Mini Vans with 3 Kids

I have to agree with the other two gals about the Toyota Sienna. I had one for 3 years - the 2008 model - and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. We compared the Toyota and Honda before we decided. We were able to get a Limited (an XLE is very comparable) and it was like driving a Lexus. :)

~ Ann

I have a Toyota Sienna that we just got in December and I LOVE it! I was so not a minivan person going into this, but it was just the most practical vehicle for what we needed and now I don't know how I lived without one for so long. I honestly find some other new cool feature about once per week that I didn't know it had. It's such a great vehicle. You can rearrange the captains chairs in the middle row so that you can get to the backseat from the side or the middle. I have actually found that moving the two seats in the middle row next to each other makes it easier to get into the back from the side.

All of my doors are automatic (side and rear hatch), so I can open and close them from the keychain. Mine was used when we got it, but it is a top of the line model with anything and everything you could possibly imagine in it. I can't say enough about this vehicle. I highly recommend it. I think the Honda Odessy is similar, although I would stay away from the Touring models (I think only the 2005 models if you're looking used) because you have to buy special tires and they cost a small fortune! They also wear faster than they are supposed to, so you have to buy them more often.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. I know Toyota doesn't have the greatest reputation right now, but we have two of them (minivan and SUV) and have never had any problems with them. They are great cars. Good luck! I hope you find just the right vehicle for your family.

I LOVE my Toyota Sienna!!! I can't say enough about it. We just recently (March 10) got it used, a 2008 AWD Limited. It has everything I could ask for and more. My kids can easily get in and out, I can easily get back to them if need be. And the doors as well as the back hatch all open/close by the push of a button! My kids even like the minivan more than the Yukon Denali we traded in for it. The Sienna has a great service record, and excellent reviews.
I had a Dodge Grand Caravan before, and I personally hated that van. We constantly had issues with it. And if you check out reviews for it, you will find that it is common to have MANY problems.
Good luck with whatever you choose!

we drive a Toyota Sienna....and we love it....I love the aisle in between the 2nd row seats...the seats are way comfortable...I love my built in gps...have yet to get my handsfree bluetooth running....love the sunroof...the automatic sliding doors on both sides are great...love the cargo in back...drives like butter....

I always get my minivan serviced at the Toyota dealership in Folsom ..and they rock...kid play area....nice service people, free coffee, water, hot chocolate..I think soda too...and some food...sometimes that's a lifesafer when you forget and you have kids

My Sienna was the best car purchase I have ever made...of course we got top of the line...but it was worth it....we are going to be in this car for a while...we have growing kids!

2010 chrystler town and country, stow and go mini van. Is terrible.
We recently rented it for a day trip, seat position made it hard for anyone in the back to get out,You could barely fit 2 carseats and 1 small person in back seat...or having carseats in the front row make it impossible for anyone to get out of way back...lol.

Other than that it was great.....

I LOVE MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA.... like others, here, I DID NOT want a minivan but now, I CAN NOT imagine being without one! I love the huge cargo space in the back and the 7 passenger is a must have when going camping and driving around cub scouts! It is so convenient the automatic opening doors too! I can't say enough of how much I love the Sienna! We shopped around first and was torn between the Odessey and the Sienna but once we did the test drive we new we had to have the Sienna. We bought ours in early November of 2007 and was able to get a really great deal on a 2008 better than what the Odessey would have cost us! LOVE THE SIENNA!

Greetings Cathy, this will be interesting to read as I am going to be looking for yet another mini van soon. I drove a full size van for years ( & still think it is the best way to go) and we downsized to the Dodge Grand Caravan- mini van. I would only consider one that opens from both sides just for ease of getting in and out of with family. Make sure that the back area behind the seat is big enough for a stroller! The extended area makes all the differance. We took out the back seat and had it fitted for an electric wheelchair lift . which worked great. The bucket seats in the back are a peace maker on trips and be mindful that there is little leg room for the back seat. I also would make sure what the air flow is for the back with both heat and air. I look forward to seeing what information you recieve. To give you a laugh I am now the grandmother of several sweethearts and although I thought by now I would only need a small car I find that I have at least one car seat in the car at all times so still need the van just no longer need mine with the lift. Good Luck

As far as appearance my vote goes to the Sienna.

I've had my 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE Premium for less than a month and LOVE IT. Like other Moms I never expected myself to be a mini-van type but after a trip to Monterey Bay in the back of our GMC Yukon with our 8 month old son, I needed comfort over style. The first week I really mourned the loss of my SUV, but now I don't look back and I definitely don't regret my decision.

Unfortunately since the van is so new and so in demand there aren't any incentives - at the moment. BUT if you can wait, the Honda Odyssey is coming out with their new model this summer so Toyota might have specials/incentives by then. We got an AMAZING deal by going through the Costco fleet connection at the dealership. They don't work off commission and just want to move volume so it cuts out that feeling of trying to bargain with a shady car salesman.

By using the Costco discount, and with our trade in value of our Yukon we were able to get almost 10K off the MSRP of our model. It's not the top of the line Limited Edition, the XLE Premium is just below it and I LOVE THIS VAN, it's pretty chic and luxurious. Geeze did I just say that? LOL

Everything is automatic -doors, trunk, etc. the navigation and phone is all voice activated with touch screen, there are 16 cup holders (can you believe that craziness?) we have the DVD with two screen options, comes with wireless headphones, there are two electrical outlets (your husband can hook up his XBOX or PlayStation or you can plug in electric griddles for camping if you're the type) leather, heated seats, sun/moon roof, the middle windows open like normal windows and each window in the back has a pull up shade for the kids. Ours seats eight and the middle seat in the middle row is removable and has a perfect spot on the side of the trunk area. I'm probably leaving out a ton of the other features, just be sure to visit the Toyota site.

Our dealer also waved the cost of letting us shop around for a better interest rate five days after purchase. Ask for that too - it helps and saves the $100 fee.

It has made my life so much easier and I absolutely love the space. I like the shape of this van over all vans on the market. I reviewed the 2011 Odyssey concept online and I think the Sienna just looks and feels bigger. Plus the Odyssey doesn't seem worth the extra money to me just because it's "popular".

You can get a fully loaded Kia for 32K if you're looking for savings. But I love the Sienna. Look up "Swagger Wagon" on You Tube, pretty funny. They showcase the SE a more basic model.

Have fun shopping and enjoy your new van!!!

We just bought an '05 Honda Odyssey Touring last fall. We were on a tight budget and I wanted something with dual sliding doors, low mileage and good quality. I drove several Hondas and Toyotas. My suggestion is to drive several models and find what feels good to you. You can do a lot of research online, too. I have a baby and a 2 year old and yesterday I took my 5 year old nephew with me and it was easy getting his carseat in the back seat.

I drive a '05 Honda Odessy and I love it. I have two children and we use it for road trips and for all of our sporting activities. The Honda seats 8 people and the second row seats are adjustable. I love that the third row folds down into the floor. And there is plenty of room in the back for luggage or equipment. I previously owned a Dodge Grand Caravan -- and traded it in after going through a lemon law lawsuit. The Honda was a great improvement, I love it!!!

I have an Odyssey - I LOVE IT! In my "playgroup" (the kids are all in school now but the moms still get together) of 4, all 4 of us have Odysseys. Two bought them as their second minivan after owning other models. And not just the model, Hondas have always been great cars.

Love my Honda Odyssey!

You're going to get all sorts of responses here, because I think each family has its own favorite car ... We just got another Dodge Caravan, our third, and I love this new one. It's the first one we've had that has the bucket seats in the second row. In our case, doing home childcare, we need to fit five little guys in. The Dodge has enough room for two child seats, two boosters and an Infant seat. It feels really roomy to ride in and drives nicely too.

I have a Dodge Grand Caravan SXT and love it! I have the aisle in the middle, stow and go(which I love), my back seats can turn into tailgate seats(awesome for the drive in movies or ice cream!), I also have the option to fold all my back seats down, just one,or two. My side doors have buttons to open the doors so that makes things easy when your hands are full with the kids or groceries. I get great gas mileage and havnt had any issues with it. My 3rd is coming in June and to keep the peace(both girls want to sit next to the baby!) the girls are gonna go in the back, 1 of my middle seats are gonna be stowed and my son will go in the other! good luck!

Hubby and I have been shopping for a Minivan for the past month. We were all set to buy the new Sienna (it's lovely), but then decided to buy a used 2008 Odyssey touring. The Touring has everything you'd ever want, and buying it used, we are about 5k under the Toyota price.

In terms of actual driving, there is no competition. I felt like I was driving a car in the Honda. Backing up was easier, etc.

BTW, all the 8 seaters have pop out third seats in the second row (at least the Honda and Toyota do).

If you can wait, Nissan is coming out with a new minivan, and Honda will have a new model this summer.

I'm really confident in my choice of the Honda. We had actual started negotiations for a Sienna, but the Honda drives better, and by going used, we can get a maxed out car for much less.

As to issues with the Touring's wheels, they discontinued the problematic system, so models 2008 plus don't have tired issues.

I love my Honda Odessey EX. It is actually an 8-seater, but you can take the 8th seat and store it in the floor of the van, creating either a passage through the middle, or moving one of the bucket seats over and creating a passage on the right side of the van. Very roomy, very nice drive, very good safety record. We bought ours used and got a really good price on it, too. Good luck.