Long before the SUV replaced the minivan as the family hauler of choice, nearly every automaker had a player in the game. Of the three major domestic makers, only Chrysler remains—a fitting statistic, as the brand created the segment back in 1984. The first model was a success right out of the gate and helped save Chrysler from the brink of insolvency. By the 1900s, Chrysler minivan sales alone hovered around 600,000 units annually while Ford, Chevrolet and other manufacturers battled for market share in a thriving segment. Now any minivan that approaches 100,000 units in annual sales is considered a runaway success.
Despite the huge shift in public preference, the humble minivan remains a paragon of the interior space vs. versatility vs. cost vs. efficiency equation.
Will a minivan tow a 7,000-pound boat? No, but most can tug up to 3500 pounds (3,600 for the Pacifica), but 99.5% of the time, when you’re not towing, it’ll return far better fuel economy, up to 36 mpg in the case of the Sienna. Can a minivan fit as much cargo as a Chevrolet Tahoe? Actually, they can carry more. The Kia Carnival has a maximum of 141.5 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Tahoe can only eke out 122.9 cubes, though the Suburban does squeak past it at 144.7.
And while no minivan is capable of tackling rocky mule trails like an SUV, you can get the Chrysler Pacifica with the all-weather safety of all-wheel drive.
So, what’s the catch? Largely, the court of popular opinion has deemed them uncool. That, and there isn’t a lot of room for designer flourish and eye-catching detail of the type that attracts consumers. In today’s twisted social climate, a minivan evidently tells the neighbors your dreams are on life support. But that message is unfounded and unfair. As an efficient automotive transportation device for people and their things, the minivan remains the purest example of the breed, and for that, they deserve respect.
These are the best minivans available for 2023.
- Chrysler Pacifica The Minivan That’s All Grown Up
- Honda Odyssey The Honda Of Minivans
- Kia Carnival Making Sliding Doors Cool Again
- Toyota Sienna Hybrid Power And Efficiency Standard
Why We Picked It
The Chrysler Pacifica arrived in 2017 as the ostensible replacement for the Chrysler Town and Country and its Dodge Caravan sistership. As it turned out, that business plan was flawed, but in the best way possible. Though the Pacifica was vastly improved over its predecessor, the Dodge Caravan had such a devoted customer base that it remained in production and sold alongside the Pacifica, albeit at a much lower MSRP, until 2020. Now the Pacifica carries the torch as the sole minivan model across the Stellantis empire (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles).
With forty years of innovation to draw on, the current Pacifica incorporates everything the automaker learned along the way. That includes Stow ‘n’ Go fold-flat seating, a proven 3.5-liter V6 engine and available all-wheel drive. Modern touches include a hybrid variant that offers up to 30 miles of battery-only operation, thoughtful interior accommodations, and the latest version of the automaker’s intuitive Uconnect infotainment system.
New for 2023 is the Road Tripper Package, which brings Brilliant Orange exterior badging, wheel accents and graphics; a roof rack compatible with a range of Mopar (the company’s official parts and accessories brand) carriers for bicycles and cargo, and a Trailer Tow package rated for up to 3600 pounds of capability. The Road Tripper package is available on Pacifica Touring L and Pacifica Touring L Hybrid models in a choice of three exterior colors.
Regardless of trim or powertrain, the Pacifica delivers a solid build, a quiet ride, a comfortable, spacious interior and an attractive exterior, making for an overall package that’s hard to beat.
Pros & Cons
- Stow’ n Go seating offers unrivaled interior versatility
- Solid build and quiet ride
- Classic and elegant styling for a minivan
- Transmission behavior can occasionally be erratic
- Passenger rows slightly more cramped than primary rivals
- Price escalates quickly
Why We Picked It
Now in its fifth generation, the Honda Odyssey remains a solid contender in the shrinking minivan arena. Though it began life as a much smaller vehicle than its peers at the time, the second-generation model grew in size and adopted a more Americanized styling ethos which it’s maintained ever since. The current model received a mild refresh for 2021, and the Odyssey’s styling remains the most adventurous
Smartly designed and loaded with features (including a vacuum) in Elite trim, it drives better than it should. A 3.5-liter V6 good for 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque sends its output to a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. Standard wheel-mounted paddle shifters let you pretend you’re in a sportier vehicle.
2023 brought a mild reshuffling of the trims— LX trim discontinued, mid-grade Sport trim added—and a new Sonic Gray Pearl available on Sport, Touring, and Elite trims, but otherwise, the Odyssey carries into 2023 unchanged.
If it has any glaring or obvious faults, it’s that the Odyssey doesn’t have an available hybrid powertrain or the option of all-wheel drive. Neither is a deal-breaker for most buyers, but with competitors adopting both technologies, the Odyssey risks getting left behind. For that reason, and the fact that the current model is a half-a decade old, we expect to see a new version within the next three years as Honda expands its hybrid footprint across the lineup.
Pros & Cons
- Perky 280 horsepower V6 pleasantly surprises when summoned
- Drives more like a car, not a van
- Elite trim includes all the cool toys, tech and comfort features
- 25 years later, still no power-folding 3rd-row seats
- No all-wheel-drive, hybrid or EV option
- Is making light-colored seats the only option a good idea?
Why We Picked It
Kia made a big deal out of not calling the then new Carnival a minivan at its 2021 launch. “It’s a Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) Kia insisted. Two years on, the maker hasn’t changed its tune. But whatever you wish to call it, its size, design and feature set put it in direct competition with minivans. To wit: it has two sliding doors, a front-engine, front-wheel drive and a large interior optimized for people and stuff.
Cleverly, it packages most of the attributes of its flagship Telluride SUV into a long-roof body emphasizing comfort and space. And while the current competition is going for flowing, aerodynamic style, the Carnival wears chiseled bodywork and square windows in an attempt to say that minivans don’t have to feel like a compromise in automotive decision-making.
Motivation comes from a 3.5-liter V6 rated for 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.
An eight-speed automatic transmission handles the fear swaps. Like the Odyssey, no hybrid is currently available, but given the maker’s push into hybridization and EVs elsewhere in its lineup, we wouldn’t be surprised if it has one in the works. Still, it has plenty of passing power and an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in highway travel. Moreover, it doesn’t go weak in the knees when pushed, the ride is pleasant and its brakes are matched perfectly, making for a seamless and smooth driving experience.
With two years to reflect on the Carnival MPV, we appreciate its fresh shape, decent value and unique positioning. To us, it’s still a minivan, but we find it slightly disappointing that Kia feels they need to sidestep the term in order to resonate with buyers.
Pros & Cons
- Segment’s most stylish with lots of upscale features
- Class-leading space, safety and convenience tech
- Luxury car-like ride and borderline-sports-sedan-like composed handling
- Front-wheel drive only
- The least fuel efficient in its class
- Optional second-row captain’s chairs can’t be removed
Why We Picked It
Launched in 1988 as “the Camry of Minivans,” the Sienna replaced the quirky Previa in the maker’s domestic lineup. The current fourth-generation version arrived for the 2021 model year as a hybrid-only proposition, putting a new spin on the minivan formula. So equipped, it quickly catapulted to the top of the fuel-economy ratings with an official EPA estimate of 36 mpg combined, city and highway. It’s also one of only two minivans to offer optional all-wheel drive, with an electric motor driving the rear wheels and no space-consuming driveshaft.
On the downside, it trails the segment in cargo room, and the second-row seats are fixed permanently with no simple way to remove or stow them. The thrifty powertrain also behaves indifferently and sends mixed signals, which contributes to its lackluster overall dynamics. But again, few people shop a minivan against a sports car, so it probably won’t affect sales.
The Sienna’s fascia—said to be inspired by Shinkansen Japanese Bullet Train—is a polarizing design with a protruding upper lip over a voluminous grille. On the other hand, the Sienna earned a top five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
As a family transport, the Sienna offers fantastic fuel economy, a comfortable, if slightly smaller, interior, and the added security of all-wheel drive.
Pros & Cons
- Fuel-efficient standard hybrid powertrain
- Numerous standard driver-assist safety technologies
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Odd front-end styling
- Upper trims get pricey
- Not as powerful as competitors
Methodology
For 2023, our ratings categories are:
- Performance
- Fuel Economy
- Safety
- Infotainment
- Comfort & Room
- Cargo Space & Storage
- Style & Design
Overall: 100 points
- Performance (15 points) The Performance score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s handling, braking, acceleration, ride quality and other qualitative performance measures such as horsepower, torque, zero-to-60 time and top speed. Towing capability for trucks and SUVs also is considered. Performance of the vehicles is compared against the identified competitive set. While driving, reviewers look for attributes relative to the expectations set by the manufacturer and by consumer expectations.
- Fuel Economy (15 points) The Fuel Economy score is based on the combined mpg estimate for the entire model lineup and how that figure measures against the identified competitive set. The mpg estimates are based on EPA data or the manufacturer if no EPA data is available. Hybrid and plug-in electric variants within a lineup that significantly lower their overall average will not be included in the comparison unless the competitive set also have hybrid or PHEV variants. Scoring for pure electric vehicles will be based on kilowatts consumed per 100 miles and the comparative mile per gallon equivalent, or MPGe.
- Safety (15 points) The Safety score is based on crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Vehicles not yet rated by either agency receive zero points. Also included in the safety rating are points awarded for certain advanced driver-assistance safety features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. There are nine safety features Forbes Wheels considers mandatory for the standard offering: forward emergency automatic braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning or one its higher-level variants, lane keeping assistance or lane centering. Vehicles must have at least four of these in their standard offering to receive points. Vehicles that offer a Level 2 self-driving system, (a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane centering) are eligible for a bonus point.
- Infotainment (15 points) The Infotainment score is based on points awarded for certain features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. Forbes Wheels identifies certain features that are growing in popularity and therefore have been adopted by both premium and mainstream automakers. Some of these features include a minimum 7-inch touchscreen (or premium vehicles that use a rotary knob, touchpad or other mechanism to control a non-touchscreen display), wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a customizable, digital driver information display or instrument panel and at least 2 USB ports. Additional points are awarded for popular features that haven’t been widely adopted in mainstream vehicles such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging capabilities.
- Comfort & Room (15 points) The Comfort & Room score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s comfort, ergonomics and overall interior feel as well as effective use of space. Points also are awarded for the measurement of rear-seat legroom and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best legroom in either rear seat or optional third row are eligible for a bonus point.
- Cargo Space & Storage (15 points) The Cargo Space & Storage score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s large and small cargo spaces (as well as small-item storage) and how well they serve their purpose and effective use of space. Reviewers also consider innovative storage solutions and flexible loading features. Points also are awarded for the cargo space measurements for rear cargo hold or trunk and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best cargo or trunk space are eligible for a bonus point.
- Styling (10 points) The Styling score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s overall styling and design, inside and out. Reviewers also consider the configuration of the interior and how well the design plays into the function. Build quality also is a consideration.