Top 5 Minivans for Growing Families (Ranked)

Once a relatively rare vehicle type, minivans are now relatively common, serving as the ideal suburban vehicle for the American family. Their cargo space, spacious seating, good safety reputation, and advanced convenience features make them the ideal vehicle to suit all tastes and budgets for families with children ranging in age from toddlers to teens.

Since the minivan first appeared in the 1980s, its popularity has varied, peaking in the early 2000s. 1.3 million minivans were sold in 2000 alone, accounting for 7% of all vehicle sales that year. Since then, the minivan’s popularity has waned, but it remains a safe, practical, and relatively affordable option for many modern families.

Interestingly, the number of minivan models available in the modern era is in the single digits, with just two models — the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey — accounting for more than half of the minivan market in terms of sales.

Related: How to Buy a Used Car: A 6-Step Guide with Tips and Best Practices

What exactly is a minivan?

Simply put, a minivan is a medium- to large-sized passenger vehicle that looks like a pickup truck but is designed more like a car. Most minivans have the following characteristics in common:

• Sedan-like frame: While they’re roomier than sedans, and their seats give them a high vantage point similar to an SUV, most minivans are built on sedan-like bodies, resulting in easier handling and better fuel economy than most midsize SUVs.
• Three rows of seats: Most minivans have three rows of seats for a total of seven or eight seats. The most common seating layout is 2-2-3, with a driver and passenger seat in the front row, two bench seats in the middle row, and a bench seat in the back row.
• Spacious interior space: Minivans are designed to carry families and their gear, so they tend to have spacious interiors and roomy trunks with plenty of room for cargo.
• Sliding doors: Most minivans have sliding doors on one or both sides. In modern minivans, these doors can usually be operated by a button or remote control.
• Family friendly features: Minivans tend to come with a number of family-oriented features, including built-in vacuums for messes, passenger-side rearview mirrors for parents, multi-zone climate controls, and seat-back entertainment systems for kids.

5 Minivan Models Available in 2024

As of 2024, there will only be five minivan models in production. Here are their specifications:

Chrysler Pacifica

• Engine type: mystification
• Seats: 7
• Transmission: Front wheel drive/four wheel drive
• Suggested retail price for 2024: $39,645+
• Gasoline consumption: 22 subscribers (FWD), 20 subscribers (AWD)
• a guarantee: 3 years/36,000 miles

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

• Engine type: plug-in hybrid
• Seats: 7
• Transmission: front wheel drive
• Suggested retail price for 2024: $52,495
• Gasoline consumption: 30 subscribers (gas only), 82 subscribers (electricity + gas)
• a guarantee: 3 years/36,000 miles

Honda Odyssey

• Engine type: mystification
• Seats: 8
• Transmission: front wheel drive
• Suggested retail price for 2024: $38,240+
• Gasoline consumption: 22 combined
• a guarantee: 3 years/36,000 miles, 5 years/60,000 miles Powertrain

Kia Carnival

• Engine type: Gas (hybrid available in 2025)
• Seats: 7-8
• Transmission: front wheel drive
• Suggested retail price for 2024: $33,600+
• Gasoline consumption: 22 combined
• a guarantee: 5 years/60,000 miles, 10 years/100,000 miles Powertrain

Toyota Sienna

• Engine type: Gas-electric hybrid
• Seats: 7-8
• Transmission: Front wheel drive/four wheel drive
• Suggested retail price for 2024: $37,685+
• Gasoline consumption: 35 joints (4WD), 36 joints (2WD)
• a guarantee: 3 years/36,000 miles, 5 years/60,000 miles Powertrain

More about vehicles:

• Best New Cars and SUVs Under $30K According to Consumer Reports
• Longest-Living Car Models (200,000+ Miles) According to Consumer Reports
• Hybrid Cars With The Best Fuel Economy According To Consumer Reports

Minivan models are rated by Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and Car and Driver.

What is the best minivan available in 2024?

Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and Car and Driver—three of the most trusted names in the auto review industry—rank the five available small cars differently. However, it’s worth noting that the Toyota Sienna and Kia Carnival took the top two spots on two of the three lists they ranked.

Overall, the Toyota Sienna was the highest-rated vehicle among all three sources. Its hybrid engine, excellent fuel economy, all-wheel drive capability, and powertrain warranty all make it an excellent choice for any family looking for a safe, reliable, and long-lasting minivan.

At a starting price of $37,685, it’s significantly cheaper than the only other small hybrid (the $52,495 Chrysler Pacifica). However, the Kia Carnival will also be It will be launched as a hybrid starting in 2025.But the starting price will be higher at $40,500, and fuel economy is still two points lower than the Sienna at 33 combined.

Related: Veteran Fund Manager Sees a World of Pain Coming for Stocks