Minivans Just Got Really Interesting. Here’s Why You Should Check Your Ego and Take Look

We have long loved the beleaguered minivan for its utility, comfort and space. Sliding doors mean no dings in the doors of cars parked next to it. High ceilings mean plenty of room to maneuver kids car seats—and the kids that go in them. The deep cargo well means extra space for strollers, beach gear and even storage bins.

There’s nothing better for the family road trip, and while you may only need it for those few times a year, that alone can make driving it daily worthwhile.

But the downsides are weighty: these are the sensible shoes of cars, not the high-performance sneakers; they are the ones that won’t give you blisters, not the ones that’ll help you win the race. Or at least, that was the perception. Two new entries to the category and some favorite features in our old standbys have completely changed the game.

This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used.

The All Electric, Un-Minivan Van: VW ID Buzz

The VW ID Buzz is the minivan/unminivan that many have been waiting for: it’s all electric and takes a novel approach to van life. Not only is it unlike any minivan in terms of shape and look —VW actually calls it a bus, not a van— but VW has reinterpreted many of the details that are so common in family cars.

An all electric family car is great for families who can charge at home, who make daily short trips around town, commute, make regular school runs and the like. It’s not a bad option for road trips as long as you can find charging along the way. Here are the stats you need to know:

• 3rd row is the roomiest we’ve ever seen. Seriously, ever. 34″ between the center seat and 3rd row, with the center seat pushed all the way back

• All electric range: 230 miles or so

• Power: 282 HP in the rear wheel drive model; 335 HP in the dual motor AWD model

• Priced from $60K- $70K

• Does not (yet) qualify for federal tax incentives

• Choice of captains chairs or bench seating

This Interior is Seriously Fun

Kids love minivans because they are fun. Adults will love this one too. Here’s why the VW ID Buzz will delight you:

• Sliding center doors

• Full sets of child car seat LATCHes in EVERY rear seat. Every one.

• Center row seats will slide and tilt even with a forward facing car seat installed

• Voice activated assistance —just say “hello Ida” (for ID, though you can change this)

• A removable center console between the front seats has lots of places to hold things and there are drawers that pull out of the front and rear

• Cup holders pop out of the dashboard

• There is a wireless phone charger and wireless Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto

• The ambient lighting is awesome

• 3rd row seats are removable, but they do not stow in the floor due to the battery pack

• Flexboard cargo management space makes the most of space behind the 3rd row

The Minivan that Could Go as an SUV: Kia Carnival

It is not uncommon for people to mistake this minivan for an SUV. It happens all the time and nothing could make the people at Kia happier; the Kia Carnival was designed to look more like an SUV than a minivan. Mission accomplished.

It’s the sharp corners, the upright front grille and toned rear end that give the Kia Carnival minivan vibes. Inside, though, it’s all minivan, though: sliding side doors, a deep cargo well, 3rd row seats that stow in the floor, tons of space and lots of storage. Here are the key specs:

• Priced from $36,500 to $50,600

• Add $2,000 for the hybrid engine option, which generates 242 HP gets about 33 MPG

• The standard engine, a V6, generates 287 HP and gets about 21 MPG

A Posh Makeover Makes the Kia Carnival Even More Luxe

For 2025, Kia updated the multimedia system, adding “Hey Kia” voice assistance, a dial gear selector–look how pretty it is!— and a flat screen multimedia system. Here’s what else we love about the Kia Carnival makeover:

• All models come with seating for 8, though the center row can be converted to captains chairs by removing the middle seat. We can’t love this enough

• The top of the line can be upgraded with center row lounge seats that recline

• A center row entertainment system is an option

• All rear seats have lower anchors and upper tethers for child car seats

• There are two large sunroofs so everyone can soak up the sun

• A rear seat camera system lets you see what’s going on back there

• Luxuries like leather upholstery, head up display and a video rear view mirror are available

Need All Wheel Drive? You Have Choices

There are two choices for all wheel drive in a minivan, actually: Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica. But if you live someplace where snow, ice, heavy rain, hilly terrain or on a gravel road, you probably need AWD. Toyota and Chrysler have both added AWD as an option for their minivans; it’s about a $2,000 addition in the Toyota and about $3,000 in the Chrysler Pacifica.

The Toyota just got a nice upgrade for 2025 that adds new multimedia technology, a vacuum, a cool box (that really cools) and a motion-activated rear seat alert to ensure nobody is left behind.

Premium Features are a Minivan Thing, Too

Both the Chrysler Pacifica, pictured above, and the Toyota Sienna go the distance to pamper and spoil drivers and passengers. Both allow the option of leather interiors, window shades, entertainment systems and a full suite of safety features. The Pacifica is priced from $39,645 to $54,430; the Sienna is priced from $39,185 to $56,145.

Hybrid? Plug-in Electric Hybrid? All Electric? Those are Choices, Too

I’m just going to call it what it is: A luxury. Not having to stop for gas on the way to school when everyone is running late is a necessity. Not having to go to the gas station when the littles are feverish/hungry/crying/fighting is a saving grace. Being able to skip going to the gas station every week is a lifechanger.

There are 3 options to choose from:

• Hybrid: which gets better fuel economy but still requires gas; you’ll find this in the Toyota Sienna.

• Plug-in hybrid electric: when plugged in daily this has a range of about 35 miles of all electric driving; you can drive only on electric many days, and when the battery runs down, the hybrid gas engine kicks in. This is great for longer drives and road trips, The Chrysler Pacifica is the only PHEV minivan.

• All electric EV: This needs to be plugged in regularly but produces no tailpipe emissions, may qualify for tax incentives and may be able to use the HOV lane even when there’s only a single passenger in the car. The VW ID Buzz is the only all-electric in this group, and can be charged over night at a level 2 charger, which can be installed at home, or in about half an hour at a level 3 DC fast charge station.

Captains Chairs? Bench Seats? How About Both?

This is one of the smartest features in any car, in our opinion and that of legions of others: Center row seats that can be moved or removed. The Honda Odyssey has a super-smart system that not only allows you to take out the middle seat, but you can slide the other seats side to side and forward or back. You can physically separate fighting kids, move the baby closer to the front seat or slide your seat-kicker further back. You can also keep one of the outboard positions open for 3rd row access or simply, leave the seats as captains chairs and add the middle seat when you have that one extra passenger.

Other features we love in the Odyssey: a camera and microphone system that allows front seat passengers to see and hear those in the 3rd row, a really smart multimedia system and top notch safety features. Oh, and it’s been a while since the Honda Odyssey has been fully updated, so we expect even more goodness to be on the horizon soon.

Every Seat is the Best Seat in the House

The center row seat in the Kia Carnival (above) is removable, and it can fold down to create a center console for rear seat passengers. We love how Kia really thought about what matters to the people sitting in each seat.

That’s just part of what makes minivans so dang cool right now: they are clever, flexible and better looking than ever. And, still with prices still starting in the high $30K range and topping out under $60K—except the VW ID Buzz, which is priced from $60K to $70K, still a family-friendly range—these vans leave a lot of wiggle room in the budget for other fun things, like road trips to Disney or our National Parks.

And that just makes them all the more cooler.

More must-reads:

• Minivan Showdown: Toyota Sienna vs. Chrysler Pacifica vs. Honda Odyssey

• A Mom’s Take on Why the Toyota Sienna Minivan is so Popular