It seems like everybody drives an SUV these days. And if they don’t own some pumped-up poseurmobile, a faux-ruggedized utility vehicle, they’re picking up the kids or commuting to work in a truck, probably a full-size, half-ton crew-cab model. These types of vehicles are enormously popular in the U.S. today, and it’s an absolute tragedy, because in many instances, a minivan is a vastly superior choice.While the choices are a lot more limited than SUVs, there are some minivans that are still available, and some of these have been around for a long time. Reminding me of the superiority of minivans, I just spent a week testing out the hybrid-only Toyota Sienna, and this machine wows in many ways that matter most. Be Honest About Your Actual Needs 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive Front Three-QuarterNow, of course, some people absolutely need an SUV or pickup truck. Folks that work in remote oil fields or have to traverse abandoned logging roads to do their jobs would be wise to grab, say, a Jeep Wrangler or something similar, because your typical family hauler ain’t going to cut it. Similarly, people who regularly tow campers, pull car haulers, or drag heavy equipment are almost certainly best served by a proper pickup truck with commensurately impressive capability. But for practically anyone else that’s not doing that kind of mountain climbing or heavy hauling, a minivan is hands down the better option.Unfortunately – and this is a real shame – there aren’t that many of these versatile vehicles left to choose from in the U.S. these days. A small cadre of minivans remains, and only one of them is from a traditional “Detroit Three” manufacturer, the Chrysler Pacifica. (And no, I’m not counting the functionally identical Chrysler Voyager as a separate model, so too bad!) Unparalleled Passenger Comfort 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive Dashboard 06Today’s crew-cab pickups are marvels of comfort and capability. They offer miles of backseat legroom, have butt warmers, come with multi-zone climate control systems, and a laundry list of other passenger-coddling amenities. Legitimate replacements for passenger cars, these rigs are light years ahead of trucks from just 20 or 30 years ago.Similarly, modern SUVs offer many of those same features and capabilities, all with a fully enclosed cabin, opposed to having a cab and an open cargo box. Some jumbo SUVs, like the Ford Expedition – though it is not the only one – even have third-row seats that are actually comfortable for lanky passengers, something smaller utility vehicles often do not. In comparison, adults probably won’t be comfortable for very long in the way-back of a Hyundai Palisade or GMC Acadia, for instance.Craig Cole | TopSpeed With minivans, you don’t have to worry about crowding or compromised comfort. The Sienna, which typifies its breed to a T, is a masterpiece of space and passenger-coddling luxury. Comparable to the best offered by some SUVs today, but miles ahead of most utility vehicles, this minivan’s third-row seat is more than hospitable for six-foot-tall passengers, plus the split backrest is adjustable, you get separate cupholders, and in certain models there are even satellite audio controls and quarter window sunshades. How’s that for luxury?Things get even better in the second row, though, way better. The Sienna’s available Super-Long-Slide captain’s chairs are practically like thrones. Not only do these seats slide and recline, but they’re also heated and have extendable leg bolsters for incredible comfort. Seriously, no SUV available in the U.S. today at any price point comes close to this sort of luxury. And here’s the thing, Toyota’s not the only company that offers something like this. The Kia Carnival minivan is also available with VIP Lounge Seats, which provide nearly identical functionality.Craig Cole | TopSpeedAnd if that’s not enough, the Sienna is also offered with something called a FridgeBox. As the name suggests, this is a small, refrigerated bin at the back of the center console, one that can keep a few drinks ice cold or even prevent your popsicles from melting. Additionally, the Platinum model comes with heated and ventilated front bucket seats, a 12-speaker JBL sound system, and four-zone climate control. All the Sienna is missing is a small cooktop and running water, and you’d practically have a home on wheels. Cavernous Cargo Volume 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive Cargo Area 08Minivans excel at schlepping passengers around in borderline-obscene comfort, but that’s not the only thing these vehicles are good for. Minivans are also cavernous inside, and can haul staggering amounts of cargo. The Sienna offers nearly 34 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seat, complete with a deep well in the floor that’s a perfect place to put groceries or even a cooler. Fold and tumble that split bench down into the floor cubby, and the vehicle provides more than 75 cubes’ worth of space.Slide the second-row seats forward, and this minivan offers as much as 101 cubic feet of junk-hauling. That’s comparable to a Chevy Traverse, which has a max of 98 cubic feet of cargo space, though the Sienna is far more comfortable. The Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban have appreciably more room than this Toyota – as they should – with their massively longer bodies and wheelbases. Still, neither of those SUVs can coddle passengers as well as the Sienna. Incredible Fuel Economy, Too 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive EngineThose two jumbo-sized SUVs are extremely efficient for what they are – massive, heavy, powerful vehicles – and the 2025 models practically sip fuel like a Prius compared to a Suburban from 30 years ago, but neither one of those products can hold a candle to the Sienna.This minivan is only offered with a hybrid drivetrain, which may sound like a mistake to folks who appreciate a good V-6, but Toyota 100-percent made the right decision with this move. Brandishing a total system output of 245 horsepower, the Sienna delivers good performance along with staggering fuel efficiency. When fitted with optional all-wheel drive, this vehicle is rated at 34 miles per gallon city, 36 highway, and 35 MPG combined. Models without four driven wheels are even thriftier, stickering at 36 MPG across the board. While testing a top-shelf Platinum model with all-wheel drive, I had zero issue getting exceptional fuel economy, more than 33 MPG while using the accelerator pedal quite liberally.Craig Cole | TopSpeed In comparison, pickup trucks or SUVs with similar amounts of interior space cannot hope to come close to those consumption scores, and even if they did, they still wouldn’t be as comfortable as the Sienna.The Sienna is available with all-wheel drive, as is the Chrysler Pacifica (the Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival do not offer this traction-enhancing feature). This gives the vehicle much more traction in all types of situations, but all-wheel drive could even enable some light off-roading. There’s no need to worry about getting stuck on a weather-beaten dirt road or spinning your tires while traversing a grassy field. Of course, neither of these all-wheel-drive vans will match the mud-slinging capability of a Ford Bronco, but they are more than capable if you encounter unfavorable road conditions. Breaking The Minivan Stigma Craig Cole | TopSpeed Minivans have largely – and unfortunately – fallen out of favor in the U.S. This is an absolute shame because these vehicles offer huge benefits over the trucks and SUVs so many drivers seem to prefer these days. Minivans are far more comfortable, provide huge amounts of interior space, and, at least in the case of the electrified Toyota Sienna, are incredibly fuel efficient.The next time you’re looking at a new vehicle for family service, do yourself a favor and bypass all the trucks and SUVs overflowing the dealership lots, and instead check out a minivan. Hell, take one for an extended test drive and you just might be surprised.Craig Cole | TopSpeed Opting for one of these vehicles instead of a full-size SUV can also save you a huge amount of money. While the as-tested price of the Sienna Platinum I recently reviewed is an eye-watering $61,749 with $1,450 in delivery, the entry-level version of this vehicle is far more affordable. The base Sienna LE kicks off at less than 41 grand. Similarly, the entry-level Chrysler Voyager starts around $42,000, and the Honda Odyssey is very close to that.In comparison, the base 2025 Ford Expedition begins at nearly $65,000 with destination fees. The Chevy Tahoe and Suburban SUVs are similarly priced, too. And while these vehicles do offer more overall cargo volume than the Sienna, none of them are as luxurious as this minivan, and they all cost thousands of dollars more. So, not only is getting a minivan better for your passengers, but doing so can be a smart financial decision, too.