Awesome Under-Rated Minivans
Minivans are one of the most underrated vehicles. Despite boasting famous names like the Honda Odyssey and the Ford Transit, people still overlook them. But there are some cool minivans that we think never got enough love. Discover them below!
Kia Carnival
This one may be newer, but it’s being tragically overlooked. The Kia Carnival is an excellent modern vehicle that maintains the practicality of a minivan, with plenty of cargo space and comfortable seating, while updating the exterior for a more sophisticated look.
Ford Aerostar
Let’s go back in time and remember the Ford Aerostar. Despite being made by a popular brand, it's now rare to see one on the roads. But we’d still like to see more love for this seven-seat minivan that was the first to incorporate a V6 engine!
Toyota Sienna
While minivan enthusiasts appreciate the Toyota Sienna, it’s rather underrated on the mainstream market. Which is a shame because it nails efficiency without compromising on style. It also has a cool hybrid powertrain, which combines the best bits of a petrol engine with an electric motor.
GMC Safari
The GMC Safari may look boring, but it was actually a very fun minivan to drive! It was truck-based, which allowed it to confidently tackle any terrain, and it had excellent hauling capacities, too. It was a trendsetter that deserves recognition.
Nissan Vanette
If you enjoy the classic minivan experience, you’ll love the Nissan Vanette. It was built for traveling, with an overwhelming cargo space and a cab-over driver’s area. The Vanette was extremely dependable, but lost some love when it became a primarily commercial vehicle.
Mitsubishi Delica
Who said that minivans aren’t daring vehicles? The Mitsubishi Delica is a fun minivan designed for off-road adventures, and though it may not be the prettiest, it was built to last. You’ll particularly love its cab-forward driving experience and unique pop-up roof.
Mazda MPV
‘MPV’ stands for multi-purpose vehicle, and this Mazda minivan absolutely delivers on that front. It’s an excellent crossover vehicle, with innovative reclining seats, retracting footrests, and dual sliding doors. It also uses rear-wheel drive, which is uncommon for minivans and aids its driving capabilities.
Chevrolet Astro
The Chevrolet Astro may look like any other rugged minivan, but it uses its truck-like build to its advantage. It’s extremely versatile and good for all types of journeys, and also uses unique rear-wheel drive. It was discontinued 20 years ago, but we’d like to see it make a comeback.
Renault Estafette
We have to admit that the Renault Estafette is one of the coolest-looking minivans on our list. It has a classic retro charm that many people will appreciate, thanks to its sophisticated French design. It’s also practical, with a spacious cargo area and an accessible low floor.
Isuzu Oasis
It’s rare to see an Isuzu Oasis on the roads, and that makes us sad because it’s one of the best and most underrated minivans. Sometimes, there’s nothing cooler than practicality, and the spacious, fuel-efficient Oasis has that in spades. It’s even comparable to the Honda Odyssey.
Toyota HiAce
The Toyota HiAce was launched all the way back in 1967, but we still remember it. It’s an early example of what a true minivan should be: versatile, attractive, and highly functional. One of its coolest features was the range of different body and engine options, which gave drivers a fully customized minivan.
Oldsmobile Silhouette
When it first launched in 1990, the Oldsmobile Silhouette caused quite a stir. It was the first minivan to be labeled “stylish”, altering people’s perceptions of what a minivan should look like. And this round-edged, sleek vehicle had many families riding in luxury.
Nissan Axxess
If the name doesn’t convince you that the Nissan Axxess is cool, perhaps its features will. It was one of the first more compact minivans, which only made it easier to manoeuvre and drive. Sadly, Nissan soon replaced it with the Quest, which led to it being mostly forgotten.
Hyundai Entourage
You could fit your entire entourage inside this Hyundai minivan! It has seven seats split across three rows, and they can be folded or flipped to best suit your transportation needs. It even has a conversation mirror, so everybody can partake in a chat on the road.
Toyota Picnic
Toyota branded the 1998 Picnic a “family fun vehicle”, and it certainly was. But it also had some fun new features, including wrap-around rear windows and seven individual seats, rather than rows. It deserves more respect for its early innovation.
Dodge Grand Caravan
There are few true pioneering minivans, but the Dodge Grand Caravan was certainly one of them. It helped to transform minivans from cargo-centric transporters to vehicles for families. It also had several innovative features, including seats that folded into the floor!
Fiat 600 Multipla
The Fiat 600 Multipla was certainly a looker! This vintage beauty perfectly encapsulates ‘60s style, while still providing plenty of interior space. In this case, older is better, and we’d like to see more love for this colorful Italian pop culture icon.
Eagle Summit
Also known as the ‘Summit Wagon’, this compact minivan was around in the ‘90s but never quite made it to the mainstream modern market. Though it was fairly basic, it was still very fun to drive, with an extended glass greenhouse and easy handling on winding roads.
Chrysler Pacifica
You’ve probably heard of the Chrysler Pacifica, but we still think it’s underappreciated. It’s the only minivan with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which makes it incredibly efficient, and one of the few to use an all-wheel drive system. Over time, it has only become more innovative.
Volkswagen Vanagon
It may also be called the ‘Type 2’, but the Volkswagen Vanagon is a true number one in our eyes! It’s bulky, rugged, and unapologetically retro. It truly nails the traditional camping minivan design, with plenty of space to build an entire mini home inside!
Buick GL8
Unlike the more traditional minivans on this list, the Buick GL8 is all luxury. It offers many cool features, including an LED starry sky headliner and a row of massage seats. It’s also a dream to drive, with an unbelievable top speed of 112mph!
Ford Windstar
What’s not to love about the Ford Windstar? It had a unique aerodynamic design and raked hood that improved its performance on the road, as well as an excellent front-wheel drive system. It deserves as much love as the Ford Taurus, with which it shared a platform.
Renault Espace
Another great yet underappreciated pioneer on our list is the Renault Espace, which was the first large MPV built for European markets. Despite its size, it still managed to look elegant, with some seriously chic ‘half-diamond’ lights and a sumptuous leather interior.
Toyota Previa
It may look like an ordinary people carrier, but don’t let that fool you! The Toyota Previa was revolutionary for its time when it became the first minivan with a mid-mounted engine, which greatly improved its handling. It is a refined model with more to offer than people think.
Lexus LM
‘LM’ stands for ‘luxury mover’, and we think Lexus absolutely nailed the brief. This minivan is incredibly versatile and fully embraces modern opulence. Drivers and passengers will enjoy buttery leather seats, a 21-speaker sound system, and a useful dimmable partition window.
Hyundai Staria
While the Porsche concept minivan may not yet exist, the futuristic Hyundai Staria does! Its unique spaceship design is seriously cool, with a single-curve silhouette and amazing panoramic windows. It also has a spaceship-approved top speed of 155mph that deserves more respect.
Pontiac Trans Sport
The Pontiac Trans Sport is another cool minivan that deserves some retrospective love. When it first launched in 1990, it was nicknamed ‘Dustbuster’ because of its long front overhang, but it actually ended up changing how manufacturers designed minivans. It was definitely ahead of the game.
Nissan Quest
The Nissan Quest was another minivan that challenged norms and deserves to be rewarded for doing so. It featured cool wraparound windows, skyview roof panels, and a sleek, rounded exterior. It also drove as smoothly and nimbly as a car.
Chrysler Voyager
The Chrysler Voyager made a triumphant comeback in 2019, but many people have overlooked its true capabilities. It has a 3.6-liter V6 engine and can reach speeds over 100mph. And, despite its sophisticated facelift, it’s still an affordable minivan.
Saturn Relay
The 2005 Relay is Saturn’s only minivan, but that doesn’t mean it’s subpar. It takes classic SUV styling and combines it with the traditional boxy minivan shape, creating a sleek vehicle that drives very well. It’s just a shame that some people dismiss it for being “uninteresting”.
Toyota LiteAce
The Toyota LiteAce is a bit polarizing because it’s very urbanized, whereas traditional minivans are more country-focused. However, we love how easy it is to drive, as well as its fuel-efficient 2C-T engine. If you love city driving, the LiteAce is the minivan for you.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Have you ever seen a minivan that blends tradition with modernity so seamlessly? The Volkswagen ID. Buzz updates the gorgeous, retro Vanagon design with an all-electric powertrain that makes it a pleasure to drive. We hope to see more of it in years to come.
Chevrolet Lumina APV
The Chevrolet Lumina APV followed in the footsteps of the Aerostar and Espace, taking a rev-ready V6 engine and putting it inside a sleek one-box body. It’s the perfect all-purpose vehicle, and still distinctive, despite how crowded the market has become.
Ford Supervan
We just had to end this list with the Ford Supervan! We’ve never seen anything like it, with its unique truck-inspired bodywork and high-performance racing engine. It’s an experimental vehicle with incredible potential, and also the best-performing Ford van of all time.
