We have a Subaru Outback that we bought in 2017. It has served us well pre-kids, but we now have two children aged two and four and are expecting a third child soon. The car has to fit three car seats and have some stroller space in the trunk. We are wondering if an SUV is better, or if having a minivan is best. Which brand do we go for? Our budget is $50,000 or cheaper. Is it better to buy used or new? – Joanne
Mark Richardson: This is simple. Three car seats and space for a stroller? Forget SUVs – Joanne wants a minivan. This is what they’re designed for.
Miranda Lightstone: I can feel your excitement getting to suggest a minivan, but I’m not entirely convinced she should jump on the van wagon just yet. Her eldest will be moving into a booster seat soon enough, and a three-row SUV can offer a decent amount of cargo space.
Richardson: Any three-row SUV is limited in cargo space when all three rows are used as seats. Get over your anti-minivan prejudice. It’s the only smart way to go.
Lightstone: I’ll admit I adore the ease-of-use a minivan offers, but a well-rounded and spacious SUV can be just as practical. Take the Toyota 4Runner, for example. There are quite a few used models available for less than her $50,000 budget. I’m currently driving a 2025 version, but they haven’t changed much over the years: there are two dedicated LATCH systems in the second row, and a smaller seat for the oldest child can be used in the third row.
2025 Toyota 4RunnerDoug Firby/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: Which doesn’t leave much cargo space for strollers. Why don’t we just tell Joanne about some minivans, and then maybe mention another SUV if she’s as image-conscious as you?
Lightstone: Some see vehicles as a tool, others (read: me) as an accessory in life. And so, if I were to accessorize with a minivan, my first choice would be the Chrysler Pacifica, specifically the hybrid.
2020 Chrysler Pacifica HybridFCA US LLC/Supplied
Richardson: She has a budget of $50,000 all-in, so it can’t be new.
Lightstone: Before you come at me with it being too expensive, used 2021 model year or earlier Hybrid versions can be found well under her price range on AutoTrader. They’re plug-in hybrids, too, with an all-electric range of around 50 kilometres when they were new.
Richardson: The Pacifica has been around for a while, so there are Chryslers and the cheaper Dodge Grand Caravans going back years. You get what you pay for though, and I wouldn’t recommend a Chrysler or Dodge minivan from before 2020. The non-hybrid 2020 model is generally the best bet for reliability.
Lightstone: If Dodge and Chrysler aren’t to Joanne’s liking, I’d look at a used Sienna next. Toyotas are well-known for their high resale value, and for good reason.
Richardson: The Sienna is always my top choice for a minivan because of its overall reliability, and now its hybrid powerplant. It’s comparatively expensive to buy, but it holds that value well if it’s properly maintained.
2022 Toyota SiennaMark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: There are a decent number of trim levels for Joanne to browse if she really wants to buy the Sienna brand new, but they start right at the top of her budget, and those are before tax.
Richardson: She’s open to buying used and a used Toyota is generally a sound investment. The hybrid Sienna’s been around for five years now, so there’s some choice in the market – if she can find one. If not, my next choice would be the Honda Odyssey.
2021 Honda OdysseyWesley Allison/Courtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: The Odyssey has always been hit-and-miss for me. While I enjoy the drive, it being a Honda and all, I’ve never been a fan of the onboard infotainment system. It’s not user-friendly or intuitive. I would be annoyed living with it daily.
Richardson: I know what you mean. The Odyssey is fairly dull and long in the tooth now, too, but it is reliable. The Kia Carnival is really the only other comparable minivan and it was updated last year to improve all of its technology.
The hybrid version makes 242 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: I really liked the Carnival, and I don’t think enough people know about it. The Hybrid feels powerful to drive and the interior amenities are on point for its price range, which also falls into Joanne’s budget. Oh, and don’t forget the available second-row recliner seating.
Richardson: The Toyota Sienna also offers second-row recliners, which are really quite comfortable. Joanne’s kids won’t be able to use them though, so their extra cost will be wasted on her family.
Lightstone: Let’s swing back to SUVs for a moment, though, and let’s stick with Toyota. If the 4Runner is too rugged, the Grand Highlander is not too small for a growing family of five.
The gas-powered version of the 2023 Toyota Grand Highlander.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: The Grand Highlander does have reasonable leg room in the third row, unlike most three-row SUVs. If Joanne really wants to avoid a minivan for some reason, as you do, it’s probably the most practical of the alternative choices. It’s too new to find a used model, and it’s expensive, owing to the Toyota reputation of reliability and high resale values.
Lightstone: If Joanne has never sat in or driven a minivan, she should do so before she jumps straight to an SUV, even though I’ve given her two great SUV options.
Richardson: Nonsense. With three kids, she shouldn’t consider anything other than a minivan if she wants easy access to all the seats and enough space to carry all their paraphernalia. For reliability and value, the Toyota Sienna is the best of the bunch.
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Miranda at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as as part of your subject line. Emails with different subject lines may not be answered.
Shopping for a new car? Check out the new Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price.