Question What minivans to look at?

Joyofbirth · Mar 17, 2009

We are getting a new minivan because mine is dying. So I need to know what our best options are? I need this van to last forever. My sister mentioned Siennas. Are these good? Are there any current minivans (08ish) that have tether anchors in all positions? i currently have an 01 Town and country and there is an anchor in both captain chairs and all 3 back positions. Are some minivans more compatible to 3 across in the back row? We have 3 children right now and may possibly have another. We also sometimes transport other people's children. We have 2 nautiluses and a marathon right now, but I'm sure there's a regent in our future. I'd love any help with this. I also want something that crash tested well. Thanks in advance.

Guest · Mar 17, 2009

I'm not sure any van has anchors in all positions.

Top current vans (08ish) are the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey, with the Koreans worth a look as well for value.

Pixels · Mar 17, 2009

Well if you have 4 children, you won't be able to transport other people's kids any more, but ... Mazda5, has top tethers in all 4 back seats, room for 6 adults (if there's no kids) so as the kids grow they'll have room too. Plus the price is right, MSRP starts around $20K and they're selling for $16ish in my area.

Oh and the seating is three rows of two seats, so no worries about 3 across.

Guest · Mar 17, 2009

Mazda5 gets great gas mileage, but it doesn't have a lot of cargo room. Think of it as a tiny version of a minivan. If the size and cargo area is ok, it's definitely worth considering over a regular minivan.

If you're looking at a standard sedan like a Malibu or Accord, you might as well get a real minivan like a Sienna cuz it's not too much more.

christineka · Mar 17, 2009

With the sienna you can pretty much do any 3 across in the middle row. It's the back row that is tricky. There is quite a bit of cargo room in the sienna- not sure how it compares to other modern minivans, though. There are 5 tether anchors for the 6 back seat spots.

Heather98012 · Mar 17, 2009

codex57 said:
...with the Koreans worth a look as well for value.

In addition to value, the Kia Sedona & Hyundai Entourage were rated tops in safety by both the NHTSA & IIHs in 2007 (or was it '08?). You could google for the results, I'm sure. But they scored excellent in all crash tests.

Jeanum · Mar 17, 2009

To clarify a bit, Christineka is referring to the '04 and newer 8-passenger Sienna specifically in terms of 3 across in the Sienna's second row. '04 and newer 7-passenger Siennas also have tether anchors for all second row seating positions and the third row center and third row passenger side.

FWIW, the '06 and newer Honda Odyssey has top tether anchors for all but the optional second row center stowable seat. Unfortunately, no current minivan model has tether anchors for every rear seating position, unlike the OP's 2001 Town and Country, and then Chrysler sadly decontented their minivans in terms of tether anchors after the 2001 model year.

Passenger vehicles are required to have factory equipped tether anchors in 3 rear seating positions since approx. the 2000/2001 model year in the U.S., and it's unfortunate that manufacturers don't opt to go beyond the minimum requirement in models with three rows and factory equip every rear seating position with a tether anchor.

Guest · Mar 17, 2009

Yeah, that's a little bizarre to me. How much could it possibly cost? $1? So raise the cost by $2. No one would even notice. Not when they raise MSRP prices every year anyways.

carseatcoach · Mar 17, 2009

Even make it an "option" for $20. That would be greedy and sucky, but some people need the anchors.

Question What minivans to look at?

Joyofbirth

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