How Do These Minivans Stack Up?
We brought together three of the heaviest hitters in the minivan game—the Toyota Sienna, the Chrysler Pacifica, and the Honda Odyssey—for the ultimate minivan showdown.
Erica Mueller, Scotty Reiss, and I had the pleasure of testing each of these vehicles at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Spring Roundup, and we knew we’d need to put all three minivans head-to-head to break down what makes each one great and help you make your most educated decision.
So, we’ve brought together three great vehicles that each have different sources of power: conventional gas (Honda Odyssey, priced from $37K-$49K), hybrid (Toyota Sienna, priced from $36K-$52K), and plug-in hybrid (Chrysler Pacifica, priced from $50K-$60K). We ran through the benefits of each minivan and its respective form of power—and we’ve done it in a video that helps you get all the visuals you desire. Check it out below!
Related: Can You Love a Minivan? 7 Head-Turning Features–You Might Just Fall in Love!
Toyota Sienna Hybrid
Toyota is bringing massive upgrades to its longstanding Sienna this year. First of all, this minivan is only offered as a hybrid, which means you’re going to capitalize on extended fuel mileage. And it just looks good. Toyota has completely revamped the Sienna’s look so that it’s a little more angular—more like an SUV than a minivan. You’ll love its best-in-class fuel economy and the upgraded styling, both inside and out.
What We Loved
- Tons of motion-activated kick-gates to easily open doors and trunks
- Tons of USB and USB-C charging ports and household charging plugs
- Captain’s chairs in the second row
- Reclining passenger seats
- Overhead video screens
- Tons of rear-row head space
- Individual volume knobs for rear passengers
- Ultra-deep cargo well with easily folding seats
- Wireless phone chargers for drivers
- Handbag space under the center console, plus a handbag hook
- Head-up display
- Live-view rearview mirror
Pricing
- Base LE trim: $36,885
- XLE: $44,195
- XSE: $44,445
- Woodland: $47,695
- Limited: $49,145
- Platinum: $52,345 (this is the model we tested)
Related: 2020 Toyota Sienna: 8 Reasons Why the Minivan is Still the King of Family Vehicles
Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid
The Chrysler Pacifica is consistently a favorite in the minivan world, and it’s easy to see why: not only does it also receive a SUV-like exterior reboot, but the interior is so luxe that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a luxury car. It also comes with tons of options for trims, so you can decide which engine style you like (hybrid vs. regular) and how swanky you’d like to get. And, since it’s a plug-in hybrid, you can travel using just electric power if you’d like.
What We Loved
- Luxe leather seats with their own pillows
- Under-console storage and cup holders
- Flip-up behind-the-seat entertainment screens with HDMI plugs
- Panoramic sunroof
- Blue dashboard to let you know it’s the plug-in hybrid version
- 30 all-electric miles per charge
- USB and USB-C chargers in every row
- Reclining third row
- Available motion kick gate for the trunk
- Tons of storage space
- Easily foldable rear seats
Pricing
- Base model Touring: $37,270
- Touring L: $41,425
- Hybrid Touring: $42,115
- Hybrid Touring L: $50,795
- Limited: $48,700
- Hybrid Limited: $55,390
- Pinnacle: $54,280
- Hybrid Pinnacle: $60,540 (this is the model we tested)
Related: 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Adds AWD and More Luxuries, Making the Minivan Decision an Even Easier “Yes”
Honda Odyssey
If a more classic, conventional gasoline engine is more your style, then you’ll love the Honda Odyssey, which is another classic model in the minivan game. It has a truly flexible cabin and feels effortless as you drive it, which is something you absolutely want when you’re hauling the kids. And, yes, there are plenty of luxury options depending on the trim—but you can easily nab the base model for functionality at an affordable price.
What We Loved
- Berber-style carpet in the rear seats
- Moveable second row, where you can add a third seat or slide the seats side to side for third-row access
- Plenty of space in the third row for adults
- Household power outlet, USB chargers, and volume for all passengers
- Two cup holders per seat
- Onboard vacuum whose hose will reach up to the second row
- One-pull folding seats
- Reclining third-row seats
- Pop-down entertainment screens
- Wireless charging in the center console
- DVD/Blu-ray player
- Social playlist that lets everyone contribute to what you’re listening to
- FamCam, which lets you see into the rear seats
Pricing
- Base-model LX trim: $37,490
- EX: $40,560
- EX-L: $41,360
- Touring: $44,600 (this is the model we tested)
- Elite: $49,620
