The minivan segment is shrinking as many buyers buy an SUV instead of a minivan. Different types of cars have their pros and cons, and one area where minivans outperform other segments is cargo capacity. Here’s a look at five minivans that have the most cargo space.
Why cargo space is essential for families
Many people who own a minivan also have a family. For some households, a minivan is the only sensible option. This is because minivans also have a lot of cargo capacity and some of the highest seating capacities available in a vehicle. That extra cargo space can come in handy for families and people without kids.
Minivans can allow owners to carry a large amount of cargo without folding down the seats, which is useful on road trips. Owners without a large family can fold down their seats for even more cargo capacity. That space can accommodate large equipment, such as televisions that would be too big for the trunk of a sedan or SUV. Here are the minivans with the largest cargo space.
5. 2021 Toyota Sienna With Super Long Slider Seats That Are Fully Backed
According to cars, the Sienna has 21.7 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats and 32.6 cubic feet of space when the third row is folded. While the Toyota minivan ranks only fifth, it is unique in other ways.
The Sienna starts with a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. It gets 245 hp and is paired with a CVT. This configuration allows the Sienna to get around 36 mpg combined, which is very high for a minivan. A new Sienna costs around $37,000.
4. 2021 Honda Odyssey
The Sienna’s long-term rival, the Honda Odyssey, ranks fourth as it has slightly more cargo capacity than the Sienna. The Odyssey has slightly less cargo capacity without folding down the third-row seats, at just 21.1 cubic feet. When the third row is folded down, you get 41.6 cubic feet, much more than the Sienna. The Honda minivan also starts at around $37,000.
3. 2021 Chrysler Pacifica
The Chrysler Pacifica is one of the newer minivans out there, surpassing the Odyssey and Sienna in terms of cargo capacity. It has 17.6 cubic feet behind the third-row seats and 41.6 cubic feet when the third row is folded down. However, Chrysler does have Stow ‘n Go cargo bays that add 3.2 cubic feet to the Pacifica’s numbers. This option also starts at around $37,000.
2. 2021 Toyota Sienna with super long sliding seats that sit in the middle of the rear
A different configuration of the Sienna came in second. When the minivan’s optional super-long sliding seats are slid back halfway, you get 44.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row folded down. However, its cargo capacity without folding down the third-row seats remains unchanged at 21.7 cubic feet.
1. Kia Carnival 2022
The minivan with the most cargo capacity right now is the Kia Carnival. Car buyers may know it as the Sedona, but the South Korean automaker has changed its name to Carnival for the 2022 model year.
This Kia minivan has 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, which is the highest among all minivans. Similarly, when the third row is folded down, the Carnival has 45.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which is also the highest among minivans. Carnival starts at around $33,000.