The 4 Most Reliable Minivans You Should Buy In 2024

During the spread out of the SUV segment, minivans are a formidable competitor and a name that has received a lot of appreciation from customers because of their spacious interior design and safety features, giving safety when driving the car. Below we would like to share about the most reliable minivan models that are appreciated for their durability and safety features.

The 4 Most Reliable Minivans In 2023

Many car dealers affirmed that buying a minivan instead of an SUV can be a great choice so why? Minivans provide the most spacious, versatile, and cost-effective solution for large families plus minivan cabins can be configured from strictly functional to living room plush. Minivans are used for many different purposes but will usually be used for large families or carrying belongings. Now the question is which minivan is the most reliable and offers the best value for money? That’s what we’re going to find out. Let’s get started!

1. Kia Carnival

Starting off with the first on our list which is the Kia Carnival. If you are looking for an attractive minivan like an SUV, Kia Carnival is a great option to consider. Carnival is one of the good-looking minivans on the market no matter what angle you view. The new generation KIA Carnival (old name KIA Sedona) tends to hybridize the design of an SUV but still retains many of the advantages of minivans for large families.

Launched in 1998, so far KIA Carnival has just entered its 4th generation. In 2005, KIA Sedona was the name used in the North American market, then applied globally. In 2022, this minivan will return to the global Carnival name. In this latest generation, Kia Carnival not only changes the chassis and its design compared to the previous Sedona model but also has many new convenient equipment and technologies. 

Pros:

• KIA Carnival stands out in its appearance thanks to its strong sporty design and sliding side door layout. When driving in locations with limited space, the sliding door design is Carnival’s strong point that no other SUV on the market has. The Carnival has 2 types of seat versions of 7 seats or 8 seats, drivers can easily choose the version according to the needs of individuals and families. With the 7-seat version, the 2 seats in the middle row are designed in the business form to give a relaxing and comfortable experience even when traveling on long journeys. Known as an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) by Kia, Carnival can satisfy the needs of many drivers.
• All Kia Carnivals come with a dimple naturally aspirated 3.5 liters V6 engine with around 290 horsepower and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with a front-wheel drive system which can give you up to 500 pounds towing capacity. 
• Besides, the Carnival also offers all the latest safety features including the standard automatic emergency braking Lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control plus you get the class-leading 10 years or 100000 miles warranty and a really aggressive price of $34465 to $47565
• Talking about reliability, Kia Carnival can give you over 200000 miles of pain-free performance if it is well-maintained, and the lifespan of this car can last up to 13 years. 

Cons: 

• Not suitable off-road: The suspension and shock absorbers do not absorb bumps well, which will make the driver feel tired when traveling on uneven roads and have many defects. Therefore, choosing off-road with Carnival is not a smart choice.
• The Kia Carnival is reviewed as being not as fuel efficient as its competitors with only 22 miles per gallon.
• Don’t optimize for storage solutions: This is another disadvantage of this Carnival you should consider when buying this car. Although Carnival has a spacious luggage space, up to 2,460 liters when the seats are folded. However, it lacks a solution to store personal belongings in the front seats.

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2. Toyota Sienna

The Sienna is known for its popularity and reliability, plus many standard features, so in our list of the most reliable minivans we can’t help but mention the Toyota Sienna. The Sienna is worth being the top pick on our list – this car takes the top spot for the best minivan in the segment with its long-term reliability, rugged exterior designs, excellent fuel economy, and top-notch safety features.

Toyota has added a special limited edition to celebrate Sienna’s 25th anniversary in 2023 and only 2525 units of them will be produced and will be based on the stylish XSE trim, however, we recommend that drivers should stick to the most popular mid-range XLE trim as the best value for money. Now, we will go deep and find out the advantages and disadvantages of the Toyota Sienna:  

Pros: 

• High safety features: According to the latest test results from the IIHS, in the current family minivan segment, only one model is considered to possess a seat belt reminder system well enough. This is the Toyota Sienna, Sienna defeated other competitors like Kia and Chrysler. Sienna’s seat belt reminder system meets all requirements and stands out among minivans, including having a second-row passenger reminder, while competitors in the same segment do not. The Kia Carnival is rated Acceptable, while the Chrysler Pacifica’s score is only Average (Marginal).
• All the latest version 2023 Sienna trims come with the standard front-wheel drive while all-wheel drive can simply be added by paying extra money which seems to be a worthy upgrade. According to the EPA estimate, the Sienna will deliver an impressive 36 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway with a front-wheel drive system. 
• The Sienna’s interior is well-equipped and all trims offer standard 8-passenger seats while a 7- passenger seat layout is also available as an optional second row. It will make your long journey more comfortable. The minimalist dashboard comes with a standard 9.0 inches infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple car play. Equipped with sliding doors, the interior of the Toyota Sienna has a more modern style and focuses on the driver more than the old design of its predecessor.
• Powerful engine: Sienna is equipped by Toyota with a 3.5L V6 engine, Dual VVT-i, naturally aspirated. Specifically for a maximum capacity of 296 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 357 Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm. Comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission. In the US, the 2018 Sienna has the option of front-wheel drive and AWD four-wheel drive. A Toyota Sienna can reach a speed of 0-96 km/h in just 7.1 seconds.

In terms of safety and reliability, it is probably difficult for any opponent to surpass the Toyota Sienna in the same segment with a series of features typical of the MPV line. The reliability score of the Toyota Sienna is 74,05 out of 100, this number can tell that this car is quite reliable. 

Cons: 

• Toyota Sienna has difficulty folding second-row seats: Unlike other competitors, the second row of the Toyota Sienna is very difficult to fold. This will be a big obstacle for users, especially those who need a lot of storage space for long trips. In this regard, the Chrysler Pacifica’s Stow ‘N Go seating system is far more efficient.
• Wheel covers: 18″ metallic wheels are actually imitation chrome covers glued on the alloy rims. So it doesn’t make a real highlight for Sienna. 

3. Chrysler Pacifica

This car is the perfect choice for families. Chrysler invented the minivan in 1983. And in 2016 it will try to change decades of history with its newest model, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. It’s also one of the more capable Minivans to keep prices high according to user reviews. The Chrysler Pacifica especially in the 2017 version has all the strengths of a traditional minivan while keeping up to date with the new trends in style and plug-in hybrid technology.

The Pacifica is a formidable competitor with minivans that are considered to have the best resale value. Because Pacifica has a modern Uconnect Theater infotainment system for the rear seats. In addition, the car also comes with adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, a parking assist system, a 360-degree camera, and a front collision warning …

Pros:

• Chrysler Pacifica impresses with its simple yet elegant exterior design plus the wonderful Pacifica interior, with convenient Stow’n Go seats that can be flipped up and folded down to the floor at will. Besides, the interior is well-designed the minimalist dashboard comes standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple car play and a 7.0-inch driver display.
• The central entertainment screen has a size of up to 8.4 inches, providing all features to assist drivers with absolute safety for the driver.
• Most versions use a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a capacity of 287 horsepower combined with a 9-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive system. The Pacifica is the only minivan that offers plug-in hybrid powertrain options. For Hybrid Pacifica Hybrid, the car will use a special version of the V6 engine combined with a pair of hybrid generators with a 16 kWh battery. It is estimated that this system will produce 260 horsepower when combined with a special CVT transmission. This hybrid version can run up to 48km with just the electric motor and a full charge time takes only two hours with a 240V charger.
• When it comes to the towing capacity, this car can tow up to 3600 pounds which is about 100 pounds more capacity than the KIA Carnival.
• Also the Pacifica comes standard with a lengthy list of safety features: These include traction and stability control, anti-lock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags along with a rearview camera. In addition, the UConnect Access service includes emergency assistance, remote locking/unlocking, and vehicle locating services. Meanwhile, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are optional features for the LX and Touring versions and are standard on all remaining Pacifica versions.

Cons:

• Fuel economy at 10.7 liters / 100km when combined (13 liters / 100km in the city and 8.4 liters / 100km on the highway). This is the average figure in the minivan segment. When using a combination of petrol-electric hybrid systems, the car has a fuel economy of 2.9 liters / 100km.
• The second row of seats is not as comfortable as some rival minivan models.

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4. Honda Odyssey 

If you’re looking for something reliable and cheaper, let’s check out the Honda Odyssey. This car is known for its long-term reliability, better performance, and practicality. Honda Odyssey not only intrigues customers with its stylish design but also knows how to fascinate those who have ever driven or simply experienced the classy interior of this family car. 

Pros:

• This minivan has an impressive appearance, modern equipment, comfort, and powerful operation. In particular, the exterior of the Honda Odyssey 2023 is equipped with LED lights with automatic adjustment of lighting angles and a strong and solid design with embossed veins. The Odyssey has plenty of space to store your stuff, with plenty of pockets, hobbies, and slots for everything you need to carry.
• The front multimedia display is equipped with the Honda Audio Display system, which is standard on all but the base model and features wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. In the second and third rows, passengers with ceiling-mounted screens can play DVDs and Blu-ray discs, or download content via an HDMI cable. 
• A little “Magic” of the Interior: Take the middle seat away from the second row to use the Magic Slide feature, which allows the two outer seats to slide sideways or backward and forward for easy access to the third row. The third row of seats has the ability to fold 60/40 seats to create a flat cargo area.
• The Odyssey has a very reliable engine which is a naturally aspirated 3.5 liter v6, it can produce plenty of power with around 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The transmission Duties are taken care of by a 10-speed and front-wheel drive system. The Odyssey is also quick on its feet, it takes only 6.6 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour. 
• The Odyssey offers a great driving experience with a solid ride, comfortable suspension, and good handling.
• In terms of safety features, Odyssey is equipped with the latest features you could want in a minivan including standard automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring.
• Honda Odyssey is rated as one of the two cars ranked second in terms of safety in all minivans. This is one of the few large vehicles that has earned high scores from two US safety agencies: NHTSA and IIHS. NHTSA gave the 2016 Honda Odyssey a 5-star rating, while the IIHS named the 2016 Honda Odyssey as the top-safe minivan, including good ratings in all five tests.

Cons:

• The Odyssey doesn’t come with the same fuel economy options as its competitors – such as the 2021 Toyota Sienna, which has a hybrid only, or the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, which has a plug-in hybrid version. To get better fuel economy than the EPA-rated 19/28/22 mpg city/highway/combined, you can use Eco mode, but this really slows down throttle response.
• If you’re trying to carry large cargo, you’ll probably have to get rid of the second row of seats entirely because they just fold down. The seat is large and heavy, making it difficult to store in the car.