That’s a good heads up. I haaaaated my (front wheel drive Chrysler) minivan for many reasons. One was that it was awful in the snow. I was so happy when my kids got out of the big car seats and I could get a more reasonably sized car.
The camera creeps me out. Last thing I want is a camera in every place I go, especially inside my car. Tesla was just exposed for spying on their customers through their cameras.
One word: Kids. No other vehicle does a better job at transporting kids and their stuff better than a minivan. I was a hater, but now I have 3 kids and we own a Sienna. Best family car we've ever owned. Recommend it to everyone with kids.
@@panicked8676 how can you compete with 36 mpg and room for all the car seats AND the sliding doors? We're driving this thing until it doesn't drive any more or my kids are grown. Whichever comes first.
It’s actually pretty simple, it’s comfortable, they are big, in the right ways, but yet very close to the ground so kids and elders can enter with no problem, also carry a lot of stuff. Besides the lack of work from designers minivans are the perfect family daily drivers.
It amazes me because minivans have the ideal form and function. Sedans, SUV are truly dumb designs, yet minivans lack design investment. Sliding doors? Yeah, more cars should have them. I'm FAR from a boomer, but wait until the millennial finally pays attention to form and function for items other than tech gadgets. After all, a Renaissance is just waiting to happen in everything outside tech and software. Make no mistake, it will happen in the next 5 or 10 years, LONG overdue. And boomers will be cool, though a dying breed, literally
@@awesomehli Sadans? I would say more light trucks and SUVs have "truly dumb designs." But I agree there's a renaissance coming, at least for cars. There's a good demand for small and practical light trucks, but manufacturers have been disincentivized to make them due to long-standing regulations.
@@David.77it costs the same money to make a small truck or a large truck, but large truck can be sold for double the price because sheeple will take out 10-year loan for it 🤦
@@David.77Sedans are dumb designs too, look how much utility you can get from the boot of a new civic once they made it a hatchback, hatchbacks are more practical and more space efficient.
I drove a minivan in high school. People would make fun of it but when we wanted to get 5 or more friends to the movie theater or the bowling alley it was great. When my brother's band wanted to play a show guess how they moved all the equipment? Road trips, summers beach trips, moving my mom's wall papering supplies. That van got a ton of use and was full of memories. Lots of glass made it easy to drive. It got pretty good mileage thanks to a turbo charger. A high driver's seat was comfortable.
100% this! In highschool, my buddy was the teen that drove the minivan... man, we'd howl and laugh hysterically at him driving it... but when it was time to go somewhere together, we'd all load up in the van and go. Great times.
This is very accurate. I bought a Chrysler Town & Country for work and I could fit an 4' x 8' piece of plywood in the back of that thing (with the rear seat removed). It was not only the most practical vehicle I've ever owned, but it was very comfortable to drive as the seats where like a sitting at a desk. No legs extending out like in a car. It could be a pain to park, but nothing like the huge trucks on the roads today. Especially since the rear doors slide open, so you need less space to get in the back.
Minivans are on par with full size SUVs for luggage space, and they have a low floor so old people, kids, and dogs can easily get in. Minivans are super underrated.
My sister was ADAMANT that she did not want a minivan. After looking at a couple of different SUVs with the salesman and saying she liked X about them but not Y, the salesman told her "you keep saying you don't want a minivan, but I have to be honest with you, everything you're describing that you want in a vehicle is going to be found in a minivan." And he was right - they got the minivan and she's been happy with that decision ever since.
the same thing you can get on a $40k minivan you'll need to get an almost $100k suburban to get similar feature. it's almost like they are just marking SUV up because people want to get SUVs.
The off-road and towing capabilities of a fullsize SUV though still have cons of a noisier ride, worse gas mileage, and maneuverability in tight areas. Basically a fullsize SUV isn't strictly better than a minivan, and they both have their place @@monkeyrun
Its funny that in the span of 5 to 10 years we've gone from being wowed by touch screens in cars to back to celebrating buttons for basic things like hvac controls.
I was never wowed. I always hated them. Thought they looked idiotic pointing out of the dash. You can buy a tablet computer separately and perhaps pair it with your car.
You aren’t young based on your picture, so that’s pretty wild that you have the short term memory to not realize screens have been readily available in normal cars for coming up on 30 years now.
@@Dragonvale105 yes screens have been in cars for awhile but having 90% of your controls on a menu on a touch screen is relatively new. I can’t think of any cars from 10 years ago where if you wanted to change your cabin temp it was burried in a menu on a touch screen outside of Tesla. Most BMW’s and mercs had static displays that you still needed use something like a dial to control what was on the screen. I had a 2012 BMW 335 and everything on that was still accessed with a dial I had to use to navigate what was on screen. My mk7 2015 gti was the first car I ever had that had a touch screen for controlling media and some menus for car settings. But things like hvac and heated seat controls were still physical controls. My 2020 Volvo was the first I’ve had where even changing fan speed requires tapping through a couple of screens.
minivans and station wagons is the right tool for a family. the minivan will move tons of people in the best way. the station wagon is the everything car. it can haul some people, some stuff and attach a trailer.
@UA-camdeletedmycomment Calm down😂 Nobody wants to take away your SUV Just look at it with logic and stop lying to yourself and everyone else. You dont need it, you just want it... And that's fine It's just that there should be different regulations for "needs" and "wants"... Greetings from Germany :)
My kids are grown, but we take vacations with a lot of stuff. Also, sometimes we need to move stuff around. We have removed the back seat including the one that folds in. The minivan is the most efficient way to get a lot of covered locked space on wheels.
We had a 2011 Dodge Grand caravan for 11 years. We put over 200k miles on it. We got it when all three of the kids were in car seats or boosters. Drove that thing all over soccer/baseball out of state tournaments and family vacations. Our oldest is now driving himself and we finally gave it up after the transmission started to go out. That thing served our family very well over the years.
The reason people buy minivans, is it's the peak form of a practical vehicle. The reason people resist minivans, is they don't want to think there life has changed to the point where peak practicality is for them.
Pickup trucks are the most practical vehicles. If you’re a homeowner with a little land you always need to haul something dirty. They can also carry passengers in the cab and bed.
@@user-tb7rn1il3qNot really. Unless you’re towing minivans are better at hauling almost anything a truck can. Full-size trucks have super low payloads of like 1100 lbs now and beds aren’t as useful as you think. How often are you hauling a fridge or some gravel. A minivan can haul lumber way better than a pickup, furniture way better. Stuff people actually haul. And what do tradies use for work? Work vans most of the time. Pickups are not very practical except for towing and niche things. Truck can’t haul 6-8 people on a road trip across the country with all their stuff
@@dawsongranger4940 The F350 can hold over 3 tons. I’d like to see someone haul a load of dirt, rocks, mulch, tree branches, manure, concrete, refrigerator, mud covered mountain bikes, dirt bikes, quads etc. in a minivan. The truck payloads are way more conservative than a minivan. Put twice the payload in a truck no problem. Put 5 adults in a minivan and it’s on the bump stops. The average family size is declining, no need for the extra passenger space. If you do fill a minivan with people there is no space for the luggage. Most tradesmen use pickups. Long boards won’t fit in a minivan. Good luck going off road in a minivan, it will fall apart really fast.
@@user-tb7rn1il3q Literally everyone here is singing minivans praise. Are you genuinely trying to say an f350 is a family vehicle? Almost nobody needs the size of an f350. Cool it’s got a higher payload and a bed. Almost no family is utilizing that. You can haul stuff like mulch in a van or any damn car. Just put a sheet down. Beds aren’t useful to 95% of people. The low floor is also way better than a pickup, don’t need to be an acrobatic to get in or put something in that bed. If you watched the video there’s plenty of room behind the third row for stuff. A van can probably fit an 8 ft board in it, maybe even 10. Tradesmen use work vans lol. Nobody is off roading it’s just a fad. Everything you’re saying sounds good on paper but almost nobody actually does any of that
I have a Pacifica AWD non hybrid. We tested all the 3 row SUVs and the second we sat in the minivan, it blew away all the SUVs. More space, better fuel efficiency, the sliding doors meant we could open in the garage with no worry of dings, lower load height for my short wife, stow and go, and the list went on. It destroyed our anti minivan paradigm. After 9 months of ownership with 2 littles and family nearby, it's been the perfect tool for the job. My friends who have 3 row SUVs with kids are surprisingly jealous. They aren't the sexy option but man, they are the practical option.
Amen. I wish they worked on looks just a little more on American MVs. I actually see a lot of customized Sienna's here in SoCal. If Pacifica (or American car makers et al) could achieve that sexyness, it'd be getting one.
I have owned a Pacifica Hybrid for 3 years and I ABSOLUTELY love it. Here is why: 1. 90% of our driving is on electric - going into town, taking kids to school etc. and then recharge.. in real world, I am getting about 31 miles on battery. But..... we also drive from Chicago to Florida every year and the gas engine is a champ! It literally is the best of both worlds. 2. Storage...I know this was covered in the video but it really is true, this van can hold a lot! (Stuff and/or people) 3. Fit and finish (I know sometimes Chrysler gets a bad rap) but I think it's really nice. 4. Tax incentive! For us personally it worked out! They're are other little things but I have put over 60k miles on this thing and I couldn't be happier😀
Pacifica Hybrid owner from Chicago here as well. For the entire summer we filled up our gas tank maybe once every 3 1/2 weeks? Got between 900-1300 miles per tank.
@@deansmits006 could also be due to the fact that many people (I would imagine) do not have a level 2 charger in their garage....I do, so mine charges in 2 hours. A level 1 charger world take like 13 hours and I probably wouldn't use that either
@@camkeena6874 That's factually incorrect. A pacifica with stow and go seats have 140.5³ of cargo space. It's equal to having a pickup with an 8ft bed but also being able to load it 4ft high without needing to strap things down. SUVs in general tend to have less cargo space than minivans purely because of the higher riding height. Minivans tend to have a similar ride height to sedans but SUVs tend to be marketed as for offroading so they raise the vehicle, but this means the floor is much higher off the ground so being a similar height to a minivan, the SUV may have 15-25% less space. Plus I really don't know any car outside the pacifica that lets you flip down both the rear and middle row into the floor.
@@camkeena6874 nope. I have an Enclave which is about the same size as Tahoe. It holds nowhere close to what a minivan does. And the biggest of big Suburban is just about the same as a minivan. But the minivan has a bigger hatch and lower load floor so it's actually easier to fit oversized items.
Exactly! My uncle prefers to use his old Toyota sienna minivan over Cybertruck he's recently bought for showing off. That also included his old Toyota Tacoma full size truck as well.
Mazda5 former owner here. Minivans are purpose-built tools with no fakery and no pretentiousness. Buying the right tool for the job should never be uncool.
Totaled a recent car and I was able to get a 5 off of an older couple. I love the thing. I want more minivans of its size in the states. Its so practical, useful, and efficient. Grew up hating the minivans of the 90s, but damn in my mid 30s, I love em.
@@TheBirdboy84 Mazda5 is more like a station wagon disguised as a minivan. You have have up to 6 people OR cargo, the rear row people also need to be short as there is no legroom.
We have a 5 as well. ours is a STICKSHIFT! I love the idea of rev matching as I downshift...a minivan! It has served us well but we are ready to trade it in for something that's AWD. Sadly, we have moved to a very hilly area with frequent icing and the FWD on our 5 just isn't going to cut it. I am so bummed that there's no similar option in the market anymore. Europe and Japan have similar cars, but not the US. Oh well. I guess we will either go with a regular minivan (Sienna AWD), or go electric with a Kia EV9 or a VW ID.Buzz.
My first car was a Toyota Sienna Minivan. The dealer admitted he wasn't planning on showing me it, as he figured there was no young man in the world who would want one. I was also apprehensive about it, but after driving it, I told him I'd take it. Incredibly smooth ride with decent power (3.5 V6). It's been so useful over the years. With all the seats out I essentially have a 7-7.5 foot "bed". Great for transporting friends and family and moving stuff, and it can't be beat as a car camper. If you are in the mindset of practicality, it's a fantastic vehicle. Too many people let pride get in the way though. The things I do have against it though, are no 4WD, the towing capacity is limited, and I hate my fuel mileage. Other than those, amazing vehicle.
Rainy day. Rear door child locks are on. You pull up to an elementary school to let your kids out. In a minivan: Push one button to open the passenger side slider. Kids all get out that one door. (And hey, they were going to get wet anyway.) Nobody is required to get out on the traffic side. In an SUV: Kids can't open the rear doors. You get out, before carefully checking the rear view mirror for anybody passing on your left. You close your door. Maybe open the rear driver side door to help one kid out. You walk around the car (it's really raining!). You open the rear passenger door. Other kid(s) get out. You walk back around the car (waiting for any traffic to pass) and finally get back in, smug in the fact that no one caught you driving a minivan.
@UA-camdeletedmycomment it's there for a reason? If you are not a child, then this really isn't the question to be asking as an adult... it's for kids and kids only.
I will never understand why minivans have so many haters purely based on looks. To get cargo capacity of a typical minivan you have to purchase a Suburbian - a vehicle that's 2 feet longer, 1/2 foot taller, harder to get into, harsher riding, with poor handling, and an awful gas mileage.
The 90s. Karens always existed we just didn't call them that back then. A mini-van was the official car of Karens in the 90s. A single obnoxious section of their customer base killed the image of the minivan. The minivan would pull up, three unruly kids would hop out, and the Karen made everyone suffer them. Seeing a minivan pull up was a coinflip omen of dread. Either got the coolest mom or the worst mom.
@@halycon404 never associated karens with minivans. They were normally caring parents hauling there kids and friends around and cared more about function
You beat me to it. My wife's car is an Odyssey and frankly, minivans are nigh impossible to beat if you need room, economy and comfort. It kind of amazes me how many people have SUVs that will never see the slightest bit of dirt or grass. They're slower, with relatively poor handling, get lousy mileage and ride less well.
I'm so glad you got in an actual minivan! I was a little offend on behalf of all minivans when you compared the EV9 to one. Also, my favorite underrated feature of a minivan is being able to carry full sheets of plywood within the vehicle. Even most pickup trucks can't keep plywood dry on a rainy day.
full sheet of plywood, and in many minivans the middle 2 seats in addition to all the back seats fold down right into the floor, you dont even have to remove them - just lift the floor up, bam bam they rotate right down into the floor, and you have a full 4' x 8' of plywood in there on a pretty flat floor.
Yeah it sucks that only the non hybrids have second rows that collapse in the floor. The extra mpg would be nice, but then again the no. Hybrid drive train is probably more reliable.
With the removable captain's chairs, you can often fit a full 4x8 sheet and all your other crap on top. That's why all the og handyman dudes drive a rusted out grand caravan or similar.
Because the auto makers spent millions of dollars of marketing to upsell the larger SUVs instead. A station wagon or minivan is suitable for the vast majority of the US population but that is way cheaper and less money in their pockets.
A kei car would also suit the needs of most people too yet your not saying anything about those. Let people buy what the want. If we bought what we actually needed we would have no luxury cars, v6s, v8s, coupes, sedans and more
@@baronvonjo1929 Kei cars have essentially been outlawed in most of America to keep pushing outrageously expensive trucks that are less functional. I hate it here.
We've had our Pacifica Hybrid for a few years now and it really is a great vehicle. 30ish miles of all electric range. 30 MPG combined once the electric range runs out. Great for road trips. Comfortable. Lots of storage. Decent tech. The Uconnect Theater is great for the family. The only problem is it's reliability. It's one of the lowest rated vehicles for reliability. We've had ours at the dealership for warranty work over a dozen different times in 3.5 years. Even right now, they ordered a new module for the infotainment and a new front sensor that impacts AEB and cruise control, and they've already replaced both of those under warranty before. If they can get the reliability figured out though, it's an ideal vehicle for families.
I've got a Pacifica too and the only thing I've had to replace in 5 years is the small battery for the auto start/stop system because we weren't driving at all during covid so it died.
. Former minivan owner here. My advice to new parents is always “Just buy the damn minivan!” All of the large stuff little kids require, from pack-and-plays and strollers earlier to camping and sports gear later, fits in easily and quickly within a minivan’s cargo hanger-sized space. Also, the first time it’s pouring down rain and you are able to open the giant rear hatch and load the kid(s), the stroller,and yourself inside without having to unbuckle and disassemble everything in the downpour, you’ll be sold. Bonus points for a nice ride and reasonable fuel economy too.
Current owner, have to agree. We sometimes will rent an SUV for trips that work is paying for and I’m ALWAYS disappointed. Wish more rental shops carried vans.
@@dnvnnckI think it’s more of it’s just harder to get vans for rentals. All of them except for Chrysler can’t keep up with demand. And when most families do go on vacation they’ll rent a minivan over a comparable sized SUV because the minivan can be way cheaper.
I had an Odyssey for like 10 years, and it was glorious. Ideal for road trips with the family, ideal for hauling stuff around, held bikes, and camping gear, big enough to sleep inside, had a built in DVD player to entertain the kids, but was too old to have carplay or even bluetooth. I absolutely loved that thing. Anyone who hates on minivans, or feels embarrassed to drive one, well that says something about you.
As an Expedition owner/enjoyer, I love renting a Pacifica for work trips because they haul and ride super nice. I get out at valet and they still call me Sir. I love it. I don't care.
He touched on it at the end of the video, but one of the biggest benefits for those of us with kids (aside from all the storage and other things he highlighted) is indeed the sliding doors! You never have to worry about your kids hitting the car parked next to you as they are getting out. Coming from an SUV, I can't tell you how much relief that is!
Except if you live where there are mosquitoes and you are trying to get in and shut the door as quickly as possible and then it’s a lifetime waiting for that sliding door to close.
@@WaltWW Man, that actually happened to us one time going through the Delta of Arkansas. We were slapping them things for miles going down the road. Evil little boogers.
@@WaltWW The Sienna lets you turn off the motor and slide it manually with one button. Just like the older minivans before automatically sliding doors.
If you have 3 kids an SUV might work depending on your hauling needs and if the third row can be partially put down. If you 4 kids or more a minivan is necessary.
@great-one0389 If you have 3 kids, get a minivan. You don't need a Ford Explorer that gets 20 mpg, and that can tow 5 thousand pounds or whatever when you can get a minivan that can get over 25, hold more people and stuff comfortably, and wond contribute to the market and stereotype of everything needing to be a crossover
Wagons … probably look the best, or reflect who I am? Dunno which! But I do love the idea of a luxury, but sports, but wagon, Mercedes Benz. Having said that, the actual correct choice is probably an all-wheel-drive option from Subaru, which will save my ass on one of those occasions I can't help myself taking the gravel side-road "scenic option". And who can say no to that Japanese reliability … again, there when you need it.
Wagons, indeed. Although I'll admit that wagons are better when bigger and when you scale them up enough, you end up with a long hood minivan extended wheelbase. Correct the long snout and...that's a minivan again :)
Minivans squeezed out wagons when they hit the market. The reason was simple. When the original minivan, the Chrysler Voyager, hit the market in 1984, it was a 4 or 6 cylinder that comfortably carried 8 people (all facing forward). In order to get the same utility out of a wagon, you needed a full-size wagon with an 8 cylinder engine. It was simply a more efficient people carrier.
I have owned 2 Dodge Grand Caravans, 2 Chrysler Town and Country, and recently purchased a the Pacifica Hybrid. They can do it all including towing. Between all the mini vans I have carried 3 kids, 4 dogs, remodel 3 houses, traveled over 700,000 miles. I will always have one.
@@joshuapaulson7962 yeah i just towed a 3000lb 22ft trailer with my minivan (caravan). Funny thing is my wifes "SUV" (honda pilot) wasn't able to tow it as it was over the weight limit. You would think it would be reversed.
The towing is my one hang-up when looking at the hybrids - they're not rated for it. The transmission isn't built for towing (at least on the models I looked at over the last few years). The regular gas ones, on the other hand, have been rated at 3,600 lbs.
Bought an Odyssey Elite a few years ago. Best decision ever. That thing does everything! Road trips, lumber yard trips, taking friends to a concert, drives like a car, and has pretty good power for what it is.
Yeah my parents have an Odyssey, hauled their boat, hauled bags and bags of cement, you name it. Truck is maybe slightly better for it but the sacrifice you make to be better at hauling something 10 times a year is not worth it
It's funny that there's so much love for pickup trucks and so little for minivans. Loading that minivan is probably a breeze since it's so low to the ground. Trying load pickup trucks can be a chore because some of those beds are like chest height, plus it's all open to the elements (and thieves) unless you get a locking bed cover. And with the size of truck cabs these days, you can't even fit a full sheet of plywood in the back. If you're doing an Ikea run, minivans are the optimal play. Plenty of (comfortable) seats for helpers and plenty of room to get everything home easily.
When it’s raining and you and your kids and dog are running to your car, and you press the buttons on your remote and they all get in on quickly and easily though big sliding doors without your intervention, then you understand.
Minivans actually have a lot more space in them and any SUV. The biggest difference is the ceiling to floor height. As a cyclist I can tell you that a minivan is much more spacious. Last fall I rented a Pacifica and went on a road trip with 3 friends with 3 bicycles and all of our gear and luggage....with room to spare! All inside the vehicle, no racks needed. A Honda Element is the only other vehicle I can recall that this was possible.
We have a Pacifica PHEV, sport trim. It looks pretty darn good. Never thought I'd be a mini van dad, but with twins and an infant, there's no going back. It's comfortable, practical, and the cargo space when seats are down/removed is ridiculously huge! Never going back to an SUV.
Thank you for the review! I actually work at the plant that builds the Pacifica and we take great pride in building it. It's not for everyone but it's one of the most practical vehicles ever made.
@@samuelgosden1106 that's a good question. The Pacifica is getting a refresh in the next couple years so I could definitely see it getting the inline 6. The pentastar has been around for a long time so I would assume they'll upgrade it next time around.
Would love to see the Pacifica get the RAM charger pickup drivetrain. 100ish miles EV range, and no direct connection from the ICE to the transmission.
My Honda Odyssey was primarily our kid transporter, but even after the kids were grown the Odyssey was useful for years and years as a "work truck" and moving van.
I've been a minivan denier for as long as I can remember but finally succumbed to it. Own one and can't deny this thing is efficient, functional and ridiculously comfortable
@@boostav VERY VERY VERY few of the 3 row SUVs have ANY leg room in that 3rd row OR ANY cargo space behind it when in use. Not saying NONE but it is a VERY short list. Nearly all minivans have a 3rd row that an adult could sit in and enough room for a FULL SIZE stroller behind the rear row.
@@YKSGuy The only three row SUV I have ever been in where there was both 3rd row leg room and space behind is Subrubans (Yukon XL and Escalade ESV by extent).
Minivans have been so hated on in favor of giant SUVs, but minivans are just plain better as family vehicles. You don't have to climb up on runners to put kids in car seats and they're generally safer since they're less likely to roll in a crash. Much better on gas and better visibility too.
I bought a 2020 in 2023 with 12,000 miles and saved 32k. Had a Dodge Caravan and the Pacifica is a big improvement. One feature he didn't show was the middle seat stow and go. All 4 back seats stow into the floor!
The biggest thing that the hybrid here doesn't have are the STow-n-go seats that fold into the floor. The Sienna doesn't have that, the Honda Odyssey has removeable seats, but the Pacifica is the only car where the thrid AND second row can be stowed into storage, allowing for you to dynamically switch from full mini-van setup to quasi-flat-bed with a standard cab. It's crazy useful and also allows for a limousine setup with the second row down and the third row up.
I thought the same about wanting the stow-n-go seats, but when I realized that car seats are in the second row most of the time then that feature isn't that valuable. The sliding side to side feature of the Odyssey is something we have found to use and remain in a slide position on a continual basis. With the center small seat removed, the outer seat is slid next to the other generating a large "reception area" for my little ones to climb in and stand while they take their backpacks and whatever off. That is something of value that is used every single day when we pick the kids up from school. The use for a stow-n-go feature is great, but only for very limited use purposes as a mini van typically has people in it with gear versus all seats absent and only needing to haul stuff. To each their own of course. The Pacifica is still a great van, but IMO the Odyssey beats it for use case and for eventual resale value. Your examples of when those second row seats are down are gimmicks and/or "bar tricks". Your use case need for it may be 100% appreciated and that's good, but for the mass population shopping a van, I recommend the Odyssey.
@@ArizonaHotSauceexactly…. I have the 2018 Odyssey which was the first year of the “magic row” middle seats and I love them. Especially when we had kids in car seats and couldn’t really use the “normal” mechanism to get to the third row. Now that they are 7 and up I put the center back in the middle so they can have the cup holders and that little tray that’s on the fold down portion. But when we need the space it is easy enough to take out. Granted the main middle row seats are a complete PITA to take out and put back just because they are heavy and bulky. But it’s doable.
@@absolutjackallove the magic seats. When the kids car seats are installed in the captains chairs with the jump seat in the trunk or garage... Just slide to the middle and people can access the 3rd row with ease. SUVs all try to fold the 2nd row and it doesn't work with car seats installed!
Everyone loves to hate on a minivan. But I'm here to tell you, I'm not a big Chrysler fan, but a Chrysler minivan with dual sliding doors and stow and go seating is the most practical vehicle you'll ever own. if you have more than two kids, a minivan just makes infinitely more sense than an SUV. Something else nobody thinks about. Minivans sit at the perfect height for people who have hip problems or knee problems. You don't have to climb up and you don't have to drop down. You literally just climb straight in. I knew a few people who owned minivan specifically for that reason.
@@mrgallbladder fully agree. But I don't think the Hondas and Toyotas have the stow and go seating which for me is a bit of a deal-breaker. And the new Chryslers that have come out since Fiat bought the company are somehow worse than the old ones were even. They're all just electrical disasters.
I have two Chrysler Minivans with the stow'n go seats, and a Kia Sedona, and they are the best vehicle for almost anything- not racing obviously!!! I just wish, like some people here have expressed, they had the build quality of Toyota, Kia and/or Honda. Imagine all the Chrysler features but made by Toyota/Kia/Honda Quality, it would be the best vehicle ever!!!!
Had a 2005 Dodge Caravan and absolutely loved it! Had it for about five years and did not have one issue (good thing, because it looked awful to work on). Could carry driver +6 passengers or you can pull the seats out and haul some drywall or a full-sized washer/dryer, or refrigerator. Most versatile vehicle I’ve ever owned and it’s not even close.
When my kids were young, we always had minivans, starting with the OG Ford Aerostar. Now as a 70 year old grandpa after going through the pickup truck and SUV phase, I rediscovered the all-around utility and comfort of minivans. Just purchased a Sienna hybrid and love it.
I got a minivan once we had a child. And let me tell you, I love minivans. They have tons of room and you can take out all the seats for extra space. I can fit two families in a minivan. So for a family person, yeah, Minivans rock!!
I had a minor fender bender with my EUV and got a loaner Pacifica hybrid for the month it was in the shop and ended up buying myself one i loved it so much. It's quiet, comfortable, and im averaging anywhere from 45-55mpg and primarily on electric throughout the week. The space is incredible!
Seriously bro? It's just a vehicle. How pathetic, weak, and fragile do you have to be to refuse to review a minivan? Someone who can't review a minivan because they think it's unmanly probably would suck off Andrew Tate on the spot no questions asked. Are you gonna give him props for not shitting his pants too?
Picked up a 2000 Grand Caravan for $1000 about 15 years ago. Slowly fell in love with it: great visibility, great stereo, removable seats, lots of power and decent mileage. And at over 6 feet tall I had tons of leg room! I drove it into the ground but there have been many days where I wished I still owned it.
Two things from a Pacifica owner: 1) there is only one wide angle camera coming from the ceiling. You tap on which seat you want to zoom in on and it crops in on that seat to produce the second image, & 2) you don't need to push in the gear selector when you turn it to put it in gear
Dad of 4 young ones here. The van is AMAZING. They don't ding doors in the parking lot, they can easily get in and out, there's plenty of room for their car seats and things like bags, etc. We have a Subaru Ascent as well, and just today the older kids (9 and 7) were complaining about how tight the back is and asking why we didn't bring the van. The fact you can have a roof rack for top box, ski stuff, bikes, whatever, and then attach a hitch too to have a bike rack or tow something just makes it an incredibly versatile vehicle. I would love for Rivian or Tesla to come out with a car that can haul a family of 6 comfortably. The R1S and Model X are just too tight. I'd actually consider paying the premium for such a vehicle. As it stands I probably have to wait for an EV Suburban or something many years away. We do cross country road trips with my kids in various seasons, and the lack of 4 wheel drive (and clearance I suppose) is the one major detractor that prevents us from always using the van..
Another good video. My mom had a Dodge Caravan minivan. I actually had to drive that while in college. It did 0-60 in about five minutes. I later succumbed to the minivan allure when I had two toddlers and bought a first gen Kia Sedona. It was all that is wrong with a vehicle. Bad visibility, slow, even when driving 85 MPH. Not enough actual legroom. And I know people could not see around me. Yes, my kids loved the room in the back, but it just wasn’t worth it. I can’t actually remember the last time I went through a toll booth. I have heard they exist on the East Coast. Not a thing here in California.
I drive a 2011 Kia Carnival Diesel Minivan. It’s been absolutely great; built well, reliable, and huge space. Would be even more fun with a tune, better brakes, and perhaps extra sound deadening foam. I can use it to transport goods for my business or take a long trip with the family.
My brother & sister-in-law bought that minivan because they have 2 young kids and are public school band teachers. An SUV doesn't have enough cargo capacity to haul two kids still in booster seats and a bunch of instruments in the back. The electric mode is enough to get them to school every day, plug in at night, and on the weekends still make a weekend 150 mile trip. They love their Pacifica Hybrid!
Sounds like a really good deal. What more could you ask … well, besides a functioning mass transit system that is nice enough for rich people to use, but I'm just coming off the high of the Sydney Metro launching a few days ago, excuse me.
@@nukers1234 often minivans have more storage space than an suv because they are designed better. Also suvs and pickup trucks are unsafe because they are high up off the ground, making rollovers and running people over more common. If you hit someone they should land on the hood, not go under the vehicle.
@@EzyPup I know, my 8 seater Excursion isnt the norm when it comes to SUV's, and i feel that every time im dumb enough to drive it into the city. Regarding roll overs i cant say this way or that way as i drive in Europe and we dont have that problem as far as i know, But we also calls the Toyota Rav4 a big suv. But as i wrote in another post here, this car looks great, both as an people carrier, and as one that you just can throw a lot of stuff into without worry about the space
@@nukers1234 SUVs are more giant now than they were 20 years ago. If you need that much storage a cargo van or 11-passenger van is a better vehicle for your actual use case. It is easier to load/unload, and the center-of-gravity is lower so it is less likely to flip in a turn.
Overlooked the built in vacuum and the second row passenger controls for moving the front passenger seat where you end up having four to five foot of legroom. You can also remove the second row seats fairly easily and fit full sheets of plywood in this.
Not to mention minivans do what I call "truck mode." Remove the second row and fold down the third row. Now you can carry all the mulch from the spring sale back to your house
If you go with the regular gas engine on Pacificas the second row captains chairs also fold into the floor. I absolutely miss having my old Town and Country for that convenience.
Yeah but the mulch won't stink up my truck when it's in my bed. Not hating on minivans, but last time I got 20 bags of mulch they smelled awful. I can't imagine having to ride in the same cabin as them.
@@leecm while I agree trucks have their place, I'd argue most people don't cart around mulch all that often and a minivan will work for the majority of tasks your average Joe would use a truck for. Minivans work to transport most building supplies, work well when moving, can haul a surprising range of furniture, etc. It's worth borrowing a truck or paying the rental fee at your department store the couple of times a year you actually need one and then having a van the other 99% of the time for the convenience, lower cost, better gas mileage, comfort, etc. Again, this is your average person - there are definitely people that need a truck.
My mom drove Minivans for 19 years while having kids. Between strollers, diaper bags, and purses, etc...the ease and space they have was great for her to get us and things in and out with no problem. And the sliding doors...*mwah.* Perfect! You can't hit someone's car because your child isn't swinging the door open like an SUV. We still own a minivan and I drive it periodically despite having my own car. I feel that people need to stop being so concerned with appearances and status and drive a car that actually works for them. If that means driving a minivan because it works for you, then by all means drive it! They are still fun. And cheaper. Toyota is still making the Sienna and people drive them all over where I live.
The hybrid only comes in front wheel drive. It’s a nice vehicle, especially in the Pinnacle trim. However, as with any Chrysler product, reliability is an issue. Service at Mopar dealerships sucks. I have one of these and love it, but my next minivan is probably going to be the Kia Carnival Hybrid.
Your delivery of information is unparalleled. I couldn’t give less of a shit about minivans, but you bet I was on the edge of my seat the whole time watching 😂
If you want a minivan that looks like an SUV get a Kia Carnival. We had a Ford explorer that our little kids couldn’t get into on their own and now have a Carnival that they can press a button and get into themselves and sort themselves out. Plus more storage capacity behind the third row and removable middle seat in the second row. Every family with little kids should have one. Given the waitlists and demand it’s surprising that there are only four minivans currently on the market (Pacifica, Carnival, Odyssey, Sienna)
Marques being wowed by the minivan features found in my 2012 Sienna is hilarious. Love the van, carpool 6 middle/ high schoolers to school no problem. Camping no problem. Family of 4 visiting, no problem.
We have two as well, our older one does truck duty when stuff needs to be moved, a Honda Odyssey is going to last longer than most trucks. The other is the daily and road trip van.
We use our Chrysler minivan to haul our dogs around, especially to dog shows. Like you mentioned the sliding doors are great in parking lots getting the dogs in and out. The model we have has the “Stow and Go” middle row of seats. They fold down into the floor thus providing an uninterrupted flat floor from the back of the front seats to the back of the van. Unlike most vans those seats don’t have to be removed and stored somewhere. We also have a Dodge van with the same seats.
My guy, you didn't talk about how low it is to the ground. The #1 best feature of a minivan is when your kids get in by themselves, loading children into taller vehicles like mall crawling Jeeps is like lifting the heaviest kettlebells at your gym without handles.
Behold the humble van: the most practical vehicle on the planet. Scourge of parents trying to hold onto the SUV "cool" factor, and the one true 3rd row family vehicle. but why did it have to be a Chrysler
We used a Hybrid Pacifica for a while and it was pretty great. Mileage was awesome, AA wireless was amazing, charging ports everywhere. The Hybrid UFO noises were a bit heavy and the consumer reports rating is tough to get past. Overall, a great vehicle.
A someone that is 6'3" with family and friends mostly all over 5'10", minivans are the goldilocks zone of vehicles. Space, comfort and utility. The only problem I have with the hybrid shown is the most useful feature was removed - the Stow'n'go 2nd row. Being able to carry a ton of stuff then quickly switch to carrying people without taking seats out is so convenient. Ever go to an Ikea, buy something than realize it won't fit behind the 2nd row, not a problem with 2nd row stow'n'go, drop seats on one side of vehicle and away we go.
My family has a Honda Odyssey, and it’s currently the car that I drive mostly. It’s 17 years old and has 194,000 miles. It has served my family through numerous road trips across the western half of the United States. It served well as my car during high school and being able to bring friends to numerous places. It doesn’t get much use nowadays, but whenever we have guests or we need to haul lots of stuff, our Odyseey is still around for those tasks. An Odyssey, or any minivan really, is more reliable in being the practical family car, or even a car for anyone with large groups of friends, than any huge SUV that people buy nowadays
Fair review and good to have a dad present to share his use case with one small child. A better test would be to bring 2-3 kids, 2 car seats, in the rain with grocery bags and a stroller and sit the Pacifica beside ANY 3 row SUV and figure out which one is easier to load and unload. That Pacifica’s sliding and rear cargo doors are also motion activated for hands free operation. That’s the use case.
this thing is soooo sick. i have automotive cetifications, i was a mechanic in the army reserves, i worked in construction, i have a pretty good garden and farm small animals for meat. I say all of this because people out there who hate on minivans are just showing their ''ball sack pickup truck'' energy. pride is a deadly sin for a reason, fellas. id proudly whip this any day and be psyched about it
I’ve taken the Pacifica minivans on road trips over the years. They are great for space and the USB ports are great for the passengers. Went on a CA to TX trip for the Solar Eclipse. Was a treat for all the space.
I rented a Town & Country for the few weeks before my wedding, for taking visiting family around town. Was shocked at how much I enjoyed driving it. I'm normally a performance guy I love a vehicle I can throw around. But the Chrysler was so comfy and loaded it won me over.
I was looking for a vehicle for someone and found a really cheap Hyundai minivan. I bought it and then they didn't like driving it. They had had a bad accident with a Sporttrak and the van was a replacement - the big open space behind the driver spooked her too much. What I learned - minivans are almost always well loaded and priced low and are equally nice in every seat -- not just the "drivers seat" like many SUVs. I seriously almost kept the van which I paid cash for instead of my Explorer that was NOT paid for. All that cargo space without folding down seats, REMOVEABLE seats -- especially the back. For utility they blow every "sport" utility vehicle out of the water. What saved my Explorer was the safety systems (it was the first year model of the "new" Explorer and had ALL modern safety) and the much better audio. The Hyundai was a few years before those features became standard and it had an odd stereo with NO external inputs but with a "standard" booster. So it was loud but only had CD and AM/FM. It was more like driving a truck, with the features of a "car."
Kids are grown and out of the house and we still purchased a Kia Carnival last year. Going to the cottage? No tetris needed. You can throw everything in and go. I renovated our bathroom last year. I removed the second row seats and went to the hardware store to get five 4'X8' drywall and two 4'X8' plywood sheets. Everything fit flat and the tailgate closed. This is particularly cool as it was raining. What pickup truck or SUV can do that?
I worked and studied out of a Hyundai Entourage third row seat for a year while on the road… bolted a Jeep XJ seat backwards so I could have manual geared seat back control and welded a desktop to span the deep well area the seat would normally flip down into. Then when I got married, I loaded it up with about 2,500 lbs of drinks from the caterer to transport to the reception venue and despite some swaying from the weight, it did the job. That little van was a tank until I gave it to my best man. Minivans are incredible vehicles.
Me and my wife realized about 3 years ago that mini vans were almost all gone and now replaced by suvs; when growing up we saw tons of minivans, so it's strange to see them gone. I didn't know people hated them until i started this video. They shouldn't, they're great
Back in 2019 we travelled to Orlando (I'm from Brazil) and we rented a Pacifica. I was able to fit 7 people (4 adults and 3 kids ages 7-12) and all their stuff (including at least one suitase and one backpack per person) in just that one car. They didin't show it, but if you need it, not just the third roll folds flat with the floor, but the second too, allowing dor some serious stuff carying! And if all seats are up, the space where the second roll seats are stored can be used for storage, just like a couple of chests and the space where the thirsd roll seats would go is already integrated in the trunk with a very low floor. Also, some trims have built-in vacuums!
When you have kids, you need a minivan. It easy to get the kids in and out of the van with automatic doors. You also have plenty of space when the seats are folded for going out of town.
I got a minivan for recreation. I'm an outdoors guy. It carries my fishing gear and kayaks. It's great for cargo because the seats fold into the floor. A full size air mattress fits perfectly so I can crash in it too. It's perfect for long road trips. I don't have a big family but we're very close and do everything together, so whenever I visit them I got 7 seats too so we can all travel in one vehicle. And one of my favorite things about a minivan is it doesn't feel that big. It's lower than an suv, built basically like an extended car so it still feels like you're driving a car. It's easy to turn and park and pretty good on gas, unlike a suburban or Yukon. And if needed, you can pull a small utility or cargo or boat trailer too. So what's there not to love about a minivan? It's the perfect all around utility vehicle. The hate for it never made any sense to me. I think it just shows our hyper consumer culture. People in this country are so gullible and easily fall for marketing scams... They buy pickups instead, which has less cargo space, and everything is fully exposed to the elements, and it's far worse on gas, up higher and more dangerous, and much bigger and harder to drive. People nowadays buy just to show off, they don't buy for actual utility anymore.
Andrew, in a minivan with a Dadagonia t-shirt is the ultimate incarnation of the cool dad that all the kids at school secretly dreamed of being theirs! I’m here for that!
My dad has a van like this. It's really nice because he has arthritis and to not have to pull out seats and have everything open an close with a button and not have to use his hands so much is a real blessing.
Most comfortable vehicle I had was a 2006 Uplander. Great for kids, great in snow, could put construction material in the back, tow my camper... Looked like a dolphin.
One note here; Marques says the Pacifica is Four Wheel Drive, but the car is Front-Wheel-Drive in this trim.
- Miles
That’s a good heads up. I haaaaated my (front wheel drive Chrysler) minivan for many reasons. One was that it was awful in the snow. I was so happy when my kids got out of the big car seats and I could get a more reasonably sized car.
The camera creeps me out. Last thing I want is a camera in every place I go, especially inside my car. Tesla was just exposed for spying on their customers through their cameras.
what an idiot
@@MTMProductions Typically the pacifica camera is just a local feed and not tied into any other remote features
It is meant for seeing your kids
Underrated comment. AWD should be in every minivan sold in states with snow
One word: Kids. No other vehicle does a better job at transporting kids and their stuff better than a minivan. I was a hater, but now I have 3 kids and we own a Sienna. Best family car we've ever owned. Recommend it to everyone with kids.
you also won't feel as bad when kids trash your minivan vs if you had bought something more premium
Sienna gang. Got my wife the XSE and it’s her favorite vehicle of all time lol
@@panicked8676 how can you compete with 36 mpg and room for all the car seats AND the sliding doors? We're driving this thing until it doesn't drive any more or my kids are grown. Whichever comes first.
@BradSeebeck I got the F-150 Lightning and I gotta tell you - I'm jealous of her range lol
@@jay.rsingh2530you obviously haven’t checked out a modern minivans that can be pretty plush and premium inside.
It’s actually pretty simple, it’s comfortable, they are big, in the right ways, but yet very close to the ground so kids and elders can enter with no problem, also carry a lot of stuff. Besides the lack of work from designers minivans are the perfect family daily drivers.
It amazes me because minivans have the ideal form and function. Sedans, SUV are truly dumb designs, yet minivans lack design investment. Sliding doors? Yeah, more cars should have them. I'm FAR from a boomer, but wait until the millennial finally pays attention to form and function for items other than tech gadgets. After all, a Renaissance is just waiting to happen in everything outside tech and software.
Make no mistake, it will happen in the next 5 or 10 years, LONG overdue. And boomers will be cool, though a dying breed, literally
Japan has them everywhere it seems
@@awesomehli Sadans? I would say more light trucks and SUVs have "truly dumb designs."
But I agree there's a renaissance coming, at least for cars. There's a good demand for small and practical light trucks, but manufacturers have been disincentivized to make them due to long-standing regulations.
@@David.77it costs the same money to make a small truck or a large truck, but large truck can be sold for double the price because sheeple will take out 10-year loan for it 🤦
@@David.77Sedans are dumb designs too, look how much utility you can get from the boot of a new civic once they made it a hatchback, hatchbacks are more practical and more space efficient.
I drove a minivan in high school. People would make fun of it but when we wanted to get 5 or more friends to the movie theater or the bowling alley it was great. When my brother's band wanted to play a show guess how they moved all the equipment? Road trips, summers beach trips, moving my mom's wall papering supplies. That van got a ton of use and was full of memories. Lots of glass made it easy to drive. It got pretty good mileage thanks to a turbo charger. A high driver's seat was comfortable.
100% this! In highschool, my buddy was the teen that drove the minivan... man, we'd howl and laugh hysterically at him driving it... but when it was time to go somewhere together, we'd all load up in the van and go. Great times.
This is very accurate. I bought a Chrysler Town & Country for work and I could fit an 4' x 8' piece of plywood in the back of that thing (with the rear seat removed). It was not only the most practical vehicle I've ever owned, but it was very comfortable to drive as the seats where like a sitting at a desk. No legs extending out like in a car. It could be a pain to park, but nothing like the huge trucks on the roads today. Especially since the rear doors slide open, so you need less space to get in the back.
@@jee86he should have said nope you’re not allowed
Minivans are on par with full size SUVs for luggage space, and they have a low floor so old people, kids, and dogs can easily get in. Minivans are super underrated.
Everyone wants a minivan, but very few people are confident enough to buy a minivan
Lol ryan trahan is the only one with that type of confidence
This is the correct answer.
Spot on 💯
This.
No actually no one wants a minivan lol
My sister was ADAMANT that she did not want a minivan. After looking at a couple of different SUVs with the salesman and saying she liked X about them but not Y, the salesman told her "you keep saying you don't want a minivan, but I have to be honest with you, everything you're describing that you want in a vehicle is going to be found in a minivan." And he was right - they got the minivan and she's been happy with that decision ever since.
I don't understand the hate for minivans. It's almost mind boggling to me.
@@vinstinct, stigmatized by the early advertisements of being for moms. People hang on to non-practical perceptions.
the same thing you can get on a $40k minivan you'll need to get an almost $100k suburban to get similar feature.
it's almost like they are just marking SUV up because people want to get SUVs.
The off-road and towing capabilities of a fullsize SUV though still have cons of a noisier ride, worse gas mileage, and maneuverability in tight areas.
Basically a fullsize SUV isn't strictly better than a minivan, and they both have their place @@monkeyrun
@@monkeyrunthat’s literally what companies do. Demand is high, so they know they can jack prices
Its funny that in the span of 5 to 10 years we've gone from being wowed by touch screens in cars to back to celebrating buttons for basic things like hvac controls.
I was never wowed. I always hated them. Thought they looked idiotic pointing out of the dash. You can buy a tablet computer separately and perhaps pair it with your car.
Wowed by having a screen as a display for GPS and radio, but never for controls.
@@annoyedok321 Not even for a radio. But a GPS or mapping program, it is good for that.
You aren’t young based on your picture, so that’s pretty wild that you have the short term memory to not realize screens have been readily available in normal cars for coming up on 30 years now.
@@Dragonvale105 yes screens have been in cars for awhile but having 90% of your controls on a menu on a touch screen is relatively new. I can’t think of any cars from 10 years ago where if you wanted to change your cabin temp it was burried in a menu on a touch screen outside of Tesla. Most BMW’s and mercs had static displays that you still needed use something like a dial to control what was on the screen. I had a 2012 BMW 335 and everything on that was still accessed with a dial I had to use to navigate what was on screen. My mk7 2015 gti was the first car I ever had that had a touch screen for controlling media and some menus for car settings. But things like hvac and heated seat controls were still physical controls. My 2020 Volvo was the first I’ve had where even changing fan speed requires tapping through a couple of screens.
Vans make way more sense than SUVs for most people. But most people don't have common sense.
minivans and station wagons is the right tool for a family. the minivan will move tons of people in the best way. the station wagon is the everything car. it can haul some people, some stuff and attach a trailer.
Jesus, not everyone has a large family with dogs, dude
@UA-camdeletedmycomment Calm down😂 Nobody wants to take away your SUV
Just look at it with logic and stop lying to yourself and everyone else.
You dont need it, you just want it... And that's fine
It's just that there should be different regulations for "needs" and "wants"...
Greetings from Germany :)
@@EvgenyGoldinyeah, in that case they won't buy a minivan or an SUV. What's your point?
The best reason i've seen is the higher ride height for winter and that's pretty much it
I got four kids, bro. I need a house on wheels.
The choices are Durex or Minivan.
@@robsquared2What's happened, has happened.
You need to learn about contraception first
My kids are grown, but we take vacations with a lot of stuff. Also, sometimes we need to move stuff around. We have removed the back seat including the one that folds in. The minivan is the most efficient way to get a lot of covered locked space on wheels.
@@thunderb00m And we need to let a bunch of people across the border if we aren't going to have and raise kids.
We had a 2011 Dodge Grand caravan for 11 years. We put over 200k miles on it. We got it when all three of the kids were in car seats or boosters. Drove that thing all over soccer/baseball out of state tournaments and family vacations. Our oldest is now driving himself and we finally gave it up after the transmission started to go out. That thing served our family very well over the years.
The reason people buy minivans, is it's the peak form of a practical vehicle. The reason people resist minivans, is they don't want to think there life has changed to the point where peak practicality is for them.
Pickup trucks are the most practical vehicles. If you’re a homeowner with a little land you always need to haul something dirty. They can also carry passengers in the cab and bed.
@@user-tb7rn1il3qNot really. Unless you’re towing minivans are better at hauling almost anything a truck can. Full-size trucks have super low payloads of like 1100 lbs now and beds aren’t as useful as you think. How often are you hauling a fridge or some gravel. A minivan can haul lumber way better than a pickup, furniture way better. Stuff people actually haul. And what do tradies use for work? Work vans most of the time. Pickups are not very practical except for towing and niche things. Truck can’t haul 6-8 people on a road trip across the country with all their stuff
@@dawsongranger4940 The F350 can hold over 3 tons. I’d like to see someone haul a load of dirt, rocks, mulch, tree branches, manure, concrete, refrigerator, mud covered mountain bikes, dirt bikes, quads etc. in a minivan. The truck payloads are way more conservative than a minivan. Put twice the payload in a truck no problem. Put 5 adults in a minivan and it’s on the bump stops. The average family size is declining, no need for the extra passenger space. If you do fill a minivan with people there is no space for the luggage. Most tradesmen use pickups. Long boards won’t fit in a minivan. Good luck going off road in a minivan, it will fall apart really fast.
@@user-tb7rn1il3q Literally everyone here is singing minivans praise. Are you genuinely trying to say an f350 is a family vehicle? Almost nobody needs the size of an f350. Cool it’s got a higher payload and a bed. Almost no family is utilizing that. You can haul stuff like mulch in a van or any damn car. Just put a sheet down. Beds aren’t useful to 95% of people. The low floor is also way better than a pickup, don’t need to be an acrobatic to get in or put something in that bed. If you watched the video there’s plenty of room behind the third row for stuff. A van can probably fit an 8 ft board in it, maybe even 10. Tradesmen use work vans lol. Nobody is off roading it’s just a fad. Everything you’re saying sounds good on paper but almost nobody actually does any of that
@@user-tb7rn1il3q what kind of 9-5 parent is hauling dirt rocks and trees after they drop off their kids bro?
I have a Pacifica AWD non hybrid. We tested all the 3 row SUVs and the second we sat in the minivan, it blew away all the SUVs. More space, better fuel efficiency, the sliding doors meant we could open in the garage with no worry of dings, lower load height for my short wife, stow and go, and the list went on. It destroyed our anti minivan paradigm. After 9 months of ownership with 2 littles and family nearby, it's been the perfect tool for the job. My friends who have 3 row SUVs with kids are surprisingly jealous. They aren't the sexy option but man, they are the practical option.
Dumb choices are not sexy either.
Amen. I wish they worked on looks just a little more on American MVs. I actually see a lot of customized Sienna's here in SoCal. If Pacifica (or American car makers et al) could achieve that sexyness, it'd be getting one.
❤so freakin cool. Congratulations
I have owned a Pacifica Hybrid for 3 years and I ABSOLUTELY love it. Here is why:
1. 90% of our driving is on electric - going into town, taking kids to school etc. and then recharge.. in real world, I am getting about 31 miles on battery. But..... we also drive from Chicago to Florida every year and the gas engine is a champ! It literally is the best of both worlds.
2. Storage...I know this was covered in the video but it really is true, this van can hold a lot! (Stuff and/or people)
3. Fit and finish (I know sometimes Chrysler gets a bad rap) but I think it's really nice.
4. Tax incentive! For us personally it worked out!
They're are other little things but I have put over 60k miles on this thing and I couldn't be happier😀
Pacifica Hybrid owner from Chicago here as well. For the entire summer we filled up our gas tank maybe once every 3 1/2 weeks? Got between 900-1300 miles per tank.
Every owner talking about their PHEV says they religiously plug in and use very little gas. Yet studies say they are hardly plugged in. Wild
@@deansmits006 We're possibly outliers. But ours is usually plugged in every day.
@@deansmits006 could also be due to the fact that many people (I would imagine) do not have a level 2 charger in their garage....I do, so mine charges in 2 hours. A level 1 charger world take like 13 hours and I probably wouldn't use that either
@bigpun4780 How has reliability been for you? My wife and I are trying to figure out which of the 4 minivan's to go with...
My dad fit my entire apartment into a minivan the first few times I moved. The storage capacity of a minivan is absolutely unmatched.
any truck or full size suv fits more than a minivan
@@camkeena6874 god you're such a slimy shill
@@camkeena6874 That's factually incorrect. A pacifica with stow and go seats have 140.5³ of cargo space. It's equal to having a pickup with an 8ft bed but also being able to load it 4ft high without needing to strap things down.
SUVs in general tend to have less cargo space than minivans purely because of the higher riding height. Minivans tend to have a similar ride height to sedans but SUVs tend to be marketed as for offroading so they raise the vehicle, but this means the floor is much higher off the ground so being a similar height to a minivan, the SUV may have 15-25% less space. Plus I really don't know any car outside the pacifica that lets you flip down both the rear and middle row into the floor.
@@camkeena6874 nope. I have an Enclave which is about the same size as Tahoe. It holds nowhere close to what a minivan does. And the biggest of big Suburban is just about the same as a minivan. But the minivan has a bigger hatch and lower load floor so it's actually easier to fit oversized items.
Exactly! My uncle prefers to use his old Toyota sienna minivan over Cybertruck he's recently bought for showing off. That also included his old Toyota Tacoma full size truck as well.
Mazda5 former owner here. Minivans are purpose-built tools with no fakery and no pretentiousness. Buying the right tool for the job should never be uncool.
mazda 5s are amazing. compact parking spots AND 6 people? yes please!
I have a Mazda5. It’s a minivan that fits inside of another minivan, disguised as a minivan. Like Tropic Thunder.
Totaled a recent car and I was able to get a 5 off of an older couple. I love the thing. I want more minivans of its size in the states. Its so practical, useful, and efficient. Grew up hating the minivans of the 90s, but damn in my mid 30s, I love em.
@@TheBirdboy84 Mazda5 is more like a station wagon disguised as a minivan. You have have up to 6 people OR cargo, the rear row people also need to be short as there is no legroom.
We have a 5 as well. ours is a STICKSHIFT! I love the idea of rev matching as I downshift...a minivan! It has served us well but we are ready to trade it in for something that's AWD. Sadly, we have moved to a very hilly area with frequent icing and the FWD on our 5 just isn't going to cut it. I am so bummed that there's no similar option in the market anymore. Europe and Japan have similar cars, but not the US. Oh well. I guess we will either go with a regular minivan (Sienna AWD), or go electric with a Kia EV9 or a VW ID.Buzz.
My first car was a Toyota Sienna Minivan. The dealer admitted he wasn't planning on showing me it, as he figured there was no young man in the world who would want one. I was also apprehensive about it, but after driving it, I told him I'd take it. Incredibly smooth ride with decent power (3.5 V6). It's been so useful over the years. With all the seats out I essentially have a 7-7.5 foot "bed". Great for transporting friends and family and moving stuff, and it can't be beat as a car camper. If you are in the mindset of practicality, it's a fantastic vehicle. Too many people let pride get in the way though. The things I do have against it though, are no 4WD, the towing capacity is limited, and I hate my fuel mileage. Other than those, amazing vehicle.
By the time you need 4wd you'll definetly be too far away from the pavement and in conditions far beyond the chasis capabilities.
Rainy day. Rear door child locks are on. You pull up to an elementary school to let your kids out. In a minivan: Push one button to open the passenger side slider. Kids all get out that one door. (And hey, they were going to get wet anyway.) Nobody is required to get out on the traffic side.
In an SUV: Kids can't open the rear doors. You get out, before carefully checking the rear view mirror for anybody passing on your left. You close your door. Maybe open the rear driver side door to help one kid out. You walk around the car (it's really raining!). You open the rear passenger door. Other kid(s) get out. You walk back around the car (waiting for any traffic to pass) and finally get back in, smug in the fact that no one caught you driving a minivan.
No one does, do they. They have to be able to get out in emergency.
@UA-camdeletedmycomment it's there for a reason? If you are not a child, then this really isn't the question to be asking as an adult... it's for kids and kids only.
LOL, "smug in the fact that no one caught you driving a minivan". Well put!
@UA-camdeletedmycommentI always use it when transporting my godson.
This is one of the main reasons we got a minivan those power sliding doors and also the only one with awd.
I will never understand why minivans have so many haters purely based on looks. To get cargo capacity of a typical minivan you have to purchase a Suburbian - a vehicle that's 2 feet longer, 1/2 foot taller, harder to get into, harsher riding, with poor handling, and an awful gas mileage.
don't forget to horrible front visibility.
The 90s. Karens always existed we just didn't call them that back then. A mini-van was the official car of Karens in the 90s. A single obnoxious section of their customer base killed the image of the minivan. The minivan would pull up, three unruly kids would hop out, and the Karen made everyone suffer them. Seeing a minivan pull up was a coinflip omen of dread. Either got the coolest mom or the worst mom.
@@halycon404 never associated karens with minivans. They were normally caring parents hauling there kids and friends around and cared more about function
@@guyod1I'd say check your 90s family films.
You beat me to it. My wife's car is an Odyssey and frankly, minivans are nigh impossible to beat if you need room, economy and comfort. It kind of amazes me how many people have SUVs that will never see the slightest bit of dirt or grass. They're slower, with relatively poor handling, get lousy mileage and ride less well.
I'm so glad you got in an actual minivan! I was a little offend on behalf of all minivans when you compared the EV9 to one. Also, my favorite underrated feature of a minivan is being able to carry full sheets of plywood within the vehicle. Even most pickup trucks can't keep plywood dry on a rainy day.
full sheet of plywood, and in many minivans the middle 2 seats in addition to all the back seats fold down right into the floor, you dont even have to remove them - just lift the floor up, bam bam they rotate right down into the floor, and you have a full 4' x 8' of plywood in there on a pretty flat floor.
Vans in general are superior to pickups 95% of the time.
Its easier to get a minivan that can flat carry a full sheet of plywood than a truck that can.
Yeah it sucks that only the non hybrids have second rows that collapse in the floor. The extra mpg would be nice, but then again the no. Hybrid drive train is probably more reliable.
With the removable captain's chairs, you can often fit a full 4x8 sheet and all your other crap on top. That's why all the og handyman dudes drive a rusted out grand caravan or similar.
Yes, you also don't need to worry about someone stealing your stuff in the trunk bed.
Fr, my moms old town and country she handed down to me has more interior space with all the seats folded down/taken out than a king bed new truck
I have the plug in hybrid Pacifica and I am remodeling my basement, so nice being able to fit 4x8 dry wall and plywood in the back
Because the auto makers spent millions of dollars of marketing to upsell the larger SUVs instead. A station wagon or minivan is suitable for the vast majority of the US population but that is way cheaper and less money in their pockets.
💯 % agree! I’m a passionate car guy. This is first and foremost the answer.😢. How much more of an estate/station wagon guy if I had to get one!
A kei car would also suit the needs of most people too yet your not saying anything about those.
Let people buy what the want. If we bought what we actually needed we would have no luxury cars, v6s, v8s, coupes, sedans and more
@@baronvonjo1929 that is also very true… This whole SUV craze has become obnoxious and ridiculous in my opinion.
@@baronvonjo1929you say that like it’s a bad thing
@@baronvonjo1929 Kei cars have essentially been outlawed in most of America to keep pushing outrageously expensive trucks that are less functional. I hate it here.
We've had our Pacifica Hybrid for a few years now and it really is a great vehicle. 30ish miles of all electric range. 30 MPG combined once the electric range runs out. Great for road trips. Comfortable. Lots of storage. Decent tech. The Uconnect Theater is great for the family. The only problem is it's reliability. It's one of the lowest rated vehicles for reliability. We've had ours at the dealership for warranty work over a dozen different times in 3.5 years. Even right now, they ordered a new module for the infotainment and a new front sensor that impacts AEB and cruise control, and they've already replaced both of those under warranty before. If they can get the reliability figured out though, it's an ideal vehicle for families.
My brother-in-law pretty much had to give their Pacifica away after so many problems. If you want a minivan, go Honda or Toyota.
@@philipshuman yeah the problem isn’t the minivan, it’s the badge
I've got a Pacifica too and the only thing I've had to replace in 5 years is the small battery for the auto start/stop system because we weren't driving at all during covid so it died.
. Former minivan owner here. My advice to new parents is always “Just buy the damn minivan!” All of the large stuff little kids require, from pack-and-plays and strollers earlier to camping and sports gear later, fits in easily and quickly within a minivan’s cargo hanger-sized space. Also, the first time it’s pouring down rain and you are able to open the giant rear hatch and load the kid(s), the stroller,and yourself inside without having to unbuckle and disassemble everything in the downpour, you’ll be sold. Bonus points for a nice ride and reasonable fuel economy too.
Current owner, have to agree. We sometimes will rent an SUV for trips that work is paying for and I’m ALWAYS disappointed. Wish more rental shops carried vans.
@@dnvnnckI think it’s more of it’s just harder to get vans for rentals. All of them except for Chrysler can’t keep up with demand. And when most families do go on vacation they’ll rent a minivan over a comparable sized SUV because the minivan can be way cheaper.
I had an Odyssey for like 10 years, and it was glorious. Ideal for road trips with the family, ideal for hauling stuff around, held bikes, and camping gear, big enough to sleep inside, had a built in DVD player to entertain the kids, but was too old to have carplay or even bluetooth. I absolutely loved that thing. Anyone who hates on minivans, or feels embarrassed to drive one, well that says something about you.
People that hate minivans have usually never owned one.
@@Oxibaseand people that finally own one love it
As an Expedition owner/enjoyer, I love renting a Pacifica for work trips because they haul and ride super nice. I get out at valet and they still call me Sir. I love it. I don't care.
He touched on it at the end of the video, but one of the biggest benefits for those of us with kids (aside from all the storage and other things he highlighted) is indeed the sliding doors! You never have to worry about your kids hitting the car parked next to you as they are getting out. Coming from an SUV, I can't tell you how much relief that is!
Except if you live where there are mosquitoes and you are trying to get in and shut the door as quickly as possible and then it’s a lifetime waiting for that sliding door to close.
@@WaltWW Man, that actually happened to us one time going through the Delta of Arkansas. We were slapping them things for miles going down the road. Evil little boogers.
Ever tried a Suburban or long wheelbase Expedition?
@@WaltWWManual sliding doors left the chat.
@@WaltWW The Sienna lets you turn off the motor and slide it manually with one button. Just like the older minivans before automatically sliding doors.
Minivans are for people who have families and have enough brain cells to stop buying crossovers
I’ve been surprised at how small most crossovers are inside., especially leg room.
@@float32crossover are usually the smallest sedan the brand makes on stilts with a different body
If you have 3 kids an SUV might work depending on your hauling needs and if the third row can be partially put down. If you 4 kids or more a minivan is necessary.
@great-one0389 If you have 3 kids, get a minivan. You don't need a Ford Explorer that gets 20 mpg, and that can tow 5 thousand pounds or whatever when you can get a minivan that can get over 25, hold more people and stuff comfortably, and wond contribute to the market and stereotype of everything needing to be a crossover
@@alg003there are places in Canada, and I assume mid east USA, where you would get crucified for stating such facts😂
I would 100% take a minivan over an SUV or Crossover. Wagons being the best vehicle type though.
Wagons … probably look the best, or reflect who I am? Dunno which! But I do love the idea of a luxury, but sports, but wagon, Mercedes Benz. Having said that, the actual correct choice is probably an all-wheel-drive option from Subaru, which will save my ass on one of those occasions I can't help myself taking the gravel side-road "scenic option". And who can say no to that Japanese reliability … again, there when you need it.
@@whophdAudi and Mercedes have AWD as standard.
Wagons, indeed. Although I'll admit that wagons are better when bigger and when you scale them up enough, you end up with a long hood minivan extended wheelbase. Correct the long snout and...that's a minivan again :)
ok bro go by a 2007 honda mini van no one is stopping you
Minivans squeezed out wagons when they hit the market. The reason was simple. When the original minivan, the Chrysler Voyager, hit the market in 1984, it was a 4 or 6 cylinder that comfortably carried 8 people (all facing forward). In order to get the same utility out of a wagon, you needed a full-size wagon with an 8 cylinder engine. It was simply a more efficient people carrier.
The coin holders are to hold your quarters for the Aldi shopping cart....which I always forget 😑
I have owned 2 Dodge Grand Caravans, 2 Chrysler Town and Country, and recently purchased a the Pacifica Hybrid. They can do it all including towing. Between all the mini vans I have carried 3 kids, 4 dogs, remodel 3 houses, traveled over 700,000 miles. I will always have one.
This guy minivans.
@@joshuapaulson7962 yeah i just towed a 3000lb 22ft trailer with my minivan (caravan). Funny thing is my wifes "SUV" (honda pilot) wasn't able to tow it as it was over the weight limit. You would think it would be reversed.
Grand Caravans were goated
The towing is my one hang-up when looking at the hybrids - they're not rated for it. The transmission isn't built for towing (at least on the models I looked at over the last few years).
The regular gas ones, on the other hand, have been rated at 3,600 lbs.
Nobody talks about the dogs. Minivans are great for dogs because the floor is so low they can get in themselves even when they get old.
Bought an Odyssey Elite a few years ago. Best decision ever. That thing does everything! Road trips, lumber yard trips, taking friends to a concert, drives like a car, and has pretty good power for what it is.
I love my Odyssey Elite!!!
@@mistamunsta Noice.
Yeah my parents have an Odyssey, hauled their boat, hauled bags and bags of cement, you name it. Truck is maybe slightly better for it but the sacrifice you make to be better at hauling something 10 times a year is not worth it
It's funny that there's so much love for pickup trucks and so little for minivans. Loading that minivan is probably a breeze since it's so low to the ground. Trying load pickup trucks can be a chore because some of those beds are like chest height, plus it's all open to the elements (and thieves) unless you get a locking bed cover. And with the size of truck cabs these days, you can't even fit a full sheet of plywood in the back. If you're doing an Ikea run, minivans are the optimal play. Plenty of (comfortable) seats for helpers and plenty of room to get everything home easily.
When it’s raining and you and your kids and dog are running to your car, and you press the buttons on your remote and they all get in on quickly and easily though big sliding doors without your intervention, then you understand.
After experiencing this for the first time it’ll be hard to get anything but a minivan until the kids are grown. It’s just the perfect family car
What if I do not have kids or a dog?
@@lkrnpk Then you're probably not buying a family focused vehicle.
@@ThysiosX But.... he can still run towards his minivan and open & close the sliding door if he wants to.
Minivans actually have a lot more space in them and any SUV. The biggest difference is the ceiling to floor height. As a cyclist I can tell you that a minivan is much more spacious. Last fall I rented a Pacifica and went on a road trip with 3 friends with 3 bicycles and all of our gear and luggage....with room to spare! All inside the vehicle, no racks needed. A Honda Element is the only other vehicle I can recall that this was possible.
We have a Pacifica PHEV, sport trim. It looks pretty darn good. Never thought I'd be a mini van dad, but with twins and an infant, there's no going back. It's comfortable, practical, and the cargo space when seats are down/removed is ridiculously huge! Never going back to an SUV.
13:05 What??? The sliding door is the best feature of a minivan. It's also lower so kids can get in and out easily.
Marques must not have small kids!
And dogs, and old people... that low floor is also great for loading stuff in the back.
The doors are literally THE reason to get a minivan...
Thank you for the review! I actually work at the plant that builds the Pacifica and we take great pride in building it. It's not for everyone but it's one of the most practical vehicles ever made.
keep up the great work! do you think the Pacifica will get the inline 6?
@@samuelgosden1106 that's a good question. The Pacifica is getting a refresh in the next couple years so I could definitely see it getting the inline 6. The pentastar has been around for a long time so I would assume they'll upgrade it next time around.
Any insights on changes for the 2025 PHEV version? I would love more all-electric range and an AWD option for the PHEV.
Would love to see the Pacifica get the RAM charger pickup drivetrain. 100ish miles EV range, and no direct connection from the ICE to the transmission.
Keep up the good work!
My Honda Odyssey was primarily our kid transporter, but even after the kids were grown the Odyssey was useful for years and years as a "work truck" and moving van.
I've been a minivan denier for as long as I can remember but finally succumbed to it. Own one and can't deny this thing is efficient, functional and ridiculously comfortable
I don't even have a kid, but I got a hybrid minivan because it's just the most practical general-use vehicle I could get.
My favorite Auto Focus episode, especially explaining the mirrors and the cameras. You should do this more often.
Simply put: minivans are extremely practical and very well designed, SUVs that have 7+ seats now put design over function and suck for actual journeys
Once it gets to 7 people you might as well look for an 11 person van so you have room for stuff.
They're exactly the same aside from the doors and ground clearance, to say they suck for actual journeys is nonsensical.
1 1people? That needs a very expensive driving licence, 8 is the max that are allowed in a car @@stephkent2736
@@boostav VERY VERY VERY few of the 3 row SUVs have ANY leg room in that 3rd row OR ANY cargo space behind it when in use. Not saying NONE but it is a VERY short list. Nearly all minivans have a 3rd row that an adult could sit in and enough room for a FULL SIZE stroller behind the rear row.
@@YKSGuy The only three row SUV I have ever been in where there was both 3rd row leg room and space behind is Subrubans (Yukon XL and Escalade ESV by extent).
Minivans have been so hated on in favor of giant SUVs, but minivans are just plain better as family vehicles. You don't have to climb up on runners to put kids in car seats and they're generally safer since they're less likely to roll in a crash. Much better on gas and better visibility too.
I bought a 2020 in 2023 with 12,000 miles and saved 32k. Had a Dodge Caravan and the Pacifica is a big improvement. One feature he didn't show was the middle seat stow and go. All 4 back seats stow into the floor!
The biggest thing that the hybrid here doesn't have are the STow-n-go seats that fold into the floor. The Sienna doesn't have that, the Honda Odyssey has removeable seats, but the Pacifica is the only car where the thrid AND second row can be stowed into storage, allowing for you to dynamically switch from full mini-van setup to quasi-flat-bed with a standard cab. It's crazy useful and also allows for a limousine setup with the second row down and the third row up.
Third row seats still fold but the second row captain’s seats don’t. They do come out completely, they are heavy suckers.
I thought the same about wanting the stow-n-go seats, but when I realized that car seats are in the second row most of the time then that feature isn't that valuable. The sliding side to side feature of the Odyssey is something we have found to use and remain in a slide position on a continual basis. With the center small seat removed, the outer seat is slid next to the other generating a large "reception area" for my little ones to climb in and stand while they take their backpacks and whatever off. That is something of value that is used every single day when we pick the kids up from school. The use for a stow-n-go feature is great, but only for very limited use purposes as a mini van typically has people in it with gear versus all seats absent and only needing to haul stuff. To each their own of course. The Pacifica is still a great van, but IMO the Odyssey beats it for use case and for eventual resale value.
Your examples of when those second row seats are down are gimmicks and/or "bar tricks". Your use case need for it may be 100% appreciated and that's good, but for the mass population shopping a van, I recommend the Odyssey.
@@ArizonaHotSauceexactly…. I have the 2018 Odyssey which was the first year of the “magic row” middle seats and I love them. Especially when we had kids in car seats and couldn’t really use the “normal” mechanism to get to the third row. Now that they are 7 and up I put the center back in the middle so they can have the cup holders and that little tray that’s on the fold down portion. But when we need the space it is easy enough to take out.
Granted the main middle row seats are a complete PITA to take out and put back just because they are heavy and bulky. But it’s doable.
@@absolutjackallove the magic seats. When the kids car seats are installed in the captains chairs with the jump seat in the trunk or garage... Just slide to the middle and people can access the 3rd row with ease. SUVs all try to fold the 2nd row and it doesn't work with car seats installed!
Pulling out the second row in the PacHy is pretty simple. It’s not as convenient as stow-n-go but close.
Everyone loves to hate on a minivan. But I'm here to tell you, I'm not a big Chrysler fan, but a Chrysler minivan with dual sliding doors and stow and go seating is the most practical vehicle you'll ever own. if you have more than two kids, a minivan just makes infinitely more sense than an SUV. Something else nobody thinks about. Minivans sit at the perfect height for people who have hip problems or knee problems. You don't have to climb up and you don't have to drop down. You literally just climb straight in. I knew a few people who owned minivan specifically for that reason.
Chrysler makes amazing minivans, but Chrysler also makes the worst cars.
If Toyota or Honda made the Pacifica, it would be the ultimate minivan.
@@mrgallbladder fully agree. But I don't think the Hondas and Toyotas have the stow and go seating which for me is a bit of a deal-breaker. And the new Chryslers that have come out since Fiat bought the company are somehow worse than the old ones were even. They're all just electrical disasters.
@@6speeds10 right, that's why I said If Pacifica wasn't made by Chrysler, but someone who knows how to make good cars, like Toyota or Honda.
I have two Chrysler Minivans with the stow'n go seats, and a Kia Sedona, and they are the best vehicle for almost anything- not racing obviously!!! I just wish, like some people here have expressed, they had the build quality of Toyota, Kia and/or Honda. Imagine all the Chrysler features but made by Toyota/Kia/Honda Quality, it would be the best vehicle ever!!!!
@@6speeds10 Our 2015 Honda Odyssey has the back seat stow and go feature just like the Pacifica
Had a 2005 Dodge Caravan and absolutely loved it! Had it for about five years and did not have one issue (good thing, because it looked awful to work on). Could carry driver +6 passengers or you can pull the seats out and haul some drywall or a full-sized washer/dryer, or refrigerator. Most versatile vehicle I’ve ever owned and it’s not even close.
When my kids were young, we always had minivans, starting with the OG Ford Aerostar. Now as a 70 year old grandpa after going through the pickup truck and SUV phase, I rediscovered the all-around utility and comfort of minivans. Just purchased a Sienna hybrid and love it.
I got a minivan once we had a child. And let me tell you, I love minivans. They have tons of room and you can take out all the seats for extra space. I can fit two families in a minivan. So for a family person, yeah, Minivans rock!!
I had a minor fender bender with my EUV and got a loaner Pacifica hybrid for the month it was in the shop and ended up buying myself one i loved it so much. It's quiet, comfortable, and im averaging anywhere from 45-55mpg and primarily on electric throughout the week. The space is incredible!
3 minutes in. Mad props to Marques for not being scared to try minivans on his automotive channel
Seriously bro? It's just a vehicle. How pathetic, weak, and fragile do you have to be to refuse to review a minivan? Someone who can't review a minivan because they think it's unmanly probably would suck off Andrew Tate on the spot no questions asked. Are you gonna give him props for not shitting his pants too?
"Lots of physical buttons. No touch/capacitive stuff"
Kia Carnival: "Hold my beer."
Picked up a 2000 Grand Caravan for $1000 about 15 years ago. Slowly fell in love with it: great visibility, great stereo, removable seats, lots of power and decent mileage. And at over 6 feet tall I had tons of leg room! I drove it into the ground but there have been many days where I wished I still owned it.
Two things from a Pacifica owner: 1) there is only one wide angle camera coming from the ceiling. You tap on which seat you want to zoom in on and it crops in on that seat to produce the second image, & 2) you don't need to push in the gear selector when you turn it to put it in gear
Dad of 4 young ones here. The van is AMAZING. They don't ding doors in the parking lot, they can easily get in and out, there's plenty of room for their car seats and things like bags, etc. We have a Subaru Ascent as well, and just today the older kids (9 and 7) were complaining about how tight the back is and asking why we didn't bring the van. The fact you can have a roof rack for top box, ski stuff, bikes, whatever, and then attach a hitch too to have a bike rack or tow something just makes it an incredibly versatile vehicle. I would love for Rivian or Tesla to come out with a car that can haul a family of 6 comfortably. The R1S and Model X are just too tight. I'd actually consider paying the premium for such a vehicle. As it stands I probably have to wait for an EV Suburban or something many years away. We do cross country road trips with my kids in various seasons, and the lack of 4 wheel drive (and clearance I suppose) is the one major detractor that prevents us from always using the van..
Another good video. My mom had a Dodge Caravan minivan. I actually had to drive that while in college. It did 0-60 in about five minutes. I later succumbed to the minivan allure when I had two toddlers and bought a first gen Kia Sedona. It was all that is wrong with a vehicle. Bad visibility, slow, even when driving 85 MPH. Not enough actual legroom. And I know people could not see around me. Yes, my kids loved the room in the back, but it just wasn’t worth it. I can’t actually remember the last time I went through a toll booth. I have heard they exist on the East Coast. Not a thing here in California.
I once saw a sticker on the back of a minivan, with a picture of a minivan, that said “Never say never” 😂
Love how the next video overlay 13:27 hides Andrew’s face, so all you see is “Dadagonia” 😂
I drive a 2011 Kia Carnival Diesel Minivan. It’s been absolutely great; built well, reliable, and huge space. Would be even more fun with a tune, better brakes, and perhaps extra sound deadening foam. I can use it to transport goods for my business or take a long trip with the family.
Last one but it’s awesome seeing Marques be lowkey giddy at finding all the optimizations in a mini van. Like the back seats folding down!
My brother & sister-in-law bought that minivan because they have 2 young kids and are public school band teachers. An SUV doesn't have enough cargo capacity to haul two kids still in booster seats and a bunch of instruments in the back. The electric mode is enough to get them to school every day, plug in at night, and on the weekends still make a weekend 150 mile trip. They love their Pacifica Hybrid!
Sounds like a really good deal. What more could you ask … well, besides a functioning mass transit system that is nice enough for rich people to use, but I'm just coming off the high of the Sydney Metro launching a few days ago, excuse me.
You haven't seen my SUV, could probably store the whole band in the boot :P But the fuel economy did kill the gigantic SUV's from early 2000
@@nukers1234 often minivans have more storage space than an suv because they are designed better. Also suvs and pickup trucks are unsafe because they are high up off the ground, making rollovers and running people over more common. If you hit someone they should land on the hood, not go under the vehicle.
@@EzyPup I know, my 8 seater Excursion isnt the norm when it comes to SUV's, and i feel that every time im dumb enough to drive it into the city. Regarding roll overs i cant say this way or that way as i drive in Europe and we dont have that problem as far as i know, But we also calls the Toyota Rav4 a big suv. But as i wrote in another post here, this car looks great, both as an people carrier, and as one that you just can throw a lot of stuff into without worry about the space
@@nukers1234 SUVs are more giant now than they were 20 years ago. If you need that much storage a cargo van or 11-passenger van is a better vehicle for your actual use case. It is easier to load/unload, and the center-of-gravity is lower so it is less likely to flip in a turn.
Overlooked the built in vacuum and the second row passenger controls for moving the front passenger seat where you end up having four to five foot of legroom. You can also remove the second row seats fairly easily and fit full sheets of plywood in this.
Not to mention minivans do what I call "truck mode." Remove the second row and fold down the third row. Now you can carry all the mulch from the spring sale back to your house
If you go with the regular gas engine on Pacificas the second row captains chairs also fold into the floor.
I absolutely miss having my old Town and Country for that convenience.
Yeah but the mulch won't stink up my truck when it's in my bed. Not hating on minivans, but last time I got 20 bags of mulch they smelled awful. I can't imagine having to ride in the same cabin as them.
@@leecm while I agree trucks have their place, I'd argue most people don't cart around mulch all that often and a minivan will work for the majority of tasks your average Joe would use a truck for.
Minivans work to transport most building supplies, work well when moving, can haul a surprising range of furniture, etc.
It's worth borrowing a truck or paying the rental fee at your department store the couple of times a year you actually need one and then having a van the other 99% of the time for the convenience, lower cost, better gas mileage, comfort, etc.
Again, this is your average person - there are definitely people that need a truck.
@@leecm haha stinks just as bad as a soil diaper
My mom drove Minivans for 19 years while having kids. Between strollers, diaper bags, and purses, etc...the ease and space they have was great for her to get us and things in and out with no problem. And the sliding doors...*mwah.* Perfect! You can't hit someone's car because your child isn't swinging the door open like an SUV. We still own a minivan and I drive it periodically despite having my own car. I feel that people need to stop being so concerned with appearances and status and drive a car that actually works for them. If that means driving a minivan because it works for you, then by all means drive it! They are still fun. And cheaper. Toyota is still making the Sienna and people drive them all over where I live.
The hybrid only comes in front wheel drive. It’s a nice vehicle, especially in the Pinnacle trim. However, as with any Chrysler product, reliability is an issue. Service at Mopar dealerships sucks. I have one of these and love it, but my next minivan is probably going to be the Kia Carnival Hybrid.
Your delivery of information is unparalleled. I couldn’t give less of a shit about minivans, but you bet I was on the edge of my seat the whole time watching 😂
Minivans are dope. I don’t know why people hate on them. They’re fast and can carry the whole squad.
@@MrTekniqs Minivan IS brat
@@00_UU don’t know what “brat” means. The way you’re using it.
@@MrTekniqs I am being sarcastic of this brat hype.
@@00_UU still have no idea what you’re talking about. Sorry I don’t live online if this is a new trend.
@@MrTekniqs google it
If you want a minivan that looks like an SUV get a Kia Carnival.
We had a Ford explorer that our little kids couldn’t get into on their own and now have a Carnival that they can press a button and get into themselves and sort themselves out. Plus more storage capacity behind the third row and removable middle seat in the second row. Every family with little kids should have one. Given the waitlists and demand it’s surprising that there are only four minivans currently on the market (Pacifica, Carnival, Odyssey, Sienna)
1:14 Did bro say 4 wheel drive while at FWD?
Yup lol
Marques being wowed by the minivan features found in my 2012 Sienna is hilarious. Love the van, carpool 6 middle/ high schoolers to school no problem. Camping no problem. Family of 4 visiting, no problem.
We love our 2 siennas. Most versatile and comfortable travel vehicles we have ever owned.
Why do we have two?
We have two as well, our older one does truck duty when stuff needs to be moved, a Honda Odyssey is going to last longer than most trucks. The other is the daily and road trip van.
@@onesteeltankour son has his and wife has hers. I have a tundra.
2 Siennas? You've just given up on life. Oh the drudgery. 🤣
@@celestialnubianI have a tundra
Been a proud owner of a Chrysler Pacific Hybrid for 7 years now. As a father of four this truly is my dream car 😅
We use our Chrysler minivan to haul our dogs around, especially to dog shows. Like you mentioned the sliding doors are great in parking lots getting the dogs in and out. The model we have has the “Stow and Go” middle row of seats. They fold down into the floor thus providing an uninterrupted flat floor from the back of the front seats to the back of the van. Unlike most vans those seats don’t have to be removed and stored somewhere. We also have a Dodge van with the same seats.
My guy, you didn't talk about how low it is to the ground. The #1 best feature of a minivan is when your kids get in by themselves, loading children into taller vehicles like mall crawling Jeeps is like lifting the heaviest kettlebells at your gym without handles.
Behold the humble van: the most practical vehicle on the planet. Scourge of parents trying to hold onto the SUV "cool" factor, and the one true 3rd row family vehicle.
but why did it have to be a Chrysler
Because they are the king of mini-vans. One of the very few things Chrysler actually gets right. And I am a Mopar person.......
@@jeffreyosworth5192 mopar and chrysler are both stellantis idiot
Hey. My PacHy has over 125k and is still going strong. I still love it.
2010 town and country 184,000 miles however they do need to work on the hybrid system
Don't hate of Chrysler. It's not 1997.
We used a Hybrid Pacifica for a while and it was pretty great. Mileage was awesome, AA wireless was amazing, charging ports everywhere. The Hybrid UFO noises were a bit heavy and the consumer reports rating is tough to get past. Overall, a great vehicle.
3:49 SUITE life of zack and cody anyone?!
Oh my god I saw that and that’s where my mind went first 😂😂😂😂😂
Am or Fmmmm?
people having kids being incomprehensible to marques is so funny
@@Member00101 because they have more kids 😂 suv is for if you have like 2/3 kids and minivans are if you have more than that
@@Im_helpless or big dogs
@@Im_helpless even just 2 kids, minivan just more convenient
@@Im_helplesseven an SUV isn’t needed if you have 2-3 kids 😂 most people use that justification but a large sedan is enough even a Prius lol
@@charname-player Sliding doors in general is more convenient, less hasle on a parking spot also when the door slides :)
A someone that is 6'3" with family and friends mostly all over 5'10", minivans are the goldilocks zone of vehicles. Space, comfort and utility.
The only problem I have with the hybrid shown is the most useful feature was removed - the Stow'n'go 2nd row. Being able to carry a ton of stuff then quickly switch to carrying people without taking seats out is so convenient. Ever go to an Ikea, buy something than realize it won't fit behind the 2nd row, not a problem with 2nd row stow'n'go, drop seats on one side of vehicle and away we go.
My family has a Honda Odyssey, and it’s currently the car that I drive mostly. It’s 17 years old and has 194,000 miles. It has served my family through numerous road trips across the western half of the United States. It served well as my car during high school and being able to bring friends to numerous places. It doesn’t get much use nowadays, but whenever we have guests or we need to haul lots of stuff, our Odyseey is still around for those tasks. An Odyssey, or any minivan really, is more reliable in being the practical family car, or even a car for anyone with large groups of friends, than any huge SUV that people buy nowadays
I’m looking into a Honda Odyssey, can I ask how much you pay to fill up the tank completely?
3:19 Usually gears in an automatic are laid out vertically, but I love that here it's horizontal so it spells out "PRNDL" 💀
Zack & Cody reference 😂
Would you like AM? Or FMmmmm?!
@@alexchapman8302 WOULD YOU LIKE *AMMMM* OR *FMMMM*
@@peroni_gotta put a little more aggression into it
Fair review and good to have a dad present to share his use case with one small child. A better test would be to bring 2-3 kids, 2 car seats, in the rain with grocery bags and a stroller and sit the Pacifica beside ANY 3 row SUV and figure out which one is easier to load and unload. That Pacifica’s sliding and rear cargo doors are also motion activated for hands free operation. That’s the use case.
this thing is soooo sick. i have automotive cetifications, i was a mechanic in the army reserves, i worked in construction, i have a pretty good garden and farm small animals for meat. I say all of this because people out there who hate on minivans are just showing their ''ball sack pickup truck'' energy. pride is a deadly sin for a reason, fellas. id proudly whip this any day and be psyched about it
Here in Japan most cars are minivans.
Luxury minivans like toyota Alphard, Vellfire,or Super luxury lexus LM.
China has them too all electric minivans super lux
I'm in Japan often. Most cars are Kei Cars not minivans.
Alphards are proof that you can in fact make minivans cool. They’re awesome.
I like my Honda STEPWGN
I’ve taken the Pacifica minivans on road trips over the years. They are great for space and the USB ports are great for the passengers. Went on a CA to TX trip for the Solar Eclipse. Was a treat for all the space.
I rented a Town & Country for the few weeks before my wedding, for taking visiting family around town. Was shocked at how much I enjoyed driving it. I'm normally a performance guy I love a vehicle I can throw around. But the Chrysler was so comfy and loaded it won me over.
It's like a luxury car that gives you real luxury instead of stars in the roof
Nondescript vans have basically replaced limousines as the luxury ground transport for the rich and famous, those tend to be full size though.
I was looking for a vehicle for someone and found a really cheap Hyundai minivan. I bought it and then they didn't like driving it. They had had a bad accident with a Sporttrak and the van was a replacement - the big open space behind the driver spooked her too much.
What I learned - minivans are almost always well loaded and priced low and are equally nice in every seat -- not just the "drivers seat" like many SUVs. I seriously almost kept the van which I paid cash for instead of my Explorer that was NOT paid for. All that cargo space without folding down seats, REMOVEABLE seats -- especially the back. For utility they blow every "sport" utility vehicle out of the water.
What saved my Explorer was the safety systems (it was the first year model of the "new" Explorer and had ALL modern safety) and the much better audio. The Hyundai was a few years before those features became standard and it had an odd stereo with NO external inputs but with a "standard" booster. So it was loud but only had CD and AM/FM. It was more like driving a truck, with the features of a "car."
Kids are grown and out of the house and we still purchased a Kia Carnival last year. Going to the cottage? No tetris needed. You can throw everything in and go. I renovated our bathroom last year. I removed the second row seats and went to the hardware store to get five 4'X8' drywall and two 4'X8' plywood sheets. Everything fit flat and the tailgate closed. This is particularly cool as it was raining. What pickup truck or SUV can do that?
why was this video deleted then uploaded again? was it because it clashed with Miles's Video?
Technically wasn’t deleted, just set to private temporarily. Probably had set the wrong scheduled upload time.
@@nicholaskiefer99 Its still hidden. I can see it as hidden in my watch later. They seem to have re-uploaded the entire video.
@@privacyadvisor good to know, thanks for clarifying!
I worked and studied out of a Hyundai Entourage third row seat for a year while on the road… bolted a Jeep XJ seat backwards so I could have manual geared seat back control and welded a desktop to span the deep well area the seat would normally flip down into. Then when I got married, I loaded it up with about 2,500 lbs of drinks from the caterer to transport to the reception venue and despite some swaying from the weight, it did the job. That little van was a tank until I gave it to my best man. Minivans are incredible vehicles.
Minivans are good for electric wheelchairs too 👍 Great video as always and thank you Andrew 🙌
Me and my wife realized about 3 years ago that mini vans were almost all gone and now replaced by suvs; when growing up we saw tons of minivans, so it's strange to see them gone. I didn't know people hated them until i started this video. They shouldn't, they're great
Back in 2019 we travelled to Orlando (I'm from Brazil) and we rented a Pacifica. I was able to fit 7 people (4 adults and 3 kids ages 7-12) and all their stuff (including at least one suitase and one backpack per person) in just that one car. They didin't show it, but if you need it, not just the third roll folds flat with the floor, but the second too, allowing dor some serious stuff carying! And if all seats are up, the space where the second roll seats are stored can be used for storage, just like a couple of chests and the space where the thirsd roll seats would go is already integrated in the trunk with a very low floor. Also, some trims have built-in vacuums!
You're really not going to review the '16 Honda Odyssey?
When you have kids, you need a minivan. It easy to get the kids in and out of the van with automatic doors. You also have plenty of space when the seats are folded for going out of town.
I got a minivan for recreation. I'm an outdoors guy. It carries my fishing gear and kayaks. It's great for cargo because the seats fold into the floor. A full size air mattress fits perfectly so I can crash in it too. It's perfect for long road trips. I don't have a big family but we're very close and do everything together, so whenever I visit them I got 7 seats too so we can all travel in one vehicle. And one of my favorite things about a minivan is it doesn't feel that big. It's lower than an suv, built basically like an extended car so it still feels like you're driving a car. It's easy to turn and park and pretty good on gas, unlike a suburban or Yukon. And if needed, you can pull a small utility or cargo or boat trailer too. So what's there not to love about a minivan? It's the perfect all around utility vehicle. The hate for it never made any sense to me. I think it just shows our hyper consumer culture. People in this country are so gullible and easily fall for marketing scams... They buy pickups instead, which has less cargo space, and everything is fully exposed to the elements, and it's far worse on gas, up higher and more dangerous, and much bigger and harder to drive. People nowadays buy just to show off, they don't buy for actual utility anymore.
4:50 sliding door don’t even open all the way.
Andrew, in a minivan with a Dadagonia t-shirt is the ultimate incarnation of the cool dad that all the kids at school secretly dreamed of being theirs! I’m here for that!
My dad has a van like this. It's really nice because he has arthritis and to not have to pull out seats and have everything open an close with a button and not have to use his hands so much is a real blessing.
Most comfortable vehicle I had was a 2006 Uplander. Great for kids, great in snow, could put construction material in the back, tow my camper... Looked like a dolphin.