How Do I Know Which Minivan to Choose?

Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect minivan for your family.

The three leading minivans are the Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica, and the Honda Odyssey.  All three of them are now available in eight passenger versions. While all are similar in size, features, and safety, there are some distinct advantages to each of them.  See what others say about each of these vehicles before deciding on which to lease or buy.

Chrysler Pacifica

• Convenient Stow ‘n Go seats (middle row of seats also fold into the floor of the vehicle, not just the back row)
• Tons of features and storage options, such as drawers and cup holders
• Strong acceleration and composed handling
• Good fuel economy
• Even with a car seat installed, the seats in the second row can still move out of the way to allow access to the third row. This is a great feature that keeps kids from having to climb over the second row, muddy shoes and all, to get to the third. No other minivan currently offers this.
• It’s the winner of the 2017 Best Minivan for the Money award by US News and World Report because it has the best combination of quality and value in the class.
• The only minivan designated a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its crash test scores and available safety features.
• The Chrysler Pacifica receives a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 from J.D. Power, which is slightly above average. The Toyota Sienna gets the same rating, but the Honda Odyssey scores lower.
• Built-in vacuum available

Honda Odyssey

• Completely redesigned for 2018
• Long list of family-friendly technology
• Good handling, with a tight, sporty suspension
• Strong acceleration
• Second-row seats must be removed for maximum cargo capacity That’s about the only downside to the Odyssey’s seats, as they’re very comfortable and adjustable.

Available options:
• Magic Slide second-row seats, which adjust laterally, backward, and forward in five different positions. Parents will be grateful for this adjustability when sending fighting siblings to opposite sides of the van or bringing a child’s seat within arm’s reach. The system also makes third-row access easier.
• CabinWatch, which uses a camera to provide a view of the second and third rows on the touch-screen display.
• HondaLink (which gives you remote access to your minivan)
• HondaVac (built-in vacuum cleaner)

Toyota Sienna

• Only minivan to offer all-wheel drive (only in the seven passenger version.)
• High-quality and spacious interior
• High-quality materials, user-friendly tech, comfy, spacious seating
• Large cargo area
• New eight-speed automatic transmission
• More powerful V6 engine
• Sienna’s record of lower depreciation rates: it has a better resale value than some rival minivans, netting you a higher price when you’re ready to sell or trade in your Sienna.
• Currently, Toyota offers two years of maintenance included free.

Bottom line:  All three of these options are excellent choices and one can be comfortable choosing the one that has the best available deal.  

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For the latest deals on any of these vehicles, contact Anchor Auto Lease at  (732) 363-8989 or visit them at 319 River Avenue in Lakewood or online at www.anchorautolease.com.