Practical and solid value doesn’t always equal sales. Just ask the handful of remaining minivan makers, who continue to pump out some of the best ways to move a lot of people and all of their stuff. But while the field is reduced to the Kia Carnival, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, and Chrysler’s Pacifica and Voyager twins, those few who stick around might be finding that their patience has paid off. Sales, it seems, are starting to make a recovery.
Minivans Are, Like, So Hot Right Now
The Kia Carnival, which was heavily refreshed last year and gained a hybrid model, has seen its sales soar. Last month was the best April ever for the model, up 79 percent. Sales for the year are up 67 percent. At Honda, the Odyssey is up 32 percent for its best April sales in nine years. Full-year sales are up 28.6 percent. At Toyota, Sienna sales climbed 73.5 percent in April and are up 46.6 percent for the year so far. That puts the Sienna ahead of the Highlander last month.
Only Chrysler isn’t seeing the massive jump, but its two, including the back-from-the-dead Voyager, are doing better than they were. Sales have climbed the last two quarters, and year-to-date sales are up 11 percent. PHEV Pacifica sales doubled between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. Chrysler’s sales slump doesn’t even seem to be demand-related. A month ago, it had only a handful of vehicles in inventory. Today, it has just over 5,000 Pacificas in stock. That’s only two weeks of sales and just two per U.S. dealer. For comparison, it has 63,000 copies of the Grand Cherokee in stock and 19,000 Jeep Compass models, both of which sell in similar numbers to the minivan.
Related
The Most Reliable Used Minivan For Families On A Tight Budget
If you have a family and are looking for a reliable minivan from the mid-2000s, this is the best choice on the market.
Even though they now offer features like AWD and come in hybrid and PHEV models, the problem with minivans has been that they aren’t cool. The young parents of today don’t want the Lumina APVs and Pontiac Montanas their parents drove. Not even if that new Pacifica lets you fold every seat into the floor in a few moments.
Family Car Shoppers Are Planners
But none of that has changed in years. Meanwhile, minivan sales have been falling for decades. What gives now? Jessica Caldwell, head of insights for Edmunds, spoke with Road & Track about the trend. “Minivans might not stir the soul,” she said, “but in 2025, they’re making a strong case for themselves.” Caldwell added that “buyers in this segment are planners, and with tariffs in the conversation, some may be pulling the trigger early – helping fuel the Q1 sales surge.”
When it comes to airport transportation, forget about the Escalade or Suburban you’re most likely going to encounter. Even the nicest of them ride like the trucks they are, with compromised headroom and ergonomics. Especially if you have enough people to need the back seat.
Related
8 Of The Craziest, Most Powerful, And Fastest Minivans And Family SUVs
We’re not talking series production or tuner packages here, but crazy one-offs that make no sense.
The same goes for family hauling. Nothing beats the back of a minivan for space. Turn on the TVs that are optional on most, and things get even more comfortable. Get out the built-in vacuum for quick spill pickup, and you’re in school-run heaven.
At its peak in the late 1990s, minivans made up as much as 10 percent of the total new light vehicle market. Last year, that figure dropped below two percent. But time is a flat circle and history repeats, so the minivan could be on the rise and back in suburban driveways.
Source: Road & Track
#Americans #Finally #Minivan #Cool
