Every Minivan Is Cool And Here's The Proof

We tin now count each caller minivan models connected waste successful nan U.S. connected 1 manus — 2 if we are generous and relationship for each different powertrains. In fact, Volkswagen analyzable matters arsenic it paused accumulation of nan ID Buzz for nan 2026 exemplary year. The all-electric minivan will return for nan 2027 MY, but for now, you'll beryllium capable to bargain nan remaining 2025 MY retro minivans sitting connected trader lots. Yup, they didn't waste arsenic overmuch arsenic VW anticipated.

So, congratulations, SUVs, you won! Minivans are almost dormant successful nan U.S., truthful overmuch truthful that moreover nan mega-cool ID Buzz couldn't triumph complete buyers. Heck, only a fewer automakers are still competing successful nan minivan segment. And we deliberation it's a shame. Minivans are not only fantabulous group carriers, but they handily hit SUVs successful nan practicality department. They typically person much abstraction for passengers and cargo inside, amended spot configurability, and sliding doors that activity successful tight spaces. They are besides easier to get successful and retired of. Oh, and did we mention minivans are besides cheaper?

Sure, minivans can't scope outdoor places, but nan aforesaid tin beryllium said for galore crossover SUVs. Besides, immoderate minivans presently connected waste successful nan U.S. travel pinch raised suspensions and AWD for ray all-terrain capability. And that's conscionable 1 of nan cool features disposable connected nan existent harvest of family shuttles. The marketplace whitethorn beryllium dwindling, but automakers are still innovating to make minivans much attractive. In fact, we deliberation that each minivan is cool, and we'll beryllium it to you. Who knows, possibly we'll lend to nan resurgence of nan minivan successful nan U.S., aft it already won complete China!

The original Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus was a van, but that didn't extremity it from becoming nan astir influential group mover globally. The Microbus moreover became a awesome of nan counterculture, and you could reason it's besides nan van life marque ambassador.

So, VW wanted to seizure immoderate of that hippy magic pinch its latest electrical minivan, nan ID Buzz. Frankly, this amazed cipher — nan German automaker already did a akin point pinch nan New Beetle. Like nan egg-shaped two-door family car, nan ID Buzz is simply a wholly different conveyance conceptually. Still, it retains nan retro vibes we loved astir nan original, without looking outdated.

Yes, nan caller ID Buzz is electric, which comes pinch immoderate negatives. In particular, nan 234-mile (377 km) EPA-estimated scope for nan RWD exemplary doesn't precisely fresh nan van life lifestyle. The 86.0-kWh artillery is good for a smaller family vehicle, but intelligibly not capable for a minivan, truthful let's dream VW bumps nan capacity a spot for nan 2027 MY. A 300-mile scope and faster charging (right now it's 10% to 80% successful 26 minutes) would make nan ID Buzz a slayer electrical minivan, particularly astatine nan $61,545 guidelines value (including nan destination fee).

Inside, nan ID Buzz's compartment is genuinely cavernous, pinch ample room for up to 7 adults. Even pinch each seats successful place, nan ID Buzz tin accommodate 19-cubic-feet worthy of cargo. Fold each seats, and nan capacity rises to monolithic 146 cubic feet. Moreover, nan entry-level ID Buzz pinch a 282-horsepower, rear-mounted electrical centrifugal is peppy, while nan 335-hp, dual-motor AWD reaches 60 successful sports-car-like 6 seconds.

Instead of nan potent 3.5-liter V6 pinch 296 horsepower, nan 2021 Sienna went afloat hybrid pinch Toyota's 2.5-liter electrified powertrain pinch 243 hp. The eight-speed car was besides replaced by nan hybrid's e-CVT transmission.

So, yeah, Toyota said goodbye to velocity but besides hullo to efficiency – nan correct move for a family hauler. The latest 2026 Sienna moreover has a somewhat improved hybrid drivetrain pinch 245 hp and exceptional EPA-estimated substance system of up to 35 mpg combined. For comparison, nan aged exemplary was rated astatine conscionable 21 mpg combined, The 2026 Honda Odyssey? Only 22 mpg combined.

The standout feature, however, is nan AWD availability, conscionable for illustration successful nan predecessor. Only this time, Toyota implemented a rear electrical motor, alternatively of a prop shaft, reducing mechanical complexity and maximizing interior space. As a result, nan 2026 Sienna is very freely successful each 3 rows, pinch seating for up to 8 people. The 34-cubic-feet trunk capacity pinch each seats successful spot is besides outstanding, and location are galore cubbies scattered astir nan cabin. The vacuum cleaner, disposable connected precocious trims, is different useful addition. Alas, Sienna's second-row seats aren't removable, but nan Split & Stow third-row seats fold down easy to uncover a larger, level cargo area.

The physics AWD besides allowed Toyota to pull outdoorsy customers pinch the rugged Sienna Woodland Edition. With modular AWD and accrued crushed clearance, nan all-terrain exemplary is fresh to tackle ray off-roading. The 1,500-watt powerfulness outlet besides turns it into a awesome camper. However, astatine $53,095, nan Woodland Edition is overmuch much costly than nan guidelines $42,315 Sienna (destination fees included).

Don't fto nan 2 different names fool you — nan Voyager and Pacifica are mechanical twins. Yeah, they person a somewhat different appearance, but it's chiefly nan instrumentality levels that group them apart. The Voyager is an entry-level minivan, while nan Pacifica is much of an upmarket group hauler and tin beryllium optioned pinch AWD. Both stock nan aforesaid 3.6-liter V6 pinch 287 horsepower and a nine-speed auto. It's a potent engine, but pinch a 23-mpg mixed EPA rating, it isn't peculiarly efficient.

Still, nan coolest characteristic of nan Voyager/Pacifica is nan Stow 'N Go disappearing seats. Namely, nan second-row chairs successful Chrysler's minivans don't conscionable fold flat, but they shop neatly into nan floor. The full process takes little than a minute, and you are near pinch a low, level level for hauling bulky items. Fold down nan rearmost seats and you are near pinch moreover much level space.

Those are conscionable immoderate of nan reasons why we fell successful emotion pinch the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica aft driving it for 1,000 miles. It's a peculiarly roomy minivan, too. There is capable abstraction for adults successful each 3 rows and a useful 32-cubic-feet cargo capacity down nan 3rd row. Passengers will besides bask a quiet cabin, acknowledgment to nan cool progressive sound cancelling feature, which is besides modular successful nan Voyager.

The $43,390 Voyager (with destination fee) besides matches nan $46,385 Pacifica's (with destination fee) tech crippled pinch a 10.1-inch infotainment. Still, expect your kids to gravitate toward nan Pacifica, arsenic it tin beryllium optioned pinch nan rear-seat intermezo system, powered by Amazon Fire TV.

Unlike astir of its rivals, nan 2026 Honda Odyssey isn't disposable pinch AWD. It's a shame, because it's different awesome mechanically. With 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, nan 3.5-liter V6 is decently potent and pairs nicely to nan 10-speed automatic. According to Car and Driver, nan Odyssey sprints to 60 successful 6.4 seconds, truthful it's quicker than its rivals. The 22-mpg mixed standing is difficult to swallow, though. Here's hoping that nan Odyssey gets Honda's Next Generation Large-size Hybrid V6.

Still, Honda possesses a concealed condiment that sets it isolated from nan title — nan Magic Slide second-row seats. These conclusion nan intent of paying much for skipper chairs, arsenic you tin region 1 spot and person fundamentally nan aforesaid feature. Then, nan remaining 2 seats tin descent longitudinally and sideways. You tin push them person together to make ingress/egress for third-row passengers easier, aliases physically region your kids erstwhile they are successful fighting mode. All 3 seating rows are besides ace comfortable, making nan Honda Odyssey a superior roadworthy travel solution. The 33-cubic-feet cargo capacity pinch each seats successful spot is very competitive. Fold nan 2nd and 3rd row, and you are near pinch a flat, cavernous cargo area.

Unfortunately, nan 2026 Odyssey's onboard vacuum cleaner has been discontinued, which whitethorn make you much tense astir your kids' crumb grenade snacks. They whitethorn beryllium moreover little observant if you opt for nan rear-seat intermezo system, which features a 12.8-inch halfway surface connected nan ceiling. Of course, you tin ever reside them via Honda's CabinTalk PA system, which boosts your sound truthful they tin intelligibly perceive you. The 2026 Odyssey starts astatine $44,290 (including destination fees).

With its latest minivan, nan Carnival, Kia intelligibly wanted to pull nan crossover-SUV crowd. The Carnival looks much rugged than its rivals, and pinch a 6.8-inch crushed clearance, it besides approaches SUV territory. Unfortunately, Kia doesn't connection AWD successful immoderate of nan trims, which somewhat defeats nan purpose. But, travel on, galore group are happy driving their front-wheel-drive crossovers!

Still, nan numbers don't dishonesty — nan Carnival is much applicable than Kia's three-row crossover-SUVs. Back successful 2021, we tested nan pre-facelift Kia Carnival and liked it amended than nan Telluride, and we recovered that it uses nan disposable footprint much efficiently. It's much comfortable inside, pinch capable room for adults successful each row. The trunk is overmuch larger, excessively — pinch each seats successful place, nan 2026 Carnival tin accommodate 40 cubic feet worthy of cargo. Meanwhile, moreover nan latest 2027 Telluride is only bully for 22 cubic feet.

In fact, nan Carnival's trunk is nan largest successful nan category, but it comes astatine nan disbursal of third-row legroom. The Sienna, Pacifica, and Odyssey each person much freely 3rd rows. There is besides nary spot rearrangement sorcery — nary stowing for illustration successful nan Pacifica and nary lateral sliding for illustration successful nan Odyssey. Alas, astatine $38,935 (with destination fees), nan Carnival is nan cheapest minivan successful nan U.S. and tin beryllium optioned pinch nan longitudinally-sliding Slide-Flex second-row seats.

Kia's applicable shuttle is propelled by a 3.5-liter V6 pinch 287 horsepower, mated to an eight-speed auto. It's a potent combo, bringing nan Carnival to 60 successful conscionable 7.0 seconds, according to Car and Driver. However, it's besides thirsty, pinch a 22-mpg mixed EPA rating.

Compared to nan regular state model, nan 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid is simply a crippled of springiness and take. At $42,935 (including destination fees), nan hybrid is much expensive, while besides being little powerful. It packs a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 74-horsepower electrical motor, paired to a six-speed auto. The mixed output is 242 hp. According to Car and Driver, nan Carnival Hybrid sprints to 60 successful 7.8 seconds.

Still, nan metallic lining is that nan hybrid is measurement much businesslike without sacrificing interior abstraction and practicality. It's EPA-rated astatine 32 mpg combined, while offering nan aforesaid cargo capacity and rider comfort. Moreover, nan guidelines Carnival tin accommodate up to 7 people, while nan Carnival Hybrid is rated for eight. The Slide-Flex seats are besides modular only connected nan hybrid. Both travel arsenic modular pinch 12.3-inch halfway infotainment, though.

But does nan Carnival Hybrid person what it takes to situation Sienna's hybrid dominance? Toyota's electrified minivan is somewhat cheaper and a mini spot much powerful. Car and Driver measured a 0-to-60 clip of 7.5 seconds successful nan Toyota, truthful nan Sienna is quicker, too. What's more, nan Sienna is EPA-rated astatine 35 mpg combined, and it tin beryllium optioned pinch AWD. Yes, it comes pinch an e-CVT transmission, but it still wins nan number game.

Still, nan Carnival Hybrid is amended equipped. The guidelines Sienna only comes pinch an 8.0-inch halfway touchscreen and nary heated seats. The Carnival Hybrid besides comes pinch modular parking sensors, which are optional connected nan Sienna. That said, only Toyota's minivan has an optional vacuum cleaner.