I'm not personally convinced that minivans lend themselves to much differentiation. They all hold about seven people, and more dollars gets you more screens.
It's a box on wheels that gets seven people from point a to point b. The screens help stupify the kids in the back to make the journey quieter for the adults in the front. Nobody is shopping by zero-sixty times, the maintenance intervals are all about the same, and they all fit roughly the same amount of stuff.
The most differentiation you're likely to find is that one or two will fit a sheet of plywood in the back, which is admittedly a pretty fringe thing to differentiate on, and frequently only matters to the second owner who is a tradesperson who doesn't want a full-sized van and doesn't mind a few stains from the kids who used to ride around in the back eating their breakfasts.
Ironically, the Honda Odyssey used to be differentiated by having regular doors in the back instead of sliding doors. They clearly decided that that wasn't an advantageous differentiator, and went to sliding doors after just four years.
The Toyota Sienna is the only minivan with all-wheel drive, which matters in cold climates or for the more adventerous families. It's built on the same chassis as the Highlander.
>I'm not personally convinced that minivans lend themselves to much differentiation.
I agree. That is why my original thesis was that Hondas are now uninspiring, undifferentiated and boring. Pretty much minivans are all those things, by default.
Ah yes, so then you buy a 4 door pickup truck or crossover which isn't as good as the minivan in any practical way. But at least you aren't driving a minivan. Your peen size is safe from the world.
I'd happily drive a minivan because they are better than small pickups, SUVs and crossovers in many ways but they're boring and thats the mold they're trying to fill. If someone broke that mold then maybe they'd find people like the utilitarian appeal of the minivan but want a little bit more than the bare necessities of hauling children.
Ad hominem attacks against fellow posters is very anti-HN.
I'd definitely disagree. Current Odysseys are absolutely a premium feel, especially in the higher trims. In fact, thats part of what sets them apart. The entire experience just feels so much nicer overall. The seats, the sound system, the performance, the thoughtful technology integration.. its a great car overall and is especially noticeable when compared apples-to-apples with other brands.
source: I own a 2017 odyssey, and friend to many other minivan owners
