Best Mom Van for the Modern Family

Last Updated on January 22, 2023

A growing family necessitates change, and if your little 5-seater just won’t cut it anymore, then you’ll want to trade up to a proper mom van. Here’s our list of top 5 mom vans for modern families.

The best mom van for expanding families include the Kia Carnival, Chrysler Pacifica, Tesla Model X, Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Toyota Sienna.

Moms across the nation all know a simple truth – minivans rule! After all, with multiple kids in tow and about a million activities located dozens of miles away from home each week, the daily carpool has become part of mom life.

Who would have thought that getting the kids to soccer practice, baseball games and ballet classes would involve so much driving? Good news is, minivans make it easier.

From running errands to get through busy mornings to reuniting at school for pick up as the sun sets, moms everywhere can quickly move family members around efficiently and for longer distances than ever before.

Fact is, if a mom van is not already in your driveway, maybe it’s time to change that.

In this post, we’ll discuss why minivans have become the must have for busy moms. So stop squeezing everyone into your tiny sedan and discover why upgrading to a family-friendly minivan will make life easier.

Let’s dive into this!

Why Are Minivans So Popular With Moms?

Minivans have been around for decades, but lately it feels like they’ve seen a surge in popularity.

Truth is, when it comes to daily life with kids, entering and exiting a car or SUV can be a hassle. But with the sliding door of the minivan, it makes an otherwise stressful process easy.

From personal experience, I’ve bonked my sons head numerous times trying to get him in and out of our SUV. Sliding doors have practically eliminated this problem.

In fact, sliding doors is such a hit that now many minivans offer dual sliding doors.

Its versatility and features allows parents to get their children in and out without having to open an entire car door.

In addition to sliding door roomy cabins and ample cargo space, modern day minivans often come loaded with premium tech options designed practical yet luxurious.

However, perhaps one of the most beneficial features that can often be overlooked is the built in vacuum cleaner. Having this low tech, but handy accessory available ensures keeping the car’s upholstery and carpets clean and mess free.

And because all families come in different shapes and sizes – the versatile design of minivans can accommodate the people you love most in whatever activity your family is interested in doing.

All these reasons may explain why suddenly more families are jumping onto the mom van bandwagon when it comes to choosing a family vehicle.

Who Invented The Mini Van?

Chrysler introduced the minivan to the world on November 2, 1983. And by 1984, Chrysler’s Dodge Caravan and its corporate counterpart, the Plymouth Voyager official hit the dealership lots for sale.

Looking to capitalize on the sudden popularity of the minivan segment, General Motors and Ford released their own versions of the minivan in 1985.

Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari duo and Ford’s 1986 Aerostar looked to take a slice of the emerging minivan market share.

Minivans took the idea of a station wagon to an unprecedented level by providing convenience and affordability not experienced before.

Are Minivan Sales Down?

Sales of the minivan totaled 310,630 units in 2021 for the U.S. market. Accounting for 2.1% of the overall car market.

However in 2022, sales of minivans in the U.S. fell 26% in the first half of 2022. Trailing the overall auto market, which is also down 18%.

At just under 124,000 deliveries, minivans now account for 1.8% of the overall car market, down from 2.1% in 2021.

But many automotive experts are seeing signs that the mom van could see a resurgence in popularity again.

Best Mom Vans

Are you in the market for a trustworthy mom van? Our team at MCV tallied up all the reviews left by real owners. Here is our list of current top mom vans.

Kia Carnival

The Kia carnival is marketed as an SUV, but don’t let that fool you; it’s really a minivan that seats 8, has lots of cargo space, and is perfect for speed and power. It features sliding door and extra luggage space behind the third-row seat.

Chrysler Pacifica

The Pacifica is great if you need lots of leg room and cargo space. The safety features like the Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, stability control, and collision warning with active braking are great.

This car is dedicated to keeping your family safe just as you are.

Tesla Model X

Another great option to consider is the Tesla Model X. Of course, it comes with a pretty hefty price tag, but if your goal is to go electric, this is a great option.

It can seat 7, and its performance is incredibly powerful, and it’s safety rating is among the best of the bunch.

Honda Odyssey

This three-row minivan is great for fitting a whole family comfortably. With a 3.5-liter V6 engine, it’s a powerhouse and gets good mileage to boot.

With admirable safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, it’s a safe, powerful vehicle for your family.

To top it all off, the Honda Odyssey stands out from other minivans on the market for being one of the most dependable minivans.

Dodge Grand Caravan

Boasting some impressive power stats with its 3.6-liter V6 engine, the Dodge Grand Caravan is also equipped with lots of excellent safety gear, including seven airbags and front-seat head restraints. It’s got a rear-seat entertainment system to keep kids occupied on longer trips, too.

Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Sienna is a minivan designed with moms in mind, offering a range of benefits. Its spacious interior comfortably accommodates up to eight passengers and provides ample cargo space.

With family-friendly features like easy-to-clean upholstery and convenient power sliding doors and tailgate, loading and unloading kids and their belongings becomes hassle-free.

The Sienna prioritizes safety with advanced technologies such as forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. It also boasts Toyota’s renowned reliability, ensuring peace of mind for busy moms.

Fuel efficiency is a standout feature too, making it cost-effective for frequent drives.

Technology features like rear-seat entertainment systems and touchscreen infotainment with smartphone integration keep both moms and kids entertained.

What is the Most Requested Minivan Feature?

Without a doubt – safety features! Many moms prioritize the safety of their families when choosing a minivan, making it one of the most frequently requested features.

They tend to look for minivans that offer advanced safety features such as comprehensive airbags, stability control, traction control, blind-spot monitoring, rearview cameras, parking sensors, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking.

These features provide reassurance and help reduce the chances of accidents or injuries while traveling with their loved ones.

So when shopping for a minivan, be sure to check that the model you are considering has these safety features.

Best Mom Van FAQs

What is The Safest Minivan?

The Toyota Sienna continues to hold its position as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. It has also received an impressive five-star safety rating from the NHTSA for 2022.

Is Minivan Safer Than SUV?

Both are comparabile when it comes to safety and safety features. Numerous minivans and SUVs provide advanced safety capabilities, including backup cameras, collision warnings, and automatic emergency braking.

Additionally, in 2021, both minivans and mid-sized SUVs attained comparable safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Where is The Safest Place For a Baby To Sit in a Minivan?

When it comes to minivans or SUVs equipped with third-row seating, it is advisable to position your baby in the middle for optimal safety.

However, if the middle row consists of bucket seats rather than a bench, it is recommended to place the car seat in the center seat.

Final Thoughts: Best Mom Van for the Modern Family

There are lots of great mom van options out there for the modern family, featuring extensive safety features and lots of space for your family to stretch out without feeling cramped.

Of course, all of these vehicles have some pretty admirable specs, too. These vans have the specs, the features, and the design to accommodate large families, making them perfect mom van options.

Dear Minivan shoppers…

Before making a minivan purchase, it’s important to prioritize the safety and reliability of the vehicle you choose.

To ensure you’re not buying a potentially unsafe or defective vehicle, take the time to run a vehicle reliability report.

This report will provide you with valuable information about the vehicle’s history, including any recalls, accidents, or maintenance issues.