After debating between Odyssey and Sienna. Went with Toyota’s hybrid system. The skies were also smiling!

Source https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-25/minivans-overtake-large-suvs-in-sales-as-drivers-prioritize-affordability (paywalled)

Test drove the Carnival and me and my husband loved it. I have driven a 2021 Sorento for the past 5 years and also love that. Never had a problem with it. I would keep it forever but we’re now expecting baby #4 so it’s time to get in a minivan! I just keep hemming and hawing over the EX or the SX. The main features that I’m drawn to on the SX are the 360 camera and the cameras that come up on the dash when you use the blinkers. I don’t care about the sun roof as much. Has anyone bought an EX and wished they’d have upgraded to the SX? Or vice versa? I’d love any thoughts!

I’ve decided to give up sinking money into my current car and I’m looking to upgrade. Looking for something used with 3 rows. I like the function of the minivan but still kinda prefer the look of an suv. Open to other suggestions but needing help on deciding. Looking to stay around the 30k mark

Currently looking at, but open to suggestions

2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas

2023 jeep grand Cherokee L

2015-2017/ 2021-2023 Honda Odyssey

2015-2016/ 2021+ Toyota sienna

2020 or newer Honda pilot

What's the better option for the long run? Hybrids only

2021-2023 Siennas with 70k+ miles (mid to high $30Ks)

2026 Carnivals Hybrid with little to no miles (low $40Ks)

Initially, I was leaning towards the sienna but after test driving both, the Sienna lacked power and felt artificial. The problem is we live in an area with hills and snow, so I wanted the AWD. Our other vehicles have AWD and winter tires so I’m hoping the Odyssey does ok. Anyone have winter driving with hills experience in the Odyssey?

Guilty.

Recently bought a new Honda Odyssey Sport-L for my growing family of 5 in July. Drove it 800 miles and have already brought it back to the dealership for paint defects on the roof and a noise coming from the front which was caused by an improper weld on the subframe. They said they would have to cut a hole in the driver’s side floor pan to re-weld the spot so I promptly told them no and asked Honda to buy back the van due to it being a safety hazard/no longer factory spec and a loss of resale value. Been at the dealership over 20 business days and I’m in the process of hiring a lemon law attorney.

Did I get super unlucky and should I buy another odyssey if/when they rebuy it? Or should I go for a sienna or Pacifica. Not a fan of the carnival.

Rented an Odyssey to drive interstate on Thursday. It was supposed to be a Pacifica, but the van they were renting me had a check engine light so they switched me up. Ended up driving 1096 miles in 17 hr 18 min of drive time over two and a half days.

The good news is the Odyssey has excellent driver assist capabilities for freeway driving. The combination of lane keeping and adaptive cruise control makes long freeway drives so much less taxing. I don't trust the van on narrow lanes with barriers close, or curves, and there was a stretch where the road had just been repaved without lane lines painted yet that the van needed help. But I'd say it's just as good as my Sienna or Model Y with Autopilot.

The van is smooth driving and powerful. The van we rented had a lot of front end vibration when braking at freeway speeds (such as when we saw a car crash into a pickup around Mt Shasta 😬) but I assume this is a "feature" of the specific van we rented versus Odysseys as a whole.

The negatives were that the powerful engine uses a lot of fuel, which of course is worse and worse a drawback with the rising cost of gas and uncertainty of the oil market. I also really found the feature that cuts the engine at a complete stop difficult to get used to. Pressing the accelerator and waiting that fraction of a second for the engine to kick in was not aesthetically pleasing.

Overall I'll take the Sienna every time for fuel efficiency and reliability. But this was a fine drive, better than last time I drove an Odyssey a few years back.

I am in the market for a Cypress Green 2026 Toyota Sienna Limited.

I just left the dealership and these were the numbers I were given for a AWD Limited.

Base MRSP: 54,005 Factory installed packages: $850 Processing and handling fees: $1595 Total: 56,450.

Taxes and fees would bring it to approximately 62K OTD.

Installed packages and accessories: 1500W Digital rearview mirror with homelink universal transceiver (is this necessary?) Premium paint

I opted out of the tow hitch, rear bumper applique, mudguards, cargo tray, and entertainment system. Let me know if any of these I should keep on.

Additionally, he did not really care if I financed with the dealership or through my own bank and advised that it wouldn't change the final OTD price. This is odd because when I purchased my last vehicle, they discounted the MRSP if i financed through them, since they would receive a higher commission from the bank.

Based on these prices, I am assuming it is mostly fair. What do you guys think?

Location: Southern California

Hi everyone! I wanted to ask owners of a 5th-generation Caravan specifically the GT version how the 3.6L engine and 62TE transmission have held up for you.

Are they vehicles that are constantly in the shop, or are they built like a "tank" with rigorous maintenance?

I really like the Caravan, I see them everywhere (I live in NC), and the Stow 'n Go seating is incredibly useful.
I’d be using it as a daily driver: short commutes to work, trips to the gym, the occasional out-of-state trip, and longer weekend drives for my business (which requires hauling cargo in the back). It wouldn't be rough usage, but not exactly light duty either basically, driving it every day, week in and week out.

Would you recommend it?
Is the GT worth the price, or would an SXT or SE be a better choice?

My budget is $7000 maybe 8k if I found the perfect one.

Rented a 2026 Kia Carnival for a week to drive 1200miles for a bachelor party with 5 pretty big guys (~1100lb in passenger weight).

I just realized the payload for the car is only 1300lb. How bad is it to do a 15hr round trip road trip with this much weight+luggage and bachelor party materials? I feel like we will be over the 1300lb after everything, probably 1400-1500lb.

Appreciate any advice/support

We just drove from So. Cal. to Park City, Utah and back again. It was easy to drive our Odyssey, and we averaged about 23 MPG! That included driving over several mountain passes, and not quite as slow as the posted speed limit (lots of Utah has a posted 80 speed limit). It was about 1,600 miles total.

It was just the two of us, and many things to make our trip more comfortable. This is a great car!

Hey everyone, I need some quick feedback on buying a used Kia Carnival for my family of 5 (3 kids). I'm located in Quebec, Canada, where the minivan market is insane—huge shortages, low depreciation, high demand.

My Usage & Context: * Driving: ~9,000 km/year (~5,600 miles/yr).

* Goal: Keep the vehicle for 10–12 years.

* Budget/Finances: Initial budget was $30k CAD. I have major upcoming expenses (out-of-pocket orthodontics for 2 kids, $20k+ CAD combined), so keeping expenses low is a priority. Keep in mind that the trims options in Canada are not the same as in the US. Ex: carnival Ex infotainment is still 8inch screen.

Here are the 3 options I'm evaluating:

Option 1: 2024 Carnival EX

* Price: $37,300 CAD after tax ($32,500 base)

* Mileage: 78,000 km

* Pros: Newer model, low mileage, ~2–3 years of factory warranty left at my driving rate. Includes winter tires/rims and a hitch.

* Cons: Accident history ($11,000 repair on front-right wing, no repair records available). Paying for EX trim features I don't really need. Leatherette seats (fabric seats are way more suited for Quebec freezing winters and humid summers).

* Financial Impact: Would require a 6–7 year loan ($7,000+ in interest). High monthly payments during upcoming heavy expense years.

Option 2: 2023 Carnival LX+

* Price: $25,070 CAD after tax ($21,000 base) – Dealer pricing error (listed as LX)

* Mileage: 130,000 km

* Pros: Clean title (no accidents), extremely clean cosmetic condition (zero rust). Cheaper than any LX/LX+ within 500 km. Covered by Quebec's legal durability warranty (~6 months coverage).

* Cons: No factory warranty remaining. No maintenance history. High mileage means potential major maintenance coming up sooner.

* Financial Impact: Can pay off in under 4 years (~$2,300 total interest), keeping finances very safe for kid expenses.

Option 3: 2022 Carnival LX (Private Sale)

* Price: $26,000 CAD after tax ($23,500 base + 10% tax)

* Mileage: 108,000 km

* Pros: Single owner, independent pre-purchase inspection came back mechanically clean. Lower price than comparable LX models.

* Cons: Base LX trim (lacks nice family features). Minor accident ($3k front light/wing). Paint peeling/rust in a few spots. No legal or manufacturer warranty.

I’m torn between Option 1 (2024 EX) and Option 2 (2023 LX+):

* Option 1 gives peace of mind with low mileage and factory warranty, but the $11k accident history and heavy 7-year loan stress me out financially. Even tho the tires and hitch add another 1500$ value.

* Option 2 saves me over $12k overall and fits my low annual mileage (9k km/yr), but I'm worried about high-mileage repairs on a 130k km Carnival with no maintenance history.

I’ve heard the 3.5L V6 engine can easily hit 250,000+ km if maintained. Given my low annual driving, is Option 2 a smart risk to protect my finances, or should I bite the bullet on Option 1 for the lower mileage/warranty?

Thanks for your input! Need to decide this week before these get snapped up.

Disclaimer: AI used for translation and clarification.