Best Minivans for 2024

Toyota’s Sienna has long been a favorite of families who wanted an all-wheel-drive minivan, but its appeal goes deeper than that one feature. The Sienna changes in very important ways for 2021 that make it hard to pass up for those seeking the best cost of ownership in this segment.

The Toyota Sienna entered a new generation in 2021 with big changes. The most important is that all Sienna vans now come with a powerful and fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. Over the life of the Sienna, it will return a projected $14,000 in fuel savings to its owner compared to a Honda Odyssey. Toyota also includes two years of maintenance in the cost of the vehicle. The combination of these two factors makes its ownership cost best in class. We’ve driven the new and prior-generation Sienna, and they feel the same to us. The outgoing V6 was a smidge smoother, but the 243 horsepower hybrid engine in the Sienna performs its function without any drama. The current Sienna can still tow 3,500 pounds. It’s hard to deny the Sienna’s hybrid drivetrain makes this van unique within the minivan category. In addition to the hybrid engine there’s an available all-wheel-drive system, giving the Sienna all-weather confidence. No other van offers a green powertrain combined with all-wheel drive. The Pacifica makes you choose one or the other.  Shoppers will find the older Siennas were very reliable, and it was sold in large numbers so finding a good used one shouldn't be difficult.

Shoppers seeking an alternative to the Honda Odyssey may find it in the Kia Sedona. The Sedona is a modern minivan with a satisfying luxurious ride in its top trims.

The Kia Sedona is a van we remember from past testing as being satisfying to drive and offering a plush interior. Kia replaced the 2021 Sedona with a new model called the Kia Carnival. This could create some overlap on dealer lots and offer Sedona shoppers a bargain price point for new leftover Sedonas.  The outgoing Sedona is a modern minivan. It has up-to-date infotainment and all the handy features that owners expect in a van. We like the the 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty for the original owners. If you like the Honda Odyssey but are looking for value and a lower price, cross-shop the Sedona to see if it fits the bill.

The Honda Odyssey is one of America’s most popular minivans and a top seller in the Honda line. Now in its fifth generation, the Odyssey is known as a reliable, comfortable family vehicle.

The Odyssey is a favorite of many families, but Honda fans love it for its familiar, confident driving dynamics and overall Honda vibe. We recently tested the Odyssey on a family road trip and found the van to drive smaller than its size. It feels like a large, agile sedan on the open road and is an enjoyable vehicle to drive. All Honda utility vehicles have excellent packaging, and the Odyssey is no exception. The Magic Slide second-row seats allow for multiple configurations and make entry easy for all passengers, and the hands-free tailgate lift feature is a real convenience to parents with their hands full. Honda offers five trim levels of the Odyssey, and prices start at a very affordable $33K. The last big update to the Odyssey was in 2018 and included an update to the touchscreen infotainment system. Used Odyssey shoppers should look carefully at the year they are considering. Some Odysseys from the mid-2000s had a defective transmission that required replacement. Many of these were replaced by Honda, free of charge, but the timeframe for those claims is over and future transmission problems will be at the owner’s expense. Seek documentation for completed transmission work on any pre-2010 Odyssey you're considering. Aside from that, the Odyssey has proven very reliable and scores the highest overall on our list.

The Dodge Grand Caravan was the Dodge version of the Chrysler Town and Country. Both vehicles shared nearly all aspects of their construction.

The Dodge Grand Caravan was the original minivan. Its final fifth generation started in 2008 and lasted 12 years. Discontinued in 2020, the Dodge Grand Caravan has been replaced by the Chrysler Pacifica.  The Grand Caravan was a staple of fleets like rental car companies. This has created a large number of used vans available for purchase at an attractively low price point. The van never earned high scores in IIHS crash testing. Nor did any model produced have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

The Chrysler Pacifica was a large crossover SUV during the 2000s before Chrysler brought it back as a minivan. Our coverage here is dedicated to the minivan that started production in 2016 as a 2017 and later model year vehicle.

The Chrysler Pacifica is today’s minivan sales leader in America. One reason is the wide range of prices, which receive heavy discounting from Chrysler. Another is that the van offers both all-wheel drive or a plug-in hybrid-electric powertrain option. The hybrid-electric is only available with front-wheel-drive. Unlike the four-cylinder Sienna, a V6 is standard on all models, even the hybrid version.  The Pacifica‘s PHEV powertrain offers up to 32 miles of all-electric range, more than enough for most commutes. The EPA rates the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid at 82 MPGe. Opting for the PHEV version will save the owner $900 per year on fuel costs. Over the life of the vehicle, this could add up to over $18,000 in ownership cost savings.  The Pacifica also offers a traditional all-wheel-drive system that can deliver up to 100% of its power to either the front or rear wheels, based on available traction. The Pacifica has just undergone a major refresh for the 2021 model year.

Kia changed its minivan name, and substantially upped its game, when it introduced the stylish and feature-laded Kia Carnival.

The Kia Carnival is arguably the most aggressive minivan you can buy. By aggressive we mean everything from its attractive, SUV-like exterior styling to its long list of family-friendly features, many of which come standard on the base LX trim.Kia clearly understands what minivan owners want, and they’ve engineered the Carnival to press all the right buyer buttons. Between its massive interior space, powerful engine, extensive list of safety technology, and standard infotainment features the Carnival is among the most compelling models in this category. And don’t forget that 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. If you’re seeking a full-featured, highly-functional minivan you should give the Carnival a look.