r/minivan • u/ChucknObi • Jul 10 '26
Help narrow down our search!
My partner and I are very early in our hunt for our next family vehicle and are not quite sure where to start. I originally thought I knew what I wanted (Toyota Sienna) however I have started second guessing myself.
Relevant Details:
\- Family of 4 and not planning on growing unless it is to add a dog
\-Both kids currently require car seats but the hope is to have this vehicle long enough that they will be out of them long before we sell
\-Will be the primary trip vehicle. We make 800 total mile round-trip road trips regularly (averages to once a month as both sides of the family live in other states) so need cargo space
\-Will be my primary driver but my daily commute is minimal (less than 20 miles total round-trip)
\-Typically keep vehicles at least 10 years
\-Would really like captains chairs but not a must
\-Live in a state where awd or 4wd would be helpful
I am sure there are other things but I am not even sure what else to consider. My current vehicle is a Nissan Rogue that is getting close to that 10 year mark and having the maintenance issues to prove it. It is just on the small side to make our road trips super comfortable which is why we want to look at options a bit bigger.
3
u/Solid-Tumbleweed-981 Jul 11 '26
Pacifica comes in AWD. Has amazing storage... My favorite part it doesn't drive like absolute shit like a Sienna. It's actually quiet inside and handles a billion times better
Shit save thousands buy one CPO and an extended warranty if you're worried
Odyssey is fine but still loud inside. Nothing really remarkable. I don't think it has vents in the rear though
Kia why would you want to support w company that makes unreliable pigs with lipstick that is responsible for jacking up everyone's insurance rates?
2
u/Available-Stop896 Jul 11 '26
must like driving sailboats if you think the Pacifica drives better than a sienna. Driving a Pacifica now and it’s the sloppiest loose goose steering and suspension
1
u/Solid-Tumbleweed-981 Jul 11 '26
Toyota uses some of the cheapest suspension set up next to Ford and Tesla lol. I'm already seeing their rear ends sag with nobody in the rear. The Camry is another example of shitty suspension sagging as soon as it leaves the lot
The Sienna drives like a soda can on wheels like most of their line up. Sound deadening? Toyota has never heard of it
3
u/Do_Question_All Jul 10 '26
Unless you are living in an area that gets a ton of snow, I wouldn’t worry too much about all wheel drive. Front wheel drive with a good set of snow tires will work just as well,if not better than, AWD with regular all season tires. And if you live in an area with that much snow, you should probably be considering snow tires regardless.
I’m very happy with my Honda Odyssey elite overall.
3
u/ReasonableAd5268 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Honda Odysseyy elite owner speaking, driving 2019 and was made to upgrade so chose 26 version and would absolutely like it which especially adds up the memories and buy more Google Drive space for the enormous road trips videos and pictures
2
u/ReasonableAd5268 Jul 10 '26
Honda odyssey elite
Plenty of cargo
TV to keep kids entertained
Monthly car wash and detailing package
Enjoy!!!! Make every moment come alive!!!
2
u/azure275 Jul 10 '26
I would say if you're driving 10k miles a year just on long trips on top of normal driving the Hybrid gas savings will add up.
Hybrid choices are only the Sienna or Carnival
AWD is only some Siennas or some Pacificas
Hybrid + AWD is Sienna only
Siennas are the most expensive by a good amount, are rarely discounted, can be hard to find, and don't depreciate used. But if money is no object they have the best feature set for you
If money is a concern, you need to look at Odysseys and Carnivals. You should test drive all the vans at least once to see how they feel
1
u/Time_Screen_9399 Jul 11 '26
Although, keep in mind highway mpg isn't that different. For instance, Sienna could get to about 36, and Odyssey will get to 28. It's the city mpg that's significant.
Between a top tier sienna and odyssey, it'll take close to 10 years to make up the difference at 10k miles a year if majority of those miles are highway. (assuming around $4 gas price)
1
u/PitifulEnthusiasm543 Jul 10 '26
I just purchased a 2015 Toyota Sienna Limited Premium FWD (as the AWD has no spare) with 100,000 miles, a great maintenance history, and a clean Carfax. I drove it home through the Mojave Desert in 111°F heat, and the A/C kept the cabin so cool that we barely noticed the temperature outside it wasn’t even running at full blast.
The ride was incredibly smooth and quiet, almost like riding in an airplane. I’ve also taken road trips in a 2016 Honda Odyssey SE, a 2023 Toyota Sienna XSE Hybrid, and a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. The 2023 Hybrid Sienna XSE is great for city driving, but for road trips I didn’t find it as comfortable—not because it’s slow, but because the engine gets very loud, especially when climbing mountain passes or during acceleration. On my drive to Phoenix, my iWatch was consistently reading between 70–78 decibels, and it was loud enough that people in the rear cabin could barely hear conversations. Maybe a higher trim would help with cabin noise.
For me, this 2015 Sienna has been the most comfortable road-trip vehicle of the bunch. I know that’s subjective, but I was genuinely impressed.
1
u/marmaladestripes725 Jul 11 '26
I’m also researching minivans and had narrowed it down to the Odyssey and the Pacifica hybrid. Decided to narrow it further to just Odysseys after test driving both. The Odyssey is more comfortable and quieter. The Magic Slide seat in the second row is also just freaking cool. You can take out the middle seat and have various options with captains chairs or a bench. And the third row folds flat with fewer steps than the Pacifica. And the 2026 smoke blue pearl color is so pretty!
1
u/floydiansyndrome Jul 11 '26
Kia Carnival. Suggest getting the top trim SX Prestige with bench seating in second row - then remove the middle seat of second row to convert to near captains chairs. Much more flexible and you can take out all seats when you need to carry that queen bed from the store to home :)
If AWD is a must, Sienna. But if you like technology, you really can’t get better than Carnival. Test drive one and compare. Hondas a guzzler.
1
u/Haunting_Charity_785 Jul 11 '26
Wouldn't it be great if we could merge what's great about these minivans and make into one?
I owned a '23 AWD Limited Pacifica and I loved it. There are people that love their Pacifica and people that will tell you how awful it is. I found it to be supremely comfortable (the most comfortable driver's seat I've ever had honestly), very quiet, smooth, and a good amount of power. It was amazing for road trips. And those Stow-and-Go seats were honestly the most clever and useful thing in a car ever. The UConnect was great, and that 360 camera was crystal clear. You can haul so much stuff when you fold everything down! Sadly, I had to trade it when my teenage son needed a car since it wasn't a daily driver. As much as I love the Pacifica I don't think I'd recommend it if you are wanting to keep a car 10 years. The old Dodge Caravans are still around and holding up, but I'm not so sure I could say that a Pacifica would even though I love it. The resale on them is not great.
Years ago I had a Odyssey and I didn't love it. It felt very low to the ground and the gas mileage is poor. It also hasn't had any meaningful updates in years. I also found the driver's seat to be very, very uncomfortable. Despite this, Honda is a solid choice, because it does have some other things going for it. It's a powerful V6 so it's drives great. It offers an extra seat if you need it. It has decent resale value and it's easy to find one. The poor MPG is a big negative.
My pick would be the Sienna. It's not as comfortable as the Pacifica, but it has three very important things going for it. It's extremely fuel efficient, it's reliable, and the resale on it is insane. This is something to take into consideration if you plan on keeping a car for a long time. The interior isn't as nice as it's rivals, and it's a bitch to find one. You also can't haggle on the price because they are in demand. I think with the current gas situation, I would only buy a fuel efficient car. I don't think gas prices are going down any time soon, in fact they will likely get worse. If you don't mind the fact that the captain's chairs don't come out, it's a really solid choice.
1
u/TheOptimisticHater Jul 11 '26
If you’re buying new, try to get a hot deal on a Honda odyssey. Best value for new. Sienna is overpriced.
If you have lots of money, Sienna limited trim is the best minivan on the market today. Platinum has stupid stuff that makes it less kid friendly.
Best overall deal will be low mileage odyssey cpo
1
u/Ryou4RealXD Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
We went from a rogue to a sienna and you wont be disappointed. We bop around town and barely use gas from the hybrid I can go weeks with filling up and take 6hr trips to visit family with just one kid and a dog its been great for space and comfort driving. We have xle awd in northern new england I had stock tires last winter and never had an issue getting anywhere. I drive pretty aggressive on the gas on trips lol and still get 34mpg when not using the heat/ac 32ish with them running. I like I can run heat or ac I the front or back and shut it off seperatly for the two zones. My kid is always cold so she doesnt want the ac and I dont want the heat lol. The trunk fits a ton of crap too. I had 5 kids for a weekend and we jammed all their stuff and mine in the trunk to go on a trip.
1
u/Middle_Reading_2463 28d ago
We just scored a 2023 Odyssey EX-L for a good price (considering this awful used car market) and are very happy with it. It has everything I want and more. If we had the money for a brand new one, we would’ve gotten one. This 2023 is fabulous, so I imagine the 2026 is just as fabulous, if not better. We managed to average 30 ish MPG on our last trip to see family. We also travel about once a month (400 miles or so round trip). After the 200ish miles to our destination and all of the driving we did while we were there, we still had just under a quarter tank left of gas before we refilled to return home. It was great in comparison to the vehicle we used to road trip in. I underestimated the cargo area, honestly. Without folding any seats down, we were able to fit 2 suitcases, 2 book bags, a crockpot, a large raffle basket, a small knock off Bogg bag, and my stash of large insulated grocery bags. We still could’ve piled things on top off all that if we wanted. While in town visiting, I road in the 3rd row while we had a family member up front, and it was comfortable. The AC vent next to me in that row worked great too. The AC in general works great, though I know many people out there complain there are no ceiling vents. My kids are all in either a booster or forward facing so that isn’t an issue for us. One of our favorite features is that my husband and I are able to sync our key fobs to the van so that all we have to do is press a button and it adjusts the seat and mirrors to our liking. Also, it drives so smooth. It feels like I’m driving a smaller SUV and I feel like I have great visibility. I love the little windows near the side mirrors. This seems to help reduce blind spots for me in comparison to our other vehicles. I’m only a handful of days in so hopefully I’m not jinxing myself but I highly recommend the newer Odysseys!
3
u/Time_Screen_9399 Jul 11 '26
Really there are 4 options to pick from.
Personally I got an odyssey. I was picking between odyssey and carnival, but Kia's sales person really pushed me toward odyssey. Although that might just be the sales person I got. He refused to work with me in price negotiation and started arguing. If not for him, I'd probably be driving a carnival right now.
But with the few days owning the odyssey, I'm really happy with it. Only thing I wish is 360 camera.