Selecting the Best Van for Your Family

So, you’re in the market for a used minivan for your family. Congratulations! But which minivans are the best for your family? And how can you research used minivans, if that’s what you’re looking for? US News and World Report extensively reviews many vehicles, including minivans for families. The news outlet uses a range of sources to establish their rankings and scores vehicles according to various criteria.

(Please note, this category doesn’t list finalists for 2013 and older.)

1. The Honda Odyssey: Best Used Minivan for Families 2011-2018

Best Van for family: 2012 Honda Odyssey
2012 Honda Odyssey

Based on US News’s rankings, the Honda Odyssey minivan is hands-down the best van for families. For its 2017 review, the news outlet wrote, “It received excellent safety scores and is expected to be more reliable than the average used car.” Reviewers reported that the 2016 model “has solid performance paired with a well-built interior that’s loaded with family-friendly features.”

2. The Toyota Sienna: Best Used Minivan for Families Finalist 2014-2016

Best Van for family: 2015 Toyota Sienna
2015 Toyota Sienna

All three years of the Toyota Sienna boast all-wheel drive, a useful feature in Canadian winters. US News also liked the models’ spacious, high-quality interior. However, it notes that the 2014 model “doesn’t handle as well as some rivals.”

3. The Kia Sedona: Best Used Minivan for Families Finalist 2015 & 2016

Best Van for family: 2015 Kia Sedona
2015 Kia Sedona

US News said that both years of the Kia Sedona have a beautiful, quiet interior and high safety rating. The 2015 model received “the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s highest score of Good in all crashworthiness categories and was named a 2015 Top Safety Pick,” US News says. The Sedona kept its title in 2016.

Unfortunately, the 2016 model “has a lower predicted reliability rating [than] the average used minivan.” For both models, US News relies on a report from J.D. Power that rated both 2.5/5 on reliability. A score of 3 is average. In addition, both models only have forward wheel drive.

4. The Chrysler Town & Country: Best Used Minivan for Families Finalist 2014

Best Van for family: 2014 Chrysler Town & Country
2014 Chrysler Town & Country

The Chrysler Town & Country has Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go system for both rows of back seats. This makes it easy for you to maximize the cargo space of the van. A rearview camera helps with backing up, and tri-zone automatic climate control makes sure that your kids can enjoy their preferred temperature. US News didn’t comment on the minivan’s safety features (except for the camera) but gives the vehicle a safety rating of 8.5/10.

Best Used Minivan to Keep an Eye Out For

According to US News’s rankings, the Chrysler Pacifica and its hybrid model were the two finalists for best used minivan for families in 2017 and 2018. Chances are slim you’ll find these at a used car dealer this year, but if you’re planning ahead, stay in touch with your local used car dealer about it.

You can sift through the US News ratings, visit our minivan listings, or contact your local used car dealer to find the right minivan for your family.

Related Articles