Best Minivans: Which One Should I Buy?

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John Goreham

John Goreham

John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer,  John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.

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Whether you have seven children or just became a new mom or dad, minivans make sense. Minivans are efficient, safe, spacious, and surprisingly not bad to drive.

Our top picks score well on Insurance Institute For Highway Safety tests, and all have seven or eight-seat configurations depending on their trims. Here are the best minivans on the US market in 2021.

Also, check out the best lease deals on minivans for this month.

Are you looking for a vehicle to comfortably seat the whole family? Check out all our picks for the best family vehicles.

Read about how we rank our vehicles >>

Best Minivans Comparison

1. The Benchmark - Toyota Sienna

Toyota’s Sienna is a perennial top-seller and has been the minivan that has offered all-wheel drive the longest. For 2021, Toyota made big changes to the Sienna that give it tremendous added value. The new standard hybrid powertrain offers 245 hp. As minivans go, that is more than enough power, but not the most you will find. What makes the Sienna unusual is that it also packs an electric all-wheel drive system and earns a 35 MPG Combined EPA estimated fuel economy rating.

The Sienna’s fuel economy will save its owners $14,000 over its lifetime by comparison to the Honda Odyssey. That is a third of its total new car price tag. And there is no lack of performance noticeable.

The Sienna has the highest possible safety rating and comes with two years of included maintenance at no added cost. As you can see, the Sienna has earned its spot at the top of our list by being good at everything.

The Sienna combines its amazing fuel economy and all-wheel drive with a very competitive and affordable price tag and legendary reliability.

Current Toyota Sienna Deals & Incentives

You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Toyota deals here.

2. The Classic Design Done Best - Honda Odyssey

The Odyssey is a gem of a vehicle, not just a good minivan. This past summer, the FTBCP staff used an Odyssey on a vacation road trip to the mountains, hauling four generations of our family around in relaxed comfort.

The Honda Odyssey makes no mistakes. This van works well, and every Honda owner will enjoy that same satisfying driving sensation offered by the Pilot or the Accord when they are behind the wheel.

Families who want a minivan with the classic layout, a plush ride, and great features for the dollar should look no further than the Honda Odyssey.

Current Honda Odyssey Deals & Incentives

You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Honda deals here.

3. A Plug-in With Few Downsides - Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid

The Chrysler Pacifica is presently the sales leader among minivans in America. It is only fitting since this is the company that invented the minivan. Chrysler hasn’t been sitting on that old design though. Rather, the Pacifica line has everything any modern family might desire. Unfortunately, not all in one trim.

The Pacifica can be an all-wheel drive or it can have an amazing plug-in hybrid drivetrain, but unlike in the Sienna or Model X, you can’t combine them. If you only want one or the other, this is the van to start with.

The Pacifica has just been updated and offers modern infotainment, great seating, cargo flexibility, available all-wheel drive with its conventional engine, or an 82 MPGe plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Current Chrysler Pacifica Deals & Incentives

You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Chrysler deals here.

4. Hey, Why Not!? - Tesla Model X Long-Range

The Model X is a performance vehicle that has over 1,000 hp in some trims and can run from 0-60 MPH faster than almost every supercar made today (2.5 seconds). If you need your minivan to be your sports car as well, look no further than the Telsa Model X.

Since the Model X is a battery-electric vehicle, the range is important. Not to worry. The Model X Long Range, the least expensive trim, can travel 371 miles on a single charge. When the kids need a bathroom break, pull into a Supercharger to top off the battery pack and say hello to your fellow Tesla owners. Despite having amazing performance, the Model X has an annual fuel cost of just $600, one-third of the Odyssey’s energy cost.

The Model X is not for families on a budget. With a starting price over $90,000, it’s strictly for the well-to-do.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best minivan on the market?

The best minivan depends on your priorities. It is hard to argue the Toyota Sienna is not the most well-rounded of the current minivans for sale since it has a green powertrain, top safety scores, all-wheel drive, and legendary reliability.

What is the best-selling minivan?

The top-selling minivan is the Chrysler Pacifica. The Pacifica is notable in that it offers all-wheel drive and also a plug-in hybrid powertrain option.

What is the best minivan to buy used?

The Honda Odyssey has the best reputation for lightly-used used minivans. However, for minivans approaching ten years old, shoppers may wish to consider the Toyota Sienna’s higher reliability ratings.

What is the most comfortable minivan?

Based on our testing, the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey tie for the most comfortable minivan. That includes seating comfort, ride comfort, and low noise levels. Also, they are both good minivans for wheelchair accessibility.