r/minivan

I love my truck. 2019 ram 1500. It’s awesome but the gas milage is like 16-20mpg and my commute is about to go from 20 min to 45-55 min. It’s also at 90k miles.

I think a swap to a minivan could work for me. Still have a lot of storage space, the hybrids get way better gas mileage, I can drive my friends and family around, the newer ones have adaptive cruise control.

Is this the right call? What is the best minivan for reliability, ACC/ lane assist, and MPG? I plan on getting a hitch too so I can tow a lawnmower or my Grom if needed. Am I overlooking something? Siennas so seem pretty expensive is the only downside I see.

Edit: said 2 instead of 20 mpg lol

im considering selling my 2023 4runner and buying either an odyssey or a sienna, with a budget under $20k. i will likely be doing any maintenance myself. i see how reliable the siennas are but am wondering if there really is a huge difference in reliablity with odysseys since im able to find a lot of newer odysseys in my budget. it will be used as a daily, for work, camping, fishing, and my larger dogs transportation.

I’m looking to buy a van all cash and have $50k to work with (I can make more work but really don’t want to)

Biggest factors include: 1) reliability since I will drive this thing into the ground (plan to keep for 20 years). 2) versatility for seating, storage, and hauling stuff. 3) safety features

I live in a climate where winters are cold with the occasional snow storms (last year we got about 13 inches of snow) and summers are blistering hot and humid (probably more of a concern than winters)

We drive around 5k to 10k a year but I’m currently 100% remote which could change how much mileage I’ll rack up.

I would prefer new since the used market feels over valued, but open if people think there’s value there.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Looking for some advice. I've had 2 Pacificas. An 18 and a 21. Wife wrecked hers and looking to get another. Three carnival is such a newer van and was curious how your experiences have been with it. Looking at 2025 Pacificas in the mid $30k range, limited really because my wife is kinda Boujee.

Hello! I’m thinking about buying a ‘24 Carnival. What do you like or dislike about your ‘24?? Any big issues yet?

I’m in search of a minivan for a family of 5 which occasionally extends to 7 when family from home country visits Japan. Searching thru carsensor , Goonet leads me to 2011-14 models of Voxy, Serena and Stepwagn with an avg mileage of 120000 to 150000 km , Stepwagn and Serena might come with 1 or 2 year shaken. I searched regarding Serena and understood it had serious CVT issues. Anyone has experience driving these cars can share your experience and advice.

I’m curious what people realistically think the timeline is for mainstream plug-in hybrid or fully electric minivans in the US market.

Right now it feels like minivan buyers get left behind when it comes to newer drivetrains and tech, even though minivans are arguably one of the most practical vehicle types for families.

The current options seem limited:
- Toyota Sienna is hybrid-only
- Kia Carnival just got a hybrid
- Honda Odyssey is still gas-only
- Chrysler Pacifica PHEV pulled (and poor reputation for reliability anyways)
- VW ID. Buzz is/was interesting but very expensive and honestly not for everyone stylistically

Do people think by around 2028–2029 we’ll start seeing:
- Toyota Sienna Prime / PHEV
- Kia Carnival PHEV or EV

Or do manufacturers just think the minivan market is too small to prioritize? They can basically charge what they want and give technology that’s a decade old.

Hi all, we test drove both the sienna and carnival today. The carnival felt better in the drive, noise, we love the 8th seat that folds down into a table. But loved the Sienna‘s center console and front storage and that it can be AWD. I‘m truly torn. any advice either way?

Test drove a 23 Carnival SX Prestige and a 24 Odyssey Elite yesterday. Will be moving from a 23 Toyota Highlander xle fwd. There were things I liked about both and things I disliked about both. Up front: I have zero desire for a hybrid, so siennas are not on the table and I don’t like the look of the Pacifica nor its rep.

Questions for those who drive them…

1. on the Odyssey- is the driver arm rest moveable? It sat about 2-3 inches too high for where my arm bends/rests, and during the test drive, that was uncomfortable for me.
2. for the tall folks… im just shy of 6’, husband is 6’2. Any issues with either van for those of you who are tall and have tall kids?
3. camping … we love to camp, have you used yours for hauling camping gear (not talking camping in the vehicle.
4. AC… I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the AC in the Odyssey, it seemed strong when trying it yesterday, but very loud and for my rear facing youngest, I could see that being an issue for the next year maybe until she can forward face. Experiences with this? And AC issues with the Carnival?

Thanks for your thoughts folks!

I got a Sienna and I'm absolutely thrilled to have 46 cup holders! Unfortunately there is nowhere to put something larger than a 3" vertical cylinder. Want to put a wet folding umbrella in the lower door compartment? Sorry, there's dividers so you can securely hold 3 cups and nothing else ever. There's 4 cup holders on the center console, two of them under a little hatch with a pushbutton, is that to keep my espresso demitasse piping hot? And with all these cup holders, Toyota didn't even think to give us a single piss jug holder... OK, thanks for listening.

Tell me the best minivan for your money and why!

Note: I don’t care about rear entertainment screens.

Hi all.

I am moving from the UK to the US later this year. In the UK I have a Ford S-Max (same wheelbase as the Galaxy) which allows me to fit three kids (8, 6 and 3) across the second row. Youngest is in an infant seat, middle is in a high-backed booster with a harness, and oldest is in the middle seat using the seatbelt he buckles himself.

I am struggling to reliably identify used cars that would replicate this set-up—not only fitting three across, but also ensuring the oldest has enough room to reach and buckle his own belt.

I initially looked at the Odyssey, but the middle seat on that looks pretty narrow and I'd like to avoid putting a child in the third row. I've considered the VW Atlas, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90, though the latter would be tight unless it had the integrated booster. The Telluride & Palisade seem worth considering. But it seems that by far the widest second row is in the Kia Carnival, especially measured by hip room. Is that right?

I'd appreciate advice on this, since I can't see or test many of these cars in the UK for myself. Am I overestimating the middle-row width that I need, given that these cars are mostly wider than my S-Max? I'd like to spend under $40,000, though I appreciate the hybrid XC90s are mostly a little higher than that.

Thanks in advance.

Man, I’ve reached the point in life where I genuinely want a minivan.

I want to haul lumber, grab random roadside treasures, load up the family for road trips, and still have room for Menards runs.

Trying to decide between:
2017 Toyota Sienna AWD 19k, 186k miles, service records.
2015 Dodge Grand Caravan 13k, 84k miles, tons of service records

The Sienna seems like the smarter long-term van, but the mileage is pretty high for the price. The Caravan has way lower miles and good maintenance history, but I know the reputation isn’t as strong.
What would you pick and why? Anyone owned either of these long term?”

16 years with dodge grand caravan. Initially I used a lot when kids were babies & had only 1 van for commute. Then I bought 2nd but this time I have sedan too. So now I am only one who is using it for work commute which is only 7 min away.2016 model & have only 67600 kms on it. Max i used once for a road trip of 5000kms.

I want to sell it. But my wife says we will need it when our daughter will go to university for hauling things and so on. I am confused. Coz van is in mint condition & definitely will get good pay back.

Any one with same situation?