Minivan buying guide
Minivans offer comfortable seating for up to 7 people. What is even better is that you can easily change that passenger seating area into the cargo area. Modern minivans are coming with interesting technological features which can keep both driver and passengers engaged. With all these amazing qualities, it is hard to beat a minivan when it comes to choosing a family-oriented vehicle.
However, modern minivans can easily challenge the perception that minivans are only for families not for an executive. The second row of newer models gives you the option to replace the middle seat with two captain chairs. This may reduce the number of seats from seven to eight but will add luxurious comfort.
All-wheel drive is not widely available in this category and if you are a fan of this drivetrain system then you should opt for Toyota Sienna. Despite the new entries, minivans are quite consistent in their features and configuration: a six-cylinder engine, three-row seating and large sliding doors.
Size & Exterior
You will not find much variation when it comes to sizes. The smallest is the Toyota Sienna with 16 feet 8 inches, while the largest is the Chrysler Pacifica, at 16 feet 11 inches.
Unlike SUVs, minivans are closer to ground. Honda Odyssey is 4.5 from the ground, while the Kia Sedona is 6.5 inches off the ground. Many people see this as a disadvantage but we see this as a great benefit as it reduces the chances of a rollover.
The exteriors of most minivans are almost the same. However, the interior of these vehicles is entirely different. This can play a crucial role in car purchasing.
Interior
When we talk about the interior, there is no clear winner. Each car comes with different features and interior style.
Nissan Quest is the tallest vehicle with great headroom. The headroom in the front row is around 40 inches approx. The Pacifica is another minivan that has the most headroom in the third row. Toyota’s Sienna wins when it comes to the hip room, cargo volume and shoulder room.
Kia’s Sedona leads in the passenger volume which is 172.3 cubic feet. Toyota Sienna has the least i..e 164.4 cubic feet. When it comes to the trunk space, Toyota Sienna has the greatest (39.1 cubic feet), while Chrysler packs the least with 32.3 cubic feet.
Transmission
One thing you should be aware of is the fact that you are not going to find many variations in the powertrain system of minivans. Each features a V6 engine that is combined with automatic transmission.
The Quest, which is an exception, features a continuously variable transmission. The rest of the vehicles come with six-speed automatics. The Horsepower is also different in each machine. The engine of Honda Odyssey produces 248 HP, while Pacifica produces the maximum with 287 HP.
Fuel-efficiency
The fuel-efficiency is not impressive in any vehicle and the reason is a heavyweight. Honda Odyssey and Pacifica are the most fuel-efficiency vehicles in the minivan category with 28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. The Quest has the highest city fuel-economy i.e 20 mpg.
Family-friendly technology
Minivans come with rear-seat entertainment systems that keep kids engaged. These also comprise other features such as USB port, Bluetooth hands-free phone pairing and much more.
Each minivan comes with a different set of technological features. For instance, Honda and Toyota come with HDMI ports. Chrysler and Toyota feature Blu-ray players.
Honda Odyssey has cabin talk and cabin watch. While allows the driver to watch and talk to passengers in the rear seats. Honda also gives a vacuum which can be found in the trunk.
Tyres
The tyres of minivans are crafted to provide a smoother experience on roads and highways. Mostly, light truck tyres come standard on minivans. These tyres have superb durability along with outstanding mileage on all types of roads. However, you cannot expect them to perform in off-road conditions such as gravel or mud. Dunlop SP Van01 is a good example of minivan tyres.
