware of any potential unseen threats when driving with precious cargo.
Keep in mind that our rankings can change as new expert reviews and data become available.
You don’t need to shop for SUVs to get a great family vehicle. Read the following slides to learn about how the top minivans of 2017 stack up.