I’m curious about how folks decided between an Explorer/Expedition and a minivan. What tipped the scale for you? Was it towing, AWD, looks, or something else?
Minivans don’t score well in side impact crash tests, which was a big deal for us. We went with the Explorer because it fit our needs and we liked it. I’d consider an Expedition because I think they’re cool, but they’re huge. A lot of people buy them for status or because they think bigger is safer, but many can’t handle driving them properly.
@Rowen
You could say the same about Navigators.
If you’ve got 3 or more kids, minivan life just makes more sense.
The Expedition and other body-on-frame SUVs can tow way more than minivans. But why do people pick 3-row crossovers over minivans? Usually, it’s because the brand they like doesn’t make minivans anymore, they want AWD, or they prefer the styling of crossovers. Plus, most 3-row SUVs are shorter than minivans, though that might not matter to everyone.
@Zoren
I’m in the Chicago area, and I actually preferred my FWD Sienna in snow over my AWD Subaru Impreza. The Impreza tended to oversteer and slide in snow. In rain, they were both fine.
That said, people assume AWD is far superior, and that’s often why they skip minivans. Personally, I still think most families would be better off with a minivan.
@Haim
I can’t stand front-wheel drive in snow. I learned on FWD, but my first car was RWD, and now I have an AWD car that’s mostly FWD but sends power to the rear when needed.
Losing traction with FWD feels harder to recover from. With RWD, it’s easier to correct if you know how. You can control the front wheels with steering and the rear wheels with throttle. AWD feels safest overall, but modern systems take some of the fun out by doing all the work for you.
@Noor
What you learn on definitely matters. I drove FWD for years before switching to the Subaru. Snow type makes a difference too. We mostly get slush here.
The only time I spun out was in a RWD truck.
@Haim
My dad says the same thing about his FWD Sienna.
These are completely different vehicles, so it depends on what you need.
Both can seat 7+ people, but that’s where the similarities end. Minivans can’t tow much and aren’t making it up snowy mountain roads like my Expedition does. Plus, the Expedition has deeper cargo space, which I use constantly for hauling stuff.
On the flip side, minivans are better on gas and more comfortable for passengers in the back.
@Noelani
I wish more full-size SUVs could still seat 3 across in every row.
Zoren said:
@Noelani
I wish more full-size SUVs could still seat 3 across in every row.
You mean like the old Excursion?
Zoren said:
@Noelani
I wish more full-size SUVs could still seat 3 across in every row.
You mean like the old Excursion?
Exactly. I miss those monsters.
We just traded our Chrysler Pacifica for a 2022 Expedition. We’ve had minivans for years, but as the kids get older (3, 8, 12), the Expedition is just more practical. It’s so much roomier, especially when I’m carpooling and have five kids packed in (including bigger kids). The minivan was way too tight in the back; I couldn’t comfortably fit three tweens in the third row.
@Nico
Five kids… wow, y’all must love chaos! 