Greatest minivans for 2025? Heed the Buzz

New minivans could be had with gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or totally electrical powertrains
The Toyota Sienna can solely be had as a hybrid, and with all-wheel drive it will get 35 mpg mixed
The VW ID.Buzz is an electrical van with 231 miles of vary with AWD

Minivans have by no means been higher.

Minivans are nowhere close to as standard as they have been on the finish of the twentieth century. Gross sales have plummeted from 1.3 million in 2000, to 306,000 final 12 months. However the 4 that stream out of showrooms at the moment—the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona, and Chrysler Pacifica—have been nice household suppliers, with principally middling gas financial system.

That is about to alter. After years of delays, the brand new 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz electrical van will revitalize the minivan with battery energy. It isn’t doing it by itself: at the moment, three different minivans sport hybrid or plug-in hybrid choices, leaving the Honda Odyssey by itself within the gas-only period. Nevertheless it’s the one battery-only mannequin, with no different one on the horizon. It cashes in on the retromod development of resurrecting bygone nameplates, however these sliding aspect doorways make it a standout.

They’re all robust performers of their section, however which of those minivans are one of the best to personal? The stalwarts or the newfangled, the combustions or the electrifieds?

Our rankings think about value of possession in addition to sticker value, so that they favor hybrids. But security and inside roominess play essential roles, as does how simply small palms can transfer huge seats to make their very own method on the earth. Connectivity and straightforward to make use of options additionally charge excessive.

From power-sliding aspect doorways to all-wheel drive with a cost, these household haulers are making all the fitting strikes. This is how they rank (all costs embody vacation spot).

2025 Honda Odyssey

Value and trim vary: EX-L ($43,315), Sport-L ($44,465), Touring ($48,005), Elite ($52,275)
Powertrain: 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 with a 10-speed automated and front-wheel drive solely
MPG: 19 mpg metropolis, 28 freeway, 22 mixed
Standout options: Heated energy entrance seats, sunroof, wi-fi smartphone charger commonplace

Honda has pared down the Odyssey lineup lately, however the fifth-generation Odyssey final redesigned in 2018 has grown stale. It is the one minivan to lack a hybrid powertrain possibility, and it solely is available in front-wheel drive. On the upside, it is one of many higher dealing with minivans with good steering and distinctive reliability—one of many advantages of not likely altering a lot over time. The draw back is that the infotainment and tech total lags behind rivals, fueling hypothesis that Honda will both discontinue the Odyssey after a 30-year run or replace it with a hybrid powertrain within the subsequent 12 months or two. Honda’s belated push to electrification contains not simply making the CR-V Hybrid and Accord Hybrid the highest sellers for these fashions, but additionally planning an electrical three-row crossover due in 2027. We’ll see if the Odyssey’s journey continues, Homer.

2025 Chrysler Pacifica

2023 Chrysler Pacifica

Value and trim vary: Voyager ($41,690), Choose ($44,145), Restricted ($51,760), Pinnacle ($56,425)
PHEV value and trim vary: PHEV Choose ($52,750), PHEV S ($58,995), PHEV Pinnacle ($61,975)
Powertrain: 287-hp 3.6-liter V-6 with a 9-speed automated; AWD provides $2,995
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain: 260-hp 3.6-liter V-6 with two electrical motors and a 12.5-kwh (usable) battery pack with a CVT
MPG: 19/28/22 mpg; 17/25/20 mpg with all-wheel drive
PHEV MPG: 32 miles of electrical vary; the equal of 82 mpg with gasoline and electrical energy; 30 mpg mixed with out electrical
Standout options: Stow ‘N Go seats that fold into the ground (not on PHEV); obtainable AWD (not on PHEV); luxurious choices

When the plug-in hybrid Pacifica launched in 2018, a 12 months after Chrysler changed the City & Nation with the gas-powered Pacifica, the basic Chrysler turned a story of two minivans: The Pacifica nonetheless has the revolutionary Stow ‘N Go seats that fold into the ground in each the second and third rows, and it has obtainable all-wheel drive; the Pacifica Hybrid is the one PHEV minivan and it could 32 miles round city with out ever needing the gasoline engine—good for household errands—however it could’t be had with second-row Stow ‘N Go seats or all-wheel drive. Chrysler provides a 3rd wrinkle this 12 months by bringing again the Voyager as a funds base mannequin to clients as an alternative of simply fleets, however at practically $42,000, how a lot of a worth is the Voyager? It wears the Pacifica’s previous pores and skin however has trendy content material, together with a normal 10.1-inch touchscreen with wi-fi smartphone compatibility in addition to Stow ‘N Go in each rear rows. It lacks the extra luxurious choices of the Pacifica that tip it towards the $60,000 edge. It is value noting that the Pacifica PHEV qualifies for the complete $7,500 federal EV tax credit score, so relying in your earnings, it may value practically the identical because the gasoline mannequin.

2025 Toyota Sienna

Value and trim vary: LE ($40,635), XLE ($45,445), XSE ($48,090), Restricted ($51,650), Woodland ($51,875), Platinum ($57,595); all-wheel drive prices $2,000 further, although it is commonplace on Woodland and solely $760 on Platinum
Powertrain: 245-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 with two motors (all-wheel drive provides a 3rd motor to energy the rear axle), a hybrid transmission, and front-wheel drive
MPG: 36 mpg mixed with front-wheel drive; 35 mpg mixed with all-wheel drive
Standout options: At the very least 35 mpg mixed, obtainable AWD

An ordinary hybrid with both 36 mpg mixed with front-wheel drive, or 35 mpg with all-wheel drive, the Sienna continues to examine all the sensible packing containers for minivan house owners. The second row seats are bolted down, nevertheless, and harder to take away than some other minivan within the class, limiting its versatility. With six trims and heaps of choices, there is a Sienna for many tastes. Its 245-hp inline-4 and two-motor hybrid system (three motors with all-wheel drive) lacks the grunt of the V-6 choices within the class, however Toyota tunes its suspension to be much less wobbly than rivals and it is a secure freeway cruiser. Just like the Pacifica, it will get costly on the prime, and despite the fact that it gives up a built-in vacuum and cooler, in addition to footrests and different fancy choices, it is extra sensible than posh in any of its myriad configurations.

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

2. Kia Carnival

Value and trim vary: LX ($37,895), LXS ($39,895), EX ($42,095), SX ($46,995), SX Status ($51,995)
Hybrid value and trims: It prices $2,000 extra in LXS, EX, SX, and SX Status grades
Powertrain: 287-hp 3.5-liter V-6 with an 8-speed automated, front-wheel drive solely
Hybrid powertrain: 242 -hp 1.6-liter turbo-4 with a single motor, 6-speed automated, and front-wheel drive solely
MPG: 18/26/21 mpg; 34/31/33 mpg hybrid
Standout options: Refined hybrid, good cupboard space, worth, 5-year/60,000-mile guarantee

The brand new hybrid possibility makes the Carnival rather more than a very good time; it elevates the journey with effectivity and refinement. The refreshed Carnival could lack options akin to all-wheel drive or fold-in-the-floor seats, nevertheless it does nearly every little thing else effectively, particularly within the hybrid mannequin. It comes effectively geared up with a simple infotainment interface, has an distinctive guarantee, and is the worth play within the class with out feeling in any respect like a funds automobile.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz

Value and trim vary: Professional S ($61,545), Professional S Plus ($65,045), 1st Version ($67,045); including a second motor for all-wheel drive provides $4,500 to Professional S Plus and 1st Version fashions
Powertrain: 282-hp single motor with rear-wheel drive or 335-hp with dual-motor all-wheel drive; 91-kwh battery pack
MPG: 234 miles of vary with one motor or 231 miles with two motors
Standout options: New search for a brand new age, nice outward imaginative and prescient, all-electric mannequin, roomy second row

Our TCC Ranking might sound to replicate a choice for shiny new issues with out soiled tailpipe emissions (learn extra about how we charge automobiles) however the return of the Volkswagen Bus in electrical ID.Buzz type revitalizes the minivan section whereas additionally pointing it ahead. In two-tone type with a protracted wheelbase and snubbed ends, it cashes in on the retro development however excels at trendy energy supply, with a 91-kwh battery pack feeding a one- or two-motor drivetrain. At as much as 234 miles, vary might sound on the low finish for a brand new EV, however that is the roomiest and heaviest minivan on sale. Prompt torque lends it first rate launch from a cease, and the battery within the ground between the axles makes it really feel planted. The cockpit has views and not using a hood like the unique Bus, nevertheless it has intelligent storage choices akin to a splash shelf for the passenger, a smartphone charging recess, and a clear look. The draw back are local weather controls within the 12.9-inch touchscreen and temperature sliders that may be lower than exact. Because it’s made in Germany, it would not qualify for a tax credit score, so it is comparatively costly in comparison with different minivans. However such is the price of shiny—and relatively clear—new issues