No vehicle is as family friendly as the minivan. The newest models of minvans offer the comfort, luxuries, and technology that rivals that of SUVs and crossover vehicles. Minivans make road trips more pleasant with ample cabin room, smooth rides, and flexible cargo/passenger configurations. There are many minivan options on the market, but the best new minivans are the Chrysler Pacifica, the Kia Sedona, and the Toyota Sienna. Each of these minivans has been a market contender for years, with the Chrysler Pacific previously known as the Chrysler Town & Country. If you are trying to decide between these three minivans, the following questions and answers can help make your decision easier.
Want a minivan with good onboard entertainment? If so, then the new Chrysler Pacifica might be for you. The DVD package includes a DVD player with 10" LCD display screen. The HDMI input allows for streaming, and the auxiliary inputs allow video games to be played. Unique to this package is a USB Fast Charging Smart Charger so that you'll never be without a charged phone or tablet.
The new Kia Sedona has the best standard warranty: 60 months and 60,000 miles. The Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica both offer 36-month, 36,000 mile basic warranties.
The Pacifica Touring-L has a 3600 pound towing capacity which just slightly beats the new Toyota Sienna (3500 pounds) and Kia Sedona (3500 pounds).
Road trips have never been easier with the inclusion of the XLE Navigation Package. Drive along to the beat of your favorite tunes with Entune(tm) Premium Audio. Let the Entune(tm) Multimedia Bundle14 entertain your passengers with a split-screen display and CD player. Plan your drives accordingly with the Predictive Traffic and Doppler Weather overlay. These features and more make the new Toyota Sienna an ideal minivan for road trips.
For a vehicle that makes road trips comfortable and entertaining (thanks to rear entertainment packages), gas mileage is an equally important factor when choosing a minivan. Out of our top-ranked minivans, the Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica are among the best-mpg minivans. The Sienna has the highest city mpg with 19 mpg, while the Pacifica has better highway mileage with 28 mpg.
The LX trim of the new Chrysler Pacifica brings comfort and safety together. Standard safety features include Rainy Day Braking, Smart Brake, and the Sentry Key(r) Theft Deterrent System. In the event of a collision, Advanced Multistage Front Airbags protect front passengers while side air bags and knee-bolster air bags bring additional support. Stow n' Go seats allow for multiple configurations between the cargo and cabin.
When equipped with the Advanced SafetyTec package, the Chrysler Pacifica was named the Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The SafetyTec Group includes Blind Spot and Cross Path Detection and ParkSense(r) Rear Park Assist. All of our highlighted models are among the safest new minivans of this model year.
One of the most useful functions of a minivan is the ability to lower the third (or even second) row seats for additional cargo space. Cargo space is determined in two ways: with the the second and third row seats in use or with the second and third row seats folded down. If you know you need maximum cargo space, opt for the Kia Sedona which offers a roomy 172.6 cubic feet of cargo space if you fold down both rows of seats (33.9 cubic feet with the seats in use). If you compare cargo areas without folding the seats, then the new Toyota Sienna wins with 39 cubic feet.
The new Kia Sedona SXL allows passengers in the second row to ride in the ultimate comfort of heated seats while listening to music via the Infinity(r) 8-Speaker audio system. Also included is Rear Parking Assist, Blind Spot Detection, and Lane Departure Warning System. The SXL also features heated outdoor mirrors and dual sliding doors.