Comparing the Used Minivan Category

The market may be awash with 3-row SUVs and crossovers, but the minivan is still arguably the best choice for growing families. They generally offer more passenger room, greater cargo space, and superior efficiency than 3-row SUVs. In addition, with their large windows, spacious accommodations, and smooth highway ride, you can forget your high-end European luxury sedans, as the best vehicle for a cross-country road trip is a minivan.  

Despite their usefulness, Ford and GM removed themselves from the minivan market to focus on SUVs. In contrast, Chrysler is strictly in the minivan market.  It is the only type of model they offer.  All other recent-year minivans come from Japanese or Korean brands. Which is the best? Alderman Automotive would love to answer that, but with a vehicle this versatile, the specific strengths vary from model to model. The best we can do is point out their relative strengths and let you decide. 

Chrysler Pacifica 

Chryslers may sell only minivans presently, but they sell many versions of them. The non-electrified model has four trim levels, and three offer the choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). A key Pacifica feature on all of them is the 2nd– and 3rd-row “Stow ‘n Go” folding seat that folds into the floor when they are not needed. This is a superior means of transitioning from passenger to cargo mode than most other minivans, which require you to remove the 2nd-row seats and set them aside. 

The Pacifica is also available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which enables approximately 32 miles of EV-only propulsion before reverting to hybrid operation. That is often as much as someone may drive in a day, effectively turning the Pacifica into an EV for day-to-day operation. Nor do you need a special charger at home, as the Pacifica can charge overnight from a household socket. When the EV miles expire, it will run as a hybrid model with an EPA-estimated 30 combined mpg. The Pacifica PHEV is FWD only. Also, the battery placement conflicts with 2nd-row Stow ‘n Go seating, though it remains for the 3rd row.  

The Pacifica is currently rated as a TOP SAFETY PICK by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives all configurations an overall five-star rating.  

A 3.6-liter V-6 powers all Pacifica models. In non-electrified form, it produces 287 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a 9-speed automatic. The EPA-estimated city/highway/combined mpg is 19 / 28 / 22 with FWD and 17 / 25 / 20 with AWD. 

The PHEV uses an Atkinson-cycle version of the same engine plus two electric motors connected to a continuously variable transmission. The 12.5 kWh lithium-ion battery can be fully charged overnight using a conventional household outlet. It is rated for 30 overall MPG and 82 MPGe, which is the equivalent energy usage of a full tank and fully charged model.  

Dodge Grand Caravan 

The Grand Caravan is the model that started the whole category.  It ended production in 2020, ceding the market to the Chrysler Pacifica. Sporting the design before the current Pacifica, the Grand Caravans were solid, spacious, and reliable, though they lacked some of the current design technology.  

The Stow ‘n Go seats are convenient and standard, and the reliability is solid. The 2018 – 2020 models gained new safety technologies and an updated interior. The V6 produces 283 horsepower, but its EPA-estimated 17 / 25 / 20 miles is slightly below most competitors.  

Honda Odyssey 

Automotive testers often credit the Odyssey as the best-driving minivan. With a similarly sized 280-hp 3.5-liter V6, it is faster than the Pacifica, and the ride, steering, and brake feel all seem ideal for its mission. FWD only, its EPA MPG is identical to the Pacifica’s at 19 / 28 / 22. The Odyssey also has an overall 5-star NHTSA rating and was an IIHS TOP SAFETY pick until 2025, where it performed well on all but the most recently updated crash test.  

The Odyssey also benefits from Honda’s clever thoughtfulness, as evidenced by innovative storage areas, features like a camera showing the 2nd– and 3rd-row occupants, and a PA system that ensures everyone hears the orders from the front row. 

Toyota Sienna 

The Sienna stands out, as all 4th-generation models have hybrid drivetrains. The system starts with a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4 with electric motors for a combined 245 horsepower. The Sienna is available in both FWD and AWD, the latter giving it the distinction of being the only AWD hybrid minivan on the market. The hybrid drivetrains pay off for the frugally minded, with EPA estimates of 36 mpg across the board with FWD and 25 / 36 / 35 with AWD.  

The higher-spec Sienna model offers lounge-like seating in the 2nd row, with dual buckets that behave like Laz-e-boys, leaning back and having pop-up ottomans. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 includes all the expected safety and driver assist technologies, and it claims TOP SAFETY PICK and overall 5-star ratings from IIHS and NHTSA, respectively. 

Kia Sedona / Carnival 

The Kia Sedona can be a bargain on the used market. It does everything you need a minivan to do with little downside. The 3.3-liter V6 is smooth and perfectly sufficient, while its 18 city and 24 highway mpg fall short but are in the same league as the Odyssey and Pacifica. It has an excellent reliability record, and its infotainment system gets high marks for easy usability. When new, more than one source designated it as “the best minivan for the money;” used models retain this status. 

In 2022, the Sedona underwent a significant redesign and changed its name to Carnival, which was Sedona’s name in other parts of the world. The squared-off styling with a prominent hood gives the mode a distinct SUV-like appearance, even though it retains the sliding side doors. The interior now sports one of the most modern styles in the segment. Despite its exterior design, it remains strictly FWD. Its engine size increased to 3.5 liters with 287 horsepower. 

Minivans from all brands find their way to Alderman Automotive. You can easily shop for them on this website by selecting “All New Models” from the Inventory drop-down. When the new page appears, scroll to the bottom of the filter column to the left, select “Bodystyle,” and then select “Vans” from the pop-up window, which will bring you here. We wish you happy shopping.