If you have a big family, an SUV is probably the best kind of vehicle you can buy. SUVs offer tons of space, comfort, safety, and off-road capabilities if you need to take the occasional weekend camping trip with the kids. Unfortunately, SUVs are typically among the most expensive vehicles on the market, which is why most people settle for minivans.
Minivans may not be as cool-looking or capable as SUVs, but they offer many of the key features gearheads look for in SUVs at a lower price, especially those looking for a daily driver for their families. The competition in the minivan market has led to the development of many fantastic minivans that we'd pick over SUVs any day. Let's explore ten of the best.
10 Mercedes R63 AMG
Whenever you hear the words Mercedes-Benz and AMG in the same sentence, you expect them to be referring to a fast sports car or sedan. However, in 2006, those words were used on the unlikeliest of vehicles - a large luxury minivan called the R63 AMG.
The R63 AMG was equipped with a masterpiece of an engine - a hand-built 6.2-liter M156 E 63 V8 engine making just under 500 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the uprated engine and other upgrades, the R63 AMG was insanely quick, taking a brisk 4.6 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph. Unfortunately, extremely low demand resulted in only 200 R63 AMGs being built, making it one of the rarest German vehicles ever.
9 BMW 220i Gran Tourer
The 2-Series is a subcompact luxury minivan that BMW has been producing for almost a decade. Introduced in 2014 and now in its second generation, the 2-Series is loved for its design, upscale interior, and superior driving feel.
BMW has built several versions of the 2-Series, and the 2015 220i Gran Tourer is arguably the best as it has a longer wheelbase and three rows. To this day, the 220i Gran Tourer is the only 3-row minivan built by BMW.
8 Chrysler Pacifica
When the Town & Country's production run ended in 2018, it left a huge gap in Chrysler's lineup. Thankfully, Chrysler rolled up its sleeves and built a worthy successor - the Pacifica.
Gearheads fell in love with the Pacifica, and it's easy to see why. For one, we think it's one of the best-looking minivans ever built. It also delivers a fun and smooth driving experience, whether you get the one with the powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine or the one with the hybrid drivetrain. The Pacifica is also one of only two minivans sold in the US that feature an optional traditional AWD system.
7 Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey is one of the longest-running minivan models, having been introduced back in 1994. Now in its fifth generation and still going strong, the Odyssey continues to set high standards for Japanese minivans that want to succeed in the US.
The Odyssey wasn't popular initially in the US due to its size, but when Honda introduced a special larger version for the North American market in 1999, sales took off. The current Odyssey generation recently received a face-lift that included redesigned bumpers, a two-piece grill, redesigned headlights and taillights, motion-detecting doors, and a redesigned dashboard with a larger 7.0-inch infotainment screen.
6 Kia Carnival
Kia has enjoyed steady growth in the US market over the last two decades, as it has proven it can make vehicles of similar or even higher standards than its Japanese competitors. One of Kia's best models is the Carnival, a superb minivan that's been around for two decades.
The latest generation of the carnival debuted in 2020 and was a huge hit for several reasons. For one, we think the Carnival is the closest thing to an SUV from a looks perspective. We also love its swanky interior and reliable four and six-cylinder engines.
5 Toyota Sienna
The Sienna has been a huge success for Toyota over the last two decades. The Sienna is based on a heavily revised platform of the popular Camry, which means that it's reliable, dependable, and solidly built.
The fourth-generation Sienna debuted in 2020 and instantly impressed many with its new design and top-of-the-line features like a refrigerated compartment, a built-in vacuum cleaner, a four-zone climate control system, onboard Wi-Fi, and a voice amplification system. Those who opt for the Woodland Edition also get standard AWD.
4 Dodge Grand Caravan
Before the Grand Caravan was discontinued in 2020, it was the second longest-running Dodge model, exceeded only by the legendary Charger. Introduced in 1984, the Grand Caravan was adored by gearheads mainly because it was among the most affordable minivans.
The fifth and final Grand Caravan generation was produced from 2008 to 2020. It had a new design that looked cooler and more modern than its predecessor and had a new V6 engine on offer. Amenities included Chrysler's Swivel'n Go seating system, the MyGIG entertainment system, second and third-row video screens, and power sliding doors.
3 Opel Zafira VXR
The Zafira may not be familiar to most gearheads, but it was one of the most successful Opel models before it was discontinued in 2014. The Zafira debuted in the late '90s and was co-developed with Porsche, ensuring it was a winner.
Despite its compact size compared to other minivans, the Zafira was still popular as it could sit 7 people comfortably. The Zafira was also quite fun to drive, especially when equipped with the VXR engine option.
2 Ford S-Max 2.0 Ecoboost
Ford's Europe division has built many fantastic vehicles over the years, some of which never even made it to the American market. The S-Max is one of them, and it makes us wish Ford shipped it across the pond. The S-Max debuted in 2006 and instantly won the European Car of the Year award.
According to Ford, the S-Max was intended to have the space of a minivan but the driving feel of a sporty sedan. To achieve this, Ford equipped it with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine making 240 hp.
1 Chrysler Voyager
If you can't afford the aforementioned Pacifica, the Voyager is the next best option. The Voyager nameplate has been around since the '80s, but the current sixth-generation model came about when Chrysler removed the low-end L and LX trims from the Pacifica nameplate and gave them the Voyager name.
Even though the Voyager costs a lot less than the Pacifica, it's powered by the same 283-hp Pentastar V6 engine and has many of the amenities in the Pacifica, including SiriusXM Satellite radio, a six-speaker sound system featuring Active Noise Cancellation, and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.