Best Used Minivans for Under $20K

By Cherise Threewitt | October 24, 2016

Photo: Mazda North American Operations

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Which Used Minivan Is Right For You?

If you haven’t shopped for minivans recently, you could be in for sticker shock. To increase a minivan’s family-friendly appeal, it’s often loaded with the newest safety equipment and optional infotainment features. New, pricey features can be frustrating for parents on a budget. Get the best bang for your minivan buck by shopping the used market — most will have plenty of life left. Here are some of the best Used Minivans under $20k, according to the U.S. News & World Report used vehicle rankings.

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Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2009 Toyota Sienna

It’s only logical that the Toyota Sienna, which is consistently one of the best and highest-value new minivans available, is one of the best options when it comes time to shop for a used one. The 2009 Sienna, which scores very well in our used vehicle rankings, is just old enough that Toyota’s strong resale values don’t keep it out of reach, but it’s new enough that there will still be value for its next family.

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Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2009 Toyota Sienna

The 2009 Toyota Sienna has top-notch reliability scores (a full five out of a possible five according to J.D. Power’s scale) and fared very well in that year’s safety and crash testing. The Sienna can seat seven or eight passengers (based on the options chosen by its original owners) and, if you like, you can hold out for one of the available all-wheel drive models. You can expand your search to the 2010 model year; it’s ranked slightly lower, but is mostly the same. In 2011, Toyota redesigned the Sienna, so most from that year will be out of our self-imposed price range… but if you find a good one, have at it.

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Photo: Kia Motors America

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2010 Kia Sedona

The Kia Sedona is a practical and safe option for a used minivan, particularly for buyers who aren’t picky about top-notch performance or upscale interior finishes. When new, the 2010 Kia Sedona earned mostly 5-star scores from the NHTSA, and J.D. Power gave the Sedona a full five out five for Overall Dependability. These factors helped the Sedona compete in a field of minivans that were generally much fancier and, frankly, quite nicer. In this case, the passage of time works in the Sedona’s favor, as it provides a smart option for a preowned minivan.

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Photo: Kia Motors America

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2010 Kia Sedona

When the 2010 Sedona was new, critics pointed out that its 244-horsepower V6 engine was less powerful than most competitors’ drivetrains, and that the van’s performance tended to be sluggish under a heavy load. Although, critics did say that the Sedona had good handling and particularly impressive cornering abilities. The Sedona seats seven passengers, and although its interior finishes are among the least upscale out of that year’s minivan crop, it’s perfectly functional and comes with plenty of standard features. If availability of the 2010 Kia Sedona is limited, the 2009 Sedona is also a good option within our price range.

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Photo: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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2010 Honda Odyssey

The 2010 Honda Odyssey was one of critics’ favorite minivans that year, and thanks to Honda’s high quality, it’s a smart option for a used minivan. The Odyssey stood up well to the IIHS and NHTSA safety tests, too. Although it’s worth mentioning that J.D. Power and Associates only gave the 2010 Odyssey a three out of a possible five points for reliability, which is a little surprising for a Honda. Aside from this drawback, the 2010 Odyssey was one of the most well-rounded options in its class.

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Photo: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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2010 Honda Odyssey

The 2010 Odyssey is equipped with front-wheel drive and comes with a 244-horsepower V6 engine, which critics praised as one of the best in its class, thanks to its strong acceleration. Reviewers also liked the Odyssey’s flexible seating arrangements, which allowed its owners to switch between two and three seats in the second row and provided enough room for adults in the third row. The 2009 Odyssey is also a solid option, but a redesign in 2011 means that later model years probably won’t be available for less than $20,000.

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Photo: IFCAR / Wikimedia Commons

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2010 Volkswagen Routan

The Volkswagen Routan was essentially a reskinned and rebadged Chrysler/Dodge minivan, it was only available for four years, and was generally regarded as an expensive flop. However, it was a nice van and it’s a bargain on the used market. High safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and a good reliability rating from J.D. Power and Associates, add to the value of a used 2010 VW Routan.

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Photo: Mic / Wikimedia Commons

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2010 Volkswagen Routan

The Routan’s performance was lackluster, according to critics at the time. Two V6 engines were available (borrowed from the Chrysler lineup), making 197 and 256 horsepower; both received mediocre reviews. However, reviewers praised the Routan’s ride quality, since VW tuned the minivan’s suspension to provide more VW-like handling characteristics. The interior lacks the flexibility of some rivals, but critics say seat comfort is great, critics say. All four years of the Routan, from 2009 to 2012, are likely to be available in this price range, but the 2010 model performs best in our rankings.

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Photo: Mazda North American Operations

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2012 Mazda5

Mazda discontinued the Mazda5 in 2015, but this compact minivan was known for offering something a little different in the segment. The Mazda5 offered rather cozy seating for six passengers, along with above-average reliability and good fuel economy. Buyers in search of an affordable used minivan should add the Mazda5 to their list, as long as they can work with this model’s smaller seating capacity. It was also one of the rare manual-transmission minivan options, which might appeal to a certain subset of potential buyers.

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Photo: Mazda North American Operations

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2012 Mazda5

Critics said the Mazda5 was fun to drive, but certainly not because of its modest 157-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. Rather, Mazda applied the brand’s excellent steering and handling dynamics to this minivan, giving it a bit more excitement than most other options in the class. The Mazda5 is also less complicated than most other minivans, with a basic interior and functional yet stripped-down electronics that make driving an easy proposition. Any model year of the Mazda5 is a good buy, but the 2014 model is also a particularly strong performer, according to the U.S. News Rankings.