Getting started

With the rise of the SUV, the minivan market has shrunk in recent years. Many models have been discontinued and the overall variation has diminished, leaving a few similar minivans for shoppers to choose from. Minivans continue to improve overall refinement, while introducing clever packaging features and leading-edge entertainment solutions.

Why buy a minivan?

The main appeal of minivans is versatility: the ability to carry various combinations of people and cargo. Cabins can be configured from the strictly functional to living-room plush, with leather seating, tri-zone climate control, power doors, and rear DVD entertainment systems. That flexibility makes minivans the best choice for a wide range of buyers, from families to commercial users.

Key things to consider

When looking for a minivan, consider how many people you will be transporting, how much cargo space and storage capability you need, fuel economy, safety, and price.

All minivans come with a V6 engine right now. Some offer a choice of V6s but most do not. Power is typically in the 250-hp range. Fuel economy is in the high teens for most models, which is not great, but better than most of the three-row SUVs they compete with. Today's minivans are all based on front-drive platforms that are similar in size—what used to be called "extended length" some years ago. That means shoppers can focus on how they rate for overall performance and reliability, and on packaging and features, rather than deliberating over body size and configuration.

What you'll spend

Minivans are priced in the $25,000 to almost $40,000 range. The most costly models have long rosters of equipment, such as swivel rear seats, a small table or captain's chairs, power rear hatch, and all-wheel drive. Built-in entertainment and navigation systems can add significantly to the price.

See also:

GPS Navigation Systems

Car batteries

Car seats

Special Section:
Guide to Driving Green