When you're in a minivan full of other people, you could be sharing something good or bad. It's like stuffing into the corner booth at a Coney Island restaurant—most people inside it can't move until someone else does, and it probably smells like hot dogs. No matter, their sliding doors and super-sized cargo area make minivans an easy choice for those with a lot to do.
Here's how the competitive minivan segment ranks from worst to best. The new Toyota Sienna is a minivan focused on fuel efficiency and substance. A hp hybrid is the only powertrain, giving it an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, an improvement of more than 14 mpg from last year's gas-only model. It's now the second most efficient on the list, behind the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid , and its additional wheelbase over the previous generation has improved its ride.
It's also stuffed with standard driver-assistance features such as automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. There's plenty of space to seat seven or even eight with the center seat stowed , but unfortunately the second-row seats aren't stowable or removable. An all-wheel-drive Sienna Limited recently joined our long-term test fleet , quickly accumulating miles without any hiccups. The Honda Odyssey has been good for a long time, and some things never change.
Powered by a hp V-6, the Odyssey is easily the top driver's choice. Its driving characteristics and shifter paddles are unexpected for a minivan, and its excellent suspension tuning makes it ride like it's meant to haul a little ass instead of the kids. The Odyssey can seat eight on all models above the base LX trim. In our real-world highway testing, the Odyssey outperformed its EPA estimate, delivering 30 mpg.
We wish we could stow the second-row seats somewhere, because removing the pound chairs can be a serious workout. So, in theory, many buyers can do school runs and grocery store trips with EV mode in perpetuity by charging when you get home. An alternative, if you do a lot of long road trips, is the Sienna, which only comes as a mild hybrid and delivers a legit plus mpg all the time in real-world driving.
The Carnival, non-hybrid Pacifica and Odyssey don't match up on efficiency, earning fewer than 20 mpg in city driving. This is a tough decision. All four are solid choices. The Kia Carnival looks great, feels premium has a ton of space and is available for an affordable price point.
And the Odyssey, while excelling at the basics and packing Magic Seats, isn't quite as fresh as its more recently-updated foes. But the Toyota Sienna provides something most of the competition — minivan or three-row SUV — does not: outstanding fuel economy and all-wheel drive in the same vehicle. That's the sort of game-changer that can bring buyers into the minivan fold. Today's Best Deals.
Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Two Creatives on Their Journeys to Sustainability. Should you buy a minivan? So what's the best minivan to buy? Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Toyota Sienna. Powertrain: 2. Honda Odyssey. Current Generation: 5th generation new for What's New: Honda gave the Odyssey a mild styling facelift for and added Honda Sensing safety tech to all trims. Chrysler Pacifica. Kia Carnival.
Current Generation: 4th generation new for What's New: Kia has replaced the Sedona with the Carnival name it's long used for the car abroad. The best-looking minivan: the Toyota Sienna. The best minivan to drive: the Kia Carnival.
The fanciest minivan inside: the Chrysler Pacifica. The most spacious minivan: the Kia Carnival. The most fuel-efficient minivan: the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. What is the best minivan to buy? The Toyota Sienna. We've often joked that used Tacomas cost more than new ones.
But now that's actually true. Overview The well-rounded Honda Odyssey excels when it comes to passenger and cargo space, standard safety features, and a smooth ride. Pros Comfortable seating for eight Competitively priced Smooth V6 engine Cons All-wheel drive not available Second-row seats must be removed to achieve max cargo Missing some tech features Overall Assessment The Honda Odyssey is a minivan that is strong on core competencies.
The roomy and flexible interior has seating for eight in all but the base trim , and the Odyssey is an adept cargo-hauler as well. The Odyssey lags in innovation, however, and the minivan segment has seen a lot of that lately. The Honda's fuel economy doesn't match the latest hybrid minivans, and all-wheel drive is not on the menu.
It's also not as tech-heavy or luxurious as the fanciest Chrysler Pacifica or Kia Carnival models. Overview The Kia Carnival provides an intriguing new take on the minivan with its unusual styling, second-row lounge seating, and impressive feature set.
Pros Fresh exterior styling Upscale interior can be equipped with lounge-like second-row chairs Plenty of high-tech features Cons Second-row lounge seats aren't stowable or removable All-wheel drive is not available Highway fuel economy trails competitors Overall Assessment The outgoing Kia Sedona was often overlooked in the minivan segment, but the new Kia Carnival is a compelling contender.
Its dramatic exterior styling brings this Kia closer to an SUV. There's a flat rather than a sloping hood, an upright front end, and straight body lines. Among the interesting details are the grille texture with integrated headlights, patterned metal trim between the rear windows, and full-width taillights.
Innovative interior features include "VIP lounge" second-row chairs and a digital instrument cluster in the top trim. Mechanically, the Kia Carnival is more conventional.
And the driving experience is a pleasant one. Kia offers a long list of additional features and also boasts a longer warranty than the Honda Odyssey , Toyota Sienna , and Chrysler Pacifica. Cargo Vans with Best Gas Mileage. Vans with Best Gas Mileage. Midsize Vans with Best Gas Mileage.
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