Product: Mini Van Life!! My current ride is: 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Package
My initial thoughts: I didn’t want one. I had friends that had one and I didn’t mind riding, but it wasn’t for me. My heart was set on purchasing an SUV with 3rd row seating. Truthfully, I thought mini vans were for “soccer moms” and I had no desire to be included in the number.
How it’s going: I absolutely freakin love my mini van!!! While I still want a SUV, I have no intentions of ever getting rid of the Honda.The ride is so smooth, we can stretch out as a family very comfortably, and the entertainment system with dual screen capabilities has been great. I tried my hardest to love SUV’s before going down the rabbit hole. We tried the Acadia, Enclave, and Traverse but were left feeling a little blah even though they looked great on the outside. One of the biggest deciding factors was the comfort level of the 2nd and 3rd rows. NOTHING (I promise we tried really hard but I mean NOTHING) compared to what Honda was offering. I will add that we also looked at the Caravan and Pacifica during this time. Moving from SC to TX made us focus on the seats since we knew we would be in the vehicle for a very long time in the near future. Amazing that as we age comfort no longer takes a back seat to a sense of style.
Now that we are almost done with car seats that take up entire seats (but will suck up any gummy or fry and everything in between and have your seats looking like garbage), my mind is floating back to the idea of getting a SUV. I can admit that the van is big body and sometimes I want to fit in tight spaces. The two that currently have my eye are the Telluride and the QX90, but I’m in no hurry especially considering the price tags that come along with “luxury” vehicles.
It it worth it: Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes (in my free, free, free voice..LOL). While SUVs look great, I’ve been spoiled with comfort, reliability, and great gas mileage. These are hard to pass on or give up. I’ll definitely share the journey in a few years if it happens, but this is about giving mini vans the shout out they deserve. If you are on the fence...go ahead and cross over because you won’t regret it!
Are you a mini van family? If not, what do you currently drive?