What is the Minivan with Best Towing Capacity?
When car buyers are looking for the best vehicle for towing heavy loads, they might focus on pickup trucks. While the pickup tends to be the workhorse of automobiles, they don’t appeal to every buyer. Seating capacity is often limited, which doesn’t make them ideal for families.
Buyers who need seating space, cargo space and the ability to tow small trailers or a camper might consider a minivan. What is the minivan with the best towing capacity? Here are all the options and how much weight each model can pull.
Chrysler Pacifica
The Chrysler Pacifica is offered in both a standard model and a hybrid.
While consumers don’t necessarily equate the minivan with fuel efficiency, the hybrid Pacifica has a total driving range of more than 520 miles and offers 82 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). However, the standard Pacifica offers average fuel efficiency with about 28 MPG on the highway.
Third row seating provides enough space for seven passengers. The second and third rows are designed as Stow ‘n Go seating, which means the seats can be folded down to make space for extra cargo.
The Pacifica can tow up to 3,600 pounds and has enough strength to pull a jet ski trailer, a motorcycle trailer and other smaller trailers.
In addition, it has won numerous awards including the Family Fun Award from Carbuzz.
- Base Price (Standard): $35,820
- Base Price (Hybrid): $44,920
- Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick+ (for models after September 2021)
2022 Toyota Sienna
While the Sienna is offered in a hybrid model, its fuel efficiency is not near that of the Pacifica. However, the Sienna does offer better fuel efficiency than the standard Pacifica; the Sienna can get up to 36 miles per gallon on both city and highway.
The Sienna also out-sizes the Pacifica, with some models of the Sienna can fit up to eight passengers. Like the Pacifica, the Sienna also can tow modest loads and offers a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
- Base Price: $34,560 (varies with different trims)
- Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick+
2022 Kia Carnival MPV
The Carnival is a mix between a minivan and an SUV. The redesign might be alluring to buyers who don’t want the look of the typical minivan but who want the space that this vehicle type offers.
Like the Pacifica, the Carnival offers space for seven passengers. The second row of seats also can be removed and the third row seats actually drop into the floor to provide for additional cargo space. The Carnival also is offered in numerous trims/models.
Fuel efficiency is average at 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway; the Carnival is not offered in a hybrid option. Like the Sienna, it offers a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
- Base Price: $32,100 (varies with different trims)
- Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick
The Honda Odyssey is one of the most popular minivans on the market. Unlike the Sienna and Pacifica, however, it is not offered in a hybrid option.
Like some of the Sienna models, though, the Odyssey also offers space for up to eight passengers. In addition, the second row can slide over to make additional space for cargo.
The fuel efficiency for the Odyssey is better than the Carnival but not comparable to the Sienna or the hybrid Pacifica. Drivers can expect about 19 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway (22 MPG combined). The Odyssey also offers a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
- Base Price: $32,290 (varies with different trims)
- Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick+
The Best Minivan for Towing
All four minivan models were comparable in towing capacity, but the Pacifica’s towing maximum edged out its competitors by 100 pounds.
When selecting the best minivan for towing, car buyers also might consider the other specs and features of each minivan. All of the models scored well for safety; in fact, three out of four of the minivans offered the highest safest rating possible from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Those with large families could favor the Odyssey or the Sienna, as both offer space for eight. In addition, all models provided some type of collapsible or removable seating to expand the cargo area.
Price could be the top factor for many shoppers. The Kia Carnival is the most economical choice, with a base price of $32,100. However, the base MSRP of the Odyssey was only slightly more expensive at $32,290—a difference of less than $200.
When it comes to fuel efficiency, though, the Pacifica Hybrid takes the top spot. No other model comes close to the fuel efficiency offered by this hybrid minivan. The fuel savings could be the top selling point for families who commute to work, handle multiple school drop offs daily, plus hit the road for trips to sports events and other activities.
Minivans are capable of pulling small trailers, but don’t expect these vehicles to tow heavy loads. This isn’t the vehicle to choose for a horse trailer or even to pull a large camper. However, minivans are more than capable of pulling a canoe or kayak trailer with ease when families or individuals want to hit the road for a camping vacation or a relaxing float excursion on the local river.
Find the Best Minivan with Carzing
Use Carzing to find the best minivan model that fits the budget and space needs. Carzing lets buyers search for vehicles by make/model, body type, price or with a few keywords.
Buyers who want to narrow their search to minivans should use the body type option on the search tool. This will provide buyers with all the minivan options nearby. To narrow the search results, buyers can use the toolbar to the left of their results to select additional criteria like drivetrain, color, equipment, etc.
The search toolbar also lets buyers select the fuel type they prefer for their vehicle. If buyers want to look at the Sienna and Pacifica hybrids, they can use the tool to narrow their choices to show only hybrid models.
Price may be an issue, too. Buyers can set specific parameters for their price range to find only the models that fit into their budget. They also can sort their results by price, distance, mileage, age or just by best match. Opt to view the least expensive vehicles first, or sort the options by the closest results.
Once buyers find their ideal minivan that fits all their needs, they can get prequalified using Carzing. Enter basic data about work history and add in any details about a trade-in vehicle, too (if applicable). Carzing will show all the available financing options, and buyers can find the loan terms and monthly payment options that work best for their financial situation.
Carzing lets buyers remain in control of the entire shopping process. Find the best car from all the options and then find the best financing, too. Buyers don’t have to spend hours at the dealership looking at different cars. There also is zero sales pressure. Shopping can be a leisurely and fun experience.
After buyers find their financing and their vehicle, they can visit the dealership to take care of the major details. Show the financing details to the dealership and fill out the credit application. Take the minivan for a test drive, and then sign the final paperwork to finish the process.
With Carzing, buyers can find the best minivan for towing, the best minivan for their budget, and the best minivan to fit their lifestyle and their family.
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