Minivan or SUV?

[Dreamgiver]

We went through the same diatribe 2 months ago. We do not like the look of minivans and need an AWD car with some clearance because of where we live. We ended up getting a 2013 Toyota Highlander. It has 3 rows which we need and AWD. It is a unibody (i.e. not a box-on-frame like a truck) so it gets better MPG and handles better on pavement. The AWD version comes in at 6,000lbs which qualifies it for the bigger car deduction if you are buying it through your business.

[MSooner]

Count me among those that swore I'd never drive a minivan and now I love it to death. The automatic sliding doors are amazing. I can get in and buckle up little people without killing myself. It's heavenly on road trips.

We have an Odyssey. It's great. Previously we had a VW Routan, and I actually really liked the van itself, but it had horrific maintenance issues.

FWIW, I've driven larger cars (Suburban, 15 seater church van--thanks Dad) and the SUV crossover equivalent (Chevy Traverse) and it's no contest.

[StarTrekDoc]

Btw we just got back from a week in zion. Had a traverse and Odyssey in the caravan. Odyssey outhauled and better gas mileage and parking than our traverse. We did have an easier time on the unpaved parking lot though

[AR]

Has anyone actually driven a Toyota Sienna on ice, and if so, able to confirm that the AWD actually makes a noticeable difference?

[Side Hustle Scrubs]

We cart our 3 kids around in a Honda Pilot.  It has as many seats as the Odyssey with the same entertainment system in the back.  It also costs the same.  I just like the look of the SUV over the minivan.

[RDB]

We have 3 in car seats. There is really nothing that compares to a minivan. We have an odyssey and use snow tires, it is every bit as good as our AWD XC90 in snow. Our neighbors have an AWD sienna and love it also. From what we found, in order to have something big enough for 3+ kids in careers and other stuff it is either minivan or a big jump to the large SUVs. Maybe this was just because it was a rental, but we rented a Tahoe on vacation and their were no latch attachments for car seats in the third row. We had to cram three across and it was debatable how safe that was. It for sure annoying.

[LizOB]

Minivan! I love love love my Odyssey. My husband drives a Highlander. The Odyssey is what we use for longer trips, no question

[Molar Mechanic]

Had minivan took youngest was 6. SUV now.

Minivan for cost, functionality, milage, comfort, traveling, caring lots of crap.

SUV for looking cool, driving off-road/ snow, and towing.

[Dicast]

We have a 2018 Odyssey Elite. Drives and handles really well. Sliding doors are amazing with small children. No door dings on other people cars, easy to put the baby in, etc.

Our a/c has been a bit sketchy in our Odyssey and as soon as I have a day off we will have to take it in. Also, the rear entertainment system sometimes goes on the fritz and won't run the blurays as advertised. The adaptive cruise control shuts off at 22 mph. The newest Pacifica is supposed to go to 0 mph. Make sure you test drive multiple brands before you choose. We drove a Sienna after an Odyssey and the Sienna's ride felt horrible. If you have a baby please pay attention to how loud the doors are when they slide open.

I also have a used base model 2017 Pacifica as a nanny mobile and the foldable seats are pretty nice.

I grew up in an all Suburban family. No minivans. I like how the SUVs looks better but from the inside it just doesn't matter. Unless you plan to do serious off roading or towing >3,000 lbs I don't see the SUV advantage.

[StarTrekDoc]

We test drove the new Pacifica PHEV - it's a great minivan and with the plug-in to boot.   Would put that in the club of - Odyssey - Sienna - Pacifica - Grand Caravan.   We tow/hitch bikes with the mini a lot, just not a big boat

[climbhigh]

Minivan all the way. People talk about SUVs to "look cool" but if you actually compare the overall shape/design of a minivan to a modern SUV there just really isn't a difference. When we bought our Odyssey it was parked in the Honda lot next to a new Pilot, and when we got to looking the two vehicles had nearly the same outside shape and dimensions. The only thing that truly distinguishes a minivan these days are the sliding doors - which is what I like best. Its just so easy getting in/out of, particularly in tight parking spaces. I could never justify buying a Pilot or Highlander, since the van has more cargo space, more passenger space, similar gas milage, and has the sliding doors.

 

Now if you are talking about a real SUV - that is, body-on-frame like a Suburban or Tahoe - then maybe I get the argument a little more, especially if you need to tow something. But most SUVs these days are "cross overs" and look like vans.

[StarTrekDoc]

The mind is a powerful thing though and image is 'everything' to some - same as those who like loud Harley's or muscle cars over performance bikes and vehicles.

[childay]

Don't want either but wife wants a minivan after renting one and she is gradually wearing me down..

[triune]

Getting little kids in and out of the car is a parenting pain point.  You can't let them open the door cuz they'll throw the door into the car next to you (my other car has the scars to prove it).  A parent was always taken out of the equation to hold the door open (so they didn't knock it into the next car), and close it behind them.  If the kids are in the 3rd row (typical configuration), you also have to somehow squeeze back there and buckle them in AND unbuckle them out when you reach your destination.  If you have a removable baby car seat, you have to make sure the door can open wide enough to fit you AND the baby seat, which can be a challenge even in normal width spots because SUVs are already pretty wide.  I've had to do some crazy gymnastics sometimes trying to get the baby seat in a sliver of an opening.  Leaving the house means you have to at minimum do this 4 times (home, destination, and back again).  Now that my kids are starting extra-curriculars, it's really starting to add up.

We bought a Mazda CX-9 SUV with our 1st child, precisely because the wife thought minivans were uncool.  So we've lived this hassle, day in and day out.  To be honest, we didn't think much of it, cuz life with 3 kids is supposed to be full of hassle, right?  But then the SUV got totalled in an accident, and we decided to switch to the Odyssey.  Wow, it's like night and day.  All I do now is park.  Kids can get in and out themselves, they hit a button and the door opens magically for them (or I can open the door from the driver's seat).  I'm not stressed about the door hitting another car.  I can park in spots I could never dream of parking in with an SUV.  We do have a baby, but it's so much easier to get the baby in and out with sliding doors, since the opening is just so big.  I can take a step in before dropping in the baby seat; doesn't bother my back at all (baby seat is in the middle seat).  When it comes to moving little kids, will never go back to an SUV.  Wife is now a firm believer in the minivan (though she still thinks it looks uncool, but the pros outweigh the cons now   )

[somethingmorethanfree]

I've said it before on here but will say it again

Minivans are like burritos. They are plain on the outside but awesome on the inside.

Also, minivans fit EVERYTHING inside --- except your pride.

Second all the Odyssey recommendations.

Hank I think you can get a van for much less than 40-50k. Bought middle of the line one last year, new for 32k. Prices are pretty much the same as Pilot, Highlander, etc.