Tell me about your minivan

[plugboots]

^^^yer describing a Sienna. Which exists.

[bodywhomper]

Just returned from a four hundred mile round trip excursion to retrieve a kid from college in our awd twenty-one hybrid sienna. I slept in the van at a local campground. A chunk of the drive was on 2-lane windy highways. I kept the 2nd row seats in place. I dug it. And the hypercritical college kid was into the passenger cockpit. The car has the higher end stock sound system, which sounded great to my worn out ears. The engine/transmission is fairly loud when pushing climbing steep grades, which is a known characteristic. Mid-30’s mpg on the way up and 32mpg on the way back, which included a bike on a roof rack. On the same drive, our o-six fwd sienna would get ~18-20mpg.

I’m concerned but faithful that the electronic tech that controls the e-awd, e-cvt, and hybrid system holds up.

[MarcusBrody]

^^^yer describing a Sienna. Which exists.

Not quite. The hybrid Siennas are substantially longer (over a foot), while actually having less maximum cargo area with the seats folded. The Transit Connect has a super low load floor that's flush with the giant square rear door. The whole cargo/passenger area of the Transit Connect is basically a big square edged volume. The rear hatch of the Sienna is 36 inches high, while the Transit Connect's is 45 inches (the full height of the rear cargo area. That makes a big difference when loading gear. I roll my XL Ripmo into the back of the Transit Connect all the time. leaned up against one of the middle seats while the other and the back are folded. No chance with the Sienna save sliding it in on its side, just due to the rear hatch size.
I actually really like the Sienna's, looked at one as a potential Transit Connect replacement, and think they are much, much more refined passenger vehicles and likely better people haulers on road trips, while being more efficient. But they also feel notably longer while having less accessible cargo space. That matters a lot for a gear hauler.

[Name Redacted]

Those transits are such junk dude. I can't imagine Ford figuring out a way to do them right. Better off just getting a regular transit in awd, even thought those are junk too.

[gravitylover]

The single biggest beef I have with minivans, other than the Transit Connect, is the hatch opening height. I need 4 feet! Having to pull mt bike front wheels is a pain in the ass, I wanna be able to just roll them in.

All told I am really liking this Sienna I am about to put it through a bunch of deferred maintenance because it is obvious that a few suspension bits are tired, drivetrain fluids have never been changed, coolant and spark plugs have over 100k so they are due too. I am trying to wear these tires out because I have a hard time appreciating mushy tires but I deal with it by driving slower

[4matic]

Just did a 4K mile national parks camp tour in the R. I really like the car. Just swapped out the pixelated cluster lcd and the tattered front center vent.

[singlesline]

Those transits are such junk dude. I can't imagine Ford figuring out a way to do them right. Better off just getting a regular transit in awd, even thought those are junk too.

That is why they should just throw a van body on the Maverick platform (and drop the ride height a bit…but let people use Maverick parts to bring it back up)

[riser4]

The single biggest beef I have with minivans, other than the Transit Connect, is the hatch opening height. I need 4 feet! Having to pull mt bike front wheels is a pain in the ass, I wanna be able to just roll them in.

All told I am really liking this Sienna I am about to put it through a bunch of deferred maintenance because it is obvious that a few suspension bits are tired, drivetrain fluids have never been changed, coolant and spark plugs have over 100k so they are due too. I am trying to wear these tires out because I have a hard time appreciating mushy tires but I deal with it by driving slower

Poop chute too tight.

[gravitylover]

That's cuz I live in the NY suburbs :shrug:

[MontuckyFried]

Anybody have any intel on the Kia Carnival hybrid? We are considering maybe a 2026 in SX Prestige flavor with those sweet VIP captains chairs. I am of course anticipating abysmal resale and lackluster long term reliability, but its still top of the minivan heap for us.

Rented a new Honda Odyssey for the last week and while quite competent, the platform is feeling its age.

Also went to a couple Toyota dealerships and the Siennas are feeling REALLY antiquated compared to the Kia. I was by far the least impressed by them.

While I am sure it wont be without its issues, Kia has absolutely blown the competition away in regard to the interiors. Mainly wondering what first hand experiences have been like.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using TGR Forums mobile app

[gravitylover]

Nice vehicle but it's not really a minivan. It's more like a tall wagon with sliding doors. Part of what makes a minivan so good is that interior height.

[nickwm21]

I would not be specifically concerned about reliability with the Kia. I think your perception of a Korean car’s reliability is more related to selection bias than anything else. In general I think that’s true of most autos these days…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Foggy_Goggles]

Yup, and they have great warranty terms. But they are no longer cheap relative to the competition. And there is the new car caveat parts delays and you are basically beta testing with a new model.

[riser4]

I would need to see the Kia in person. The product website photos dont really capture what I need to get a sense of what it can offer the minivan aficionado. It looks like a Telluride with sliding doors.

[skaredshtles]

Nice vehicle but it's not really a minivan. It's more like a tall wagon with sliding doors. Part of what makes a minivan so good is that interior height.

For the record - the defining feature of a minivan *is* the sliding doors. It's a minivan. I wish Mazda would bring this minivan back:

[riser4]

Large wagon with sliding doors.

[gravitylover]

FWIW I think that all cars and SUVs should have sliding doors. I'm sure that body shops and pdr guys would lobby against that though.

[riser4]

My kids, little monsters, quickly learned that it was fun to ride the doors open and closed. One kid would operate the button while the other would ride. FML

[skaredshtles]

Large wagon with sliding doors.

Correct. AKA: the minivan

[riser4]

Correct. AKA: the minivan

No. To me, a minivan is basically a minutely smaller full sized van with more car like amenities. In addition to sliding doors, it includes a large rear hatch, a low storage compartment height, a long flat storage compartment at the same level , and a tall ceiling. A wagon doesn't always have that. Stowable and or removable seats is a must. As is the ability to have comfortable passenger seating, at least two rows in addition to the front seating. The Mazda 5 was too small for me to call it a minivan.

[MontuckyFried]

Nice vehicle but it's not really a minivan. It's more like a tall wagon with sliding doors. Part of what makes a minivan so good is that interior height.

Large wagon with sliding doors.

Correct. AKA: the minivan

Hmmm.... Now that you all frame it that way, it kind of makes me want it even more. Thinking about pulling the trigger on one if the dealer doesnt jerk me around too much. Would be travelling to get it as per my usual MO.

[BobMc]

I would never, ever, ever, buy a Kia or a Hyundai. I can't count the number of customers I've had with blown up 2.0 liter motors.

[riser4]

Hmmm.... Now that you all frame it that way, it kind of makes me want it even more. Thinking about pulling the trigger on one if the dealer doesnt jerk me around too much. Would be travelling to get it as per my usual MO.

Ima go make some popcorn.

[Meconium]

Transit T-150, 130" WB is a large mini van. They don't make the shorty in a passenger wagon anymore, 2020 was the last year for that and the first year for AWD. Used 2015-2019 Quigley 4x4 can be found.

[Meconium]

Honda Odyssey is 205.2" long, transit is 219.9 long. The difference is a horse penis.