Best Minivans
The minivan class has expanded in recent years as interest in the vehicles has picked. Minivans offer ample passenger room, great cargo space, and an easy step in height making them an attractive alternative to SUVs at a comparable price. Buyers really have just eight minivans to choose from – the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, Toyota Odyssey, Volkswagen Routan, or the luxurious Mercedes Benz R–Class.
If you take out the much more expensive Mercedes Benz, which starts at about $50,000, and combine the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Volkswagen Routan, since they built on the same platform and share the same engines, really the choices are narrowed down to just five models. Buyers who do not have the budgets or do not need all the room these vehicles provide, many wish to consider the so–called "mini" minivan models such as the Mazda5 and upcoming Ford C–Max.
Comparable Power and Towing Capability
The Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are typically thought of as the best minivans of 2011. All of these models (with the exception of the Mercedes–Benz) offer 3.5–3.6 liter V6 engines with comparable power. Horsepower ranges from 248 in Odyssey to 283 in the Town & Country, Caravan, and Routan. The Quest is at 260 horsepower, the Sienna is at 266 horsepower, and the Sedona is at 271 horsepower. All of these models can also tow items up to 3,500 pounds.
For budget seekers, the Toyota Sienna offers a four–cylinder engine with the base trim having a starting MSRP of $24,560. Its 2.7 liters produces 187 horsepower with fuel economy of 19–mpg city and 24–mpg highway. The base V6 with a 3.5–liter 266 horsepower engine gets 18–mpg city and 24–mpg highway. It has a starting MSRP of $25,800.
All of these minivan models offer a host of excellent of standard safety features including traction control, electronic stability control, ABS brakes, and driver, passenger, and side airbags. However, only the Odyssey and the Sienna made the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's 2011 list of "Top Safety Picks". The Sienna is the only 2011 minivan model to offer all–wheel drive (AWD).
Prices and Fuel Economy
Prices and fuel economy are also similar. All of these 2011 models have a starting price in the $24,000 to $30,000 range except the Mercedes–Benz R–Class, which starts at about $50,000. The Kia Sedona has the lowest starting MSRP at $24,595 among minivans with a V6. It comes standard with air conditioning, power door locks, power windows, CD player, and a six⏻speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy ranges from 16–mpg city and 24–mpg highway in the Quest to 18–mpg city and 27–mpg highway for the Honda Odyssey with cylinder deactivation. However, the Toyota Sienna XLE AWD is rated at 16–mpg city and 21–mpg highway.
Minivans offer ample seating room for seven to eight passengers depending on the model and seating configuration and have spacious cargo volumes. Minivans are great for larger families or just to hold your dogs, bikes, luggage, or other items.
Spacious Passenger and Cargo Room
All of these minivan models, with the exception of the Nissan Quest have cargo volumes between 141 and 149 cubic feet, which is about double what SUVs such as the Honda CR–V can hold. The Nissan Quest comes up short in cargo volume compared to its peers with just 108.4 cubic feet. This is actually less cargo room than eight–seat Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia SUV models, which both have 116 cubic feet.
Resale value, gas mileage, passenger and cargo space, and ride quality are all important considerations when buying a vehicle. The Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey score high in these areas, which is why they are usually considered the best minivans. However, there are many good choices in this group. The Kia Sedona is improved for 2011 and its lower price compared to its competitors represents a good value. The Nissan Quest has a few negatives with the worst gas mileage and lowest cargo volume among the group.
Deciding which is the best minivan for you is ultimately based on needs, preferences, and budgets. Minivan insurance rates are also a factor to consider but typically do not vary much from that of other comparably priced SUVs.
