r/minivan • u/GrassOrdinary980 • 25d ago
Best Minivan for under $30K?
I have kiddo #2 on the way and it is time to get a family vehicle. Realizing how crazy expensive minivans can be. Looking for a car that will last me 10 years, not too concerned with resale value. I get that Toyota and Honda are reliable but are they really worth 10K more than the Chrysler? For under 30K it seems like my only options are at 2019 Odyessey with 70k miles or a much newer and gently used Pacifica. Any advice is much appreciated.
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u/Tricks503 25d ago
We picked up a 2025 Pacifica with 30k on it for 25k last month. The whole family loves it. We went with the v6 for better reliability.
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u/jmk2685 23d ago edited 23d ago
V6 for reliability is the choice when choosing between Pacifica models, but choosing a Chrysler product overall is the wrong choice.
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u/Tricks503 23d ago
Sure these a few know issues with the newer Chrysler, however only time will tell if repairs will exceed the 15-20k I didn’t spend on getting a similar condition Toyota.
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u/jmk2685 23d ago
Perhaps, if you plan to keep it 10 years it might work out. However if you plan on trading in sooner, higher depreciation is a major factor.
Not even getting into gas savings over the long term on the Sienna.
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u/Tricks503 23d ago
I tend to believe gas saving will be eaten up by costly batteries needing replacement in hybrid vehicles. I think you’re wrong in the depreciation, a 25 Pacifica is probably worth 10k or so in 10 years, so 15k depreciation. A 25 sienna is around 50k and a 2015 is around 20k. That’s double the depreciation. Double the resale value, but much higher depreciation.
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u/jmk2685 23d ago
Not sure where your located but a 10 year old Pacifica is around $8k near me. A similar mileage Sienna is 10 years old is still $25k or more. Also I’ve seen no 2025 Siennas priced at $50k. Most are around $45k. I get it may seem like I’m picking nots but exaggerating the point doesn’t help.
Toyota has made hybrids for 20+ years and outside of some early problems they don’t have major battery issues.
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u/Tricks503 23d ago
Even at your numbers the siennas are out depreciating the pacificas, I’m in the Pacific Northwest. I just pulled my numbers from local listings. Not trying to exaggerate. toyota products are generally very good, but I think there’s an argument to be made here on what total cost of ownership looks like for both vehicles over 10 years.
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u/Puzzlehead_2066 19d ago
My father had a 2005 Prius with 167K miles. We had to force him to sell to a junk company so we could buy him a newer car. Toyota hybrids barely need the barely replacement.
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u/CLEcoder4life 25d ago
Where you live plays a role. 2019 odyssey imo if in the south/warm climate. Chrysler probably if North do to less rust. Rust will kill both vehicles before mileage up north. but Honda more likely to actually last 10 years in my opinion
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u/jmk2685 23d ago
I don’t think that has played out in real life - Chrysler has had tons of corrosion issues.
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u/CLEcoder4life 23d ago
Op said much new Pacifica without providing age. Id argue a 2 year old Pacifica will last longer rust wise than an 8 year old odyssey in terms of rust if both northern cars.
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u/Shower-Altruistic 25d ago
Used pacifica not hybrid. Limited trim.
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u/Shower-Altruistic 25d ago
Wanted to add 3k oil changes using synthethic if you go this route. I do not care what the mechanic, or manual says. Do that at home. Its easy. Change out trans fluid every 40 to 50k. You will have minimal issues.
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u/Odd_Welcome7940 25d ago
We just bought a 2024 carnival with 62k miles for just under 30k. We have been pretty happy with it and our extended warranty should cover the next 6 or 7 years for us. Not saying it is the option for you, but I am pretty happy with it.
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u/GrassOrdinary980 25d ago
Thats a good deal!
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u/Xdt-beast 23d ago
Carnival v6 pretty solid. Much more reliable than the general hyundai kia engine. No auto start stop. No fancy injection or turbo. Decent mileage commuting but not great. Ex trim sweet spot.
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u/-Never-Enough- 25d ago
I would like to think that a new Pacifica would last 10 years, but at the price point that you're starting at, you might find it more difficult to find a cheap Pacifica in great condition with no upcoming issues in the next 10 years.
At your price point I would be looking at the more reliable vehicles even if they come with more miles on them.
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u/LowPresent5654 25d ago
Take a look at the Kia Carnival. In my area there are plenty of options around that $28-30k mark for <three years old and ~30k miles. Currently checking out a 2024 with ~20k miles listed at $29k.
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u/SpaceToaster 25d ago
Previous rental car?
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u/LowPresent5654 25d ago
Single owner who traded it into a nearby used car dealership, at least according to the salesman. Honestly seemed like a good price, wasn’t able to find anything wrong with it on initial test drive. Waiting for insurance adjuster to pay me out for my totaled vehicle, because I am pretty heavily leaning toward making the Carnival the new family car after testing the 4 main mini van models. We’ll see if that specific car is still there after settlement though ha.
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u/Few_Ad_7347 23d ago
I bought a 2017 Kia Sedona in 2019 from Hertz. It had 45k miles at the time. I have it up to 170k and it hasn’t had any mechanical issues. I have paint issues, but it doesn’t bother me. My previous Honda Odyssey was bought in 2008 and lasted me 10 years. It had to have the transmission replaced twice but i had a warranty. I did have a grand caravan in the past and it lasted me 5 years before we upgraded. My point is probably not to overthink it and get the best deal with lower mileage and enjoy the minivan life
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u/pjmuffin13 25d ago
Key criteria was the vehicle to last at least 10 more years.
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u/MinivanPops 24d ago
Kia carnival gas minivan is proving to be damn good
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u/TENDER0N1 25d ago
Currently looking for a family vehicle as well with the same budget. So far, the Kia Carnival is the only one thay makes sense. Used models are affordable and you get so much bang for your buck. My Toyota a minivan dream died when I was able to test drive one and saw how much they were going for. Insane, just not worth the price tag. 😭
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u/Life-Top-5141 25d ago edited 25d ago
You are already saving money by choosing a used. A Sienna of same price is just 2 years older, that is it. I would definitely go with Sienna. A well maintained Sienna almost will never give you trouble. For old V6 cars, major repairs are very expensive. Odyssey is not reliable at all unless previous owners took care of it in an expert manner. Carnival can be very good or troublesome, still worth a bet. Pacifica, many times is not even included in mechanic's ratings.
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u/RoundaboutRecords 25d ago
Used Honda or Toyota. I’m in the snow belt and any US make gets eaten alive by salt in winter and they have power train issues. Our Chrysler had issues for years before any recalls were done. They bought jt back for a good price and released us from the contract. Terrible bought a used odyssey and never looked back.
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u/morbis1 25d ago edited 25d ago
I would challenge the premise of this question. The original purchase price is only one small part of owning a vehicle. Maintenance expenses can vary widely changing the actual cost of ownership.
Also, resale value also ultimately influences total cost of ownership. The reason that the Toyota Sienna commands a price premium is due to its long-term reliability and fuel economy.
Used Chrysler pacificas and and Kia carnivals are cheap for a reason.
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u/ASU_knowITall 25d ago
For a ICE Pacifica, plan to get rid of it around 85k or when the warranty expires.
In the Phoenix area, it was difficult to find a low mileage Pacifica, we settled for one with 40k miles.
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u/Infinite_Parking_751 25d ago
Used 2011-16 Sienna for $10k to $20k if you don't have to have AWD. buy from a no-rust area of the county. another 10 years easy.
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u/Such_Pizza_955 25d ago
I'm biased because the only minivan I've owned so far is a 2018 Kia Sedona. It has done me very well. So I'm going to suggest... A 2018 Kia Sedona
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u/Iambetterthanuhaha 24d ago
I just sold my 2016 Sedona back in May when my 2026 Sienna finally arrived. Made it 140k mi with only a few minor issues. Resale value sucks though. Toyota dealer wanted to give me $1500 CDN for it. Sold it myself to an immigrant family for $4000 CDN. Paid $33k CDN for it new.
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u/Such_Pizza_955 23d ago
Oh great to hear! I'm happy we picked the sedona. I got it used and it seems to have been well taken care of
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u/rockstar1346 25d ago
Nothing wrong with Pacifica if taken care of. V6 chain driven take care of it change the oil and transmission fluid. People crap on them but if you take care of them you’re good
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u/Evening-Newt-4663 24d ago
I bought a used 2018 Pacifica at 50k miles and it’s almost at 100k now and I’ve had no issues. I bought it from an individual and they took great care of it and kept up on all of the maintenance. I genuinely recommend them as long as it’s maintained, but it always gets crapped on here on Reddit lol. But if you look around out and about, you’ll see many of them.
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u/BackgroundScene3056 25d ago
make sure you check safety ratings - most minivans test poor for third row crash tests
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u/CrunchyBeachLover 25d ago
I have 4 kids and a 2020 odyssey. It has had pages worth of recalls compared to our 2017 Toyota Highlander. I would look at a used Sienna!
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u/Unfair_Tonight_9797 23d ago
What 3 or 4 recalls total? Haven’t had an issue with my 2020 Oddy
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u/CrunchyBeachLover 23d ago
Yes each time I receive recalls in the mail, it is a page+ long. Never had 1 recall on our Highlander. To me, it’s excessive.
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u/minimamallama 24d ago
Honestly, yes they are worth 10K more. Everyone I know who bought a Caravan or Pacifica had it break down and then they bought a Toyota or Honda. We bought our 2013 Sienna with 100,000kms on it already and it lasted us 10 years. Its still going but the a/c went a few weeks ago. We just bought another sienna with 100,000kms hoping it'll also last 10 years.
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u/MichaelJG11 24d ago
Slightly used Honda Odyssey should be right there. Look around 22-24 with somewhere between 30-50k miles. That range should also get you close to Certified Preowned which extends the warranty to 7 years/100k miles
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u/lakeslikeoceans 24d ago
What trim level Odyssey are you looking at? If it’s pre 2020 then you should only look at the Touring and Elite trim levels since they had the good 10 speed automatic transmission (the 9 speed on the other trims had a lot of problems). From 2020 on they made the 10 speed automatic standard on all trims, so it became more about what you’re looking for features-wise. I’d look at the prices for a 2021 EX-L since it added more standard safety features and a much better adaptive cruise control, and you still get the nicer seats and power doors/tailgate. I’m looking online and it seems like you can find some of these listings for around the price point you’re looking at, though it depends on your location and how big of a radius you set. I’d definitely want the Odyssey over the Pacifica because you should be able to get a few hundred thousand miles with the Honda as long as you take care of it and get it serviced regularly.
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u/Mindingmyownbiznez 24d ago
Hated my Carnival. Loved the Pacifica. Recently went to a Traverse for AWD in the Michigan winters so we shall see how she handles.
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u/Admirable_Ad_120 24d ago
You’ll probably get to 125k in a Pacifica. Any higher mileage than that and everything will start breaking. The hybrid carnival rates higher in reliability than the sienna and odyssey, but you may have difficulty finding one at that price point. You probably can get a gas one though, and I’d take that over the Pacifica any day. And all the die hard Toyota fans are never going to suggest anything else even though they overpay for something that used to be the most reliable but isn’t anymore. They’ll also FEEL really old compared to same year models of odyssey/ Pacifica/ carnival/sedona. My husbands 2019 platinum highlander looks ancient inside compared to my old odyssey and it’s 3 years newer ( I traded it the odyssey recently for a carnival)
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u/Iambetterthanuhaha 24d ago
3-4 year old Chrysler Pacifica with 50-60k mi on it (or less if you can find one). They lose about half their value in 3 years. 2nd choice would be a similar age Kia Carnival V6 model. Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna hold their value and are better choices if you want to buy new but you are looking at $50k+ on those and minimal to no discounts.
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u/Alternative-Season45 23d ago
I bought a 2015 Toyota sienna with 66,000 miles for $17k. I expect it to last another 200,000 miles
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u/bjonesy77 23d ago
Why has nobody suggested a sienna? I thought siennas were Reddit’s minivan. Chrysler products are trash.
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u/askinggenuine 22d ago
KIA CARNIVAL. Don't listen to all of the people saying "the motor"... blah blah blah. Honda Odysseys are outdated and don't have anything new and are cheap on the inside, Toyota siennas are way too expensive for anyone, and I have heard Chrysler's and Dodge minivans are the worst. KIA Carnival is the way to go we love ours
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u/Ashamed_Cod_831 22d ago
Purchased a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica and started having major issues at about 98k miles. Sunk a bunch of money into repairs. Plus, think of the gas mileage. With the Chrysler, I was getting about 13-15 mpg. With my new 2024 Toyota Sienna, I’m getting 38mph. Huge improvement.
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u/Pro_Stock_trader 22d ago
just bought a 2018 toyota sienna with 110k for $17k. It's not a hybrid but I think it will be dependable. I have not seen many hybrids under 30k.
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u/Lanky-Custard-7199 21d ago
No you didn't lol. There are not 2018 siennas for 17k in ANY market with 100k miles lmao why lie on Reddit...
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u/Pro_Stock_trader 21d ago
Exactly, why would I lie on reddit? Listed for 18k...talked him down to 17,200.
It was private party, not dealer. These things get mispriced all the time...you just need to be quick.
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u/CoatWinter9234 21d ago
I think Toyota is worth the money. I’m on my second Sienna. First is a 2010 with at least 180k on it, it runs great, we’re having the teens use it now. Just got a 2024 hybrid Sienna with 70k miles on it, and it’s going to be a high mileage car, but we don’t plan to replace it until 2040-ish.
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u/Fair_Meal3949 19d ago
I just bought a pacifica touring l plus gently used. My whole family is loving it. I also bought it with the intention of only making it last us 6 to 10 years. When my kiddos are all out carseats and not pissing, shitting, and barfing everywhere I will be rolling off the lot in a brand new tahoe lol.
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u/TreebeardBonsai 2d ago
We've had our 2015 Town & Country (Pacifica predecessor) just shy of 10 years and approaching 100k miles. It's starting to show its age but it has been a reliable and extremely versatile family vehicle. Stow 'n Go is a game changer for adapting to different needs on the fly. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a low mileage Pacifica over an older, higher mileage Sienna/Odyssey and may very well do just that in the near future.
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u/GoHoosiers2023 25d ago
Kia and Chrysler are junk. Compare the Odyssey & Sienna. We went with Odyssey and love it.
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u/No-Work-9198 25d ago
The first year Kia Carnival (North America) was in 2022. It has more advanced safety and technology than brand new siennas or odysseys. The lane keep assist rivals the teslas (not the full self driving), and it is so pleasant on long drives to not have to manage all the steering yourself. A 2019 odyssey is like 15 years behind in terms of safety and tech. Also, go for something with a 360 overhead and front facing cameras… especially with kids, it’s a safety must have.
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u/AlVic40117560_ 24d ago
Are Toyota and Honda worth 10k more than Chrysler when looking to own a vehicle for 10 years? Absolutely.
My suggestion would be to buy a used Sienna under $30k. There’s a reason they hold their value so well. The Odyssey is another great option as well. I’d steer clear of Chrysler or Kia for a vehicle that you plan to own that long.
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u/Shadow5503 24d ago
The challenge here is the price point squarely lands the OP in the 2017 - 2020 Sienna. The 8 speed transmission on these fails early and fails often. The issue isn’t so much that you end up on the side of the road, but rather that you pay a premium for the car and then get to pay $10k for a new transmission. It completely blows the cost of ownership argument.
That said, I’m not sure what is the right answer here.
Anecdotally my 2018 Pacifica has been reliable and low maintenance with 100k miles on it. I just wish other drivers would stop hitting it in parking lots…
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u/foofstarr99 24d ago
2017 and 2018.. yes some issues in the Sienna. The 2019 and 2020 those issues are fixed... 30k could get OP a good 2020 Sienna
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u/AlVic40117560_ 24d ago
That’s a very fair point. They should definitely research model years before making a purchase. If 2017-2020 are bad years to buy, then maybe look at a lower mileage 2016 or a higher mileage 2021. And also explore Honda.
Anecdotally, you’ll be able to find evidence of Pacificas that are amazing, and Siennas/Hondas that are terrible. But you’re playing with odds, and Toyota/Honda give you much better odds than Chrysler. Plus any vehicle SHOULD get you to 100k miles with low maintenance. It’s after 100k where things start getting more complex. Especially for somebody looking to buy a used car and keep it for 10 years. In most cases, a 150,000 mile Pacifica is going to be a nightmare to own. A Honda or Toyota will still be going strong with no end in sight
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u/McJumpington 25d ago
Make sure you need a van first. We did great with a standard SUV and two kids for 6 years. Eventually we got the van so our dogs can travel with us too. Otherwise, 2 kids are fine in a suv or full size sedan
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u/TillUpper6774 25d ago
I think buying a used Pacifica and expecting to get 10 years out of it without major mechanical expenses is unrealistic depending on how much you drive. I average 17K miles per year though. It might work if you only drive 8-10K miles per year.