Fashion may suggest otherwise, but there’s still no better family vehicle out there than a minivan. With room for seven to eight passengers and plenty of stuff, sliding doors to prevent kid-inflicted dings, and smart optional features such as stow ‘n go seats and built-in vacuums, the modern minivan is ready for just about anything the average family can throw at it.
Whether you’re buying on a budget or just happy to let someone else take the initial brunt of depreciation, there are plenty of good reasons to buy a minivan second-hand. Here’s a look at our top 10 choices for the best used minivans to buy in Canada in 2024.
Unlike many of our top 10 lists here at CarGurus, this one is a ranking: there are only five minivans left to buy new at all, so this list includes discontinued models, some of which have been gone for years but are still worth considering. The likely state of repair and availability of these vans can therefore vary quite a bit, but so does the average price. Which factors matter most is up to you to decide. The minivans listed are front-wheel drive (FWD) unless indicated. Be sure to read our article on how best to protect yourself in a used vehicle transaction.
Top 10 Used Minivans in Canada
- Kia Sedona
- Honda Odyssey
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Toyota Sienna
- Mazda5
- Chrysler Town & Country
- Dodge Grand Caravan
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
- Chevrolet Orlando
- Nissan Quest
Kia Sedona
New for the 2022 model year, the Kia Carnival has been popular for the Korean brand, but it’s new enough that you’ll still pay close to the dealership’s new car list price for a second-hand example. Instead, look at its predecessor, the Kia Sedona. While it lacks some of the fanciest bells and whistles of other minivans, it was well-liked by owners, because it’s comfortable and offers a solid slate of features at an affordable price. It’s also one of the best-rated minivans for reliability, though owners have reported start-up, electrical, and other issues on models a decade old or more. Late-model, low-kilometre examples are commonly available in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.
Honda Odyssey
It’s not that the Honda Odyssey is an exceptional minivan, but it does do many of the most important things right. It has an unusually high amount of cargo space behind its third-row seats (929 litres to be exact), it’s generally reliable, and it holds its value exceptionally well. You can’t get the popular HondaVac on-board vacuum in a 2022 Odyssey, but you can find it in upper trim levels from previous years along with a rear-seat entertainment system. Some owners of 2018 and 2019 models report problems with the nine-speed automatic transmission and a lawsuit was filed about the issue, so that’s important to consider. Expect to pay $40,000 to $50,000 for a late-model Odyssey, while older ones go for $15,000 to $20,000.
Honda Odyssey Review
Chrysler Pacifica
The Chrysler Pacifica launched for the 2017 model year and has generally been under-appreciated. That’s in part because SUVs are so much more fashionable but possibly also because initial prices were on the high side. That makes a good case for picking up an early model, because you’ll pay about half of what was asked for these five years ago while getting contemporary features and technology. It also handles better than the average minivan. However, it’s generally considered less reliable than the industry standard, which is especially important as manufacturer warranties start to run out. On average, you should expect to pay $25,000 to $35,000 for 2017 or 2018 Pacifica.
Chrysler Pacifica Review
Toyota Sienna
Toyota has a solid reputation for reliability and for how well its vehicles retain their resale value on the used car market. This includes the brand’s minivan, the Sienna, which earned top honours among minivans in the 2023 ALG Residual Value Awards. This makes the Sienna a great second-hand buy. For many years, it was also the only minivan in Canada available with all-wheel drive (AWD), although the Chrysler Pacifica has since added the feature to much newer models. While the current generation and its hybrid powertrain are exceptional, 2021 was its first model year and prices are only just starting to come down. On older models, the most common issues reported by owners are problems with the motors on the sliding doors, dashboard cracks, failed oxygen sensors, and oil leaks. A third-generation Sienna with a 3.5-litre V6 engine is likely to cost between $30,000 to $40,000.
Toyota Sienna Review
Mazda5
Some enthusiasts will take exception to us labeling the Mazda5 a minivan, not least because it was marketed as a multi-purpose vehicle. But smaller-than-average footprint aside, with sliding side doors and seating for six, we think it deserves mention. And it certainly has its enthusiasts, especially here in Canada. Sales here continued through the 2017 model year—two years longer than in the US—and it was even available with a manual transmission. The Mazda5 is a solid and reliable vehicle, and the biggest issue might be finding one that a current owner is willing to give up. If you do, it’s not unusual at all to find one in good condition for less than $10,000, and rare to see one top $20,000, so it’s also a frugal choice.
Chrysler Town & Country
Have Canadians forgotten that the Chrysler Town & Country exists? It seems so, because listings for this upscale version of the Dodge Grand Caravan, which was discontinued at the end of the 2016 model year, are plentiful on the CarGurus used vehicle listings. Prices commonly land in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. The problems reported by owners are also generally not as serious as those in other, older Stellantis minivans. Electrical issues and leaking sunroofs are the most common complaints for later models. Stowaway seats were a standard feature, and from model years 2008 to 2011, the second-row seats could swivel to face the third row and a removable table could be placed in the middle.
Dodge Grand Caravan
There’s no badge that screams minivan like the Dodge Grand Caravan, which was built in Windsor, Ontario. This is the long-wheelbase version of the original minivan, the Dodge Caravan, which was first produced in 1984 and discontinued in 2007, while the Grand Caravan’s final generation concluded at the end of the 2020 model year. (The Chrysler Grand Caravan, a defeatured version of the Chrysler Pacifica, replaced it in 2021). The Grand Caravan went without significant updates for years, and ended its life as a budget-friendly model. Owners reported issues such as shifting problems, stalling engines, and failed air conditioning over its final years, so be vigilant about checking during your test drive. But the trade-off is that you might score a people-hauler with second- and third-row stowaway seats for a really good price. It’s not unusual to find low-kilometre three-year-old Grand Caravans for roughly $30,000, and some older models end up well below the $10,000 mark.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
As the only plug-in hybrid on this list, the Pacifica Hybrid deserves its own callout. It will cover up to 51 kilometres on electricity alone after a full charge, which makes a big difference in fuel economy for a body style that can often be on the thirsty side. However, you’ll still need to pay up front for these: the original 2017 models commonly start at just over $30,000 used, and 2019 and newer versions are frequently priced from $40,000 to $50,000. Plus, there are numerous reports online of reliability issues. This could be the right van for those looking for something fuel-efficient and practical, but you may also need to be on the patient side.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Overview
Chevrolet Orlando
Though Chevrolet’s compact minivan was sold in Canada only briefly between the 2012 and 2014 model years (and wasn’t sold in the US at all), this Asian market vehicle could be a sleeper hit for eagle-eyed shoppers. Its reliability ratings are surprisingly high, and it’s not uncommon to come across one today in Canadian cities. The rear doors don’t slide open, though, so it may not strictly meet the definition of the family-friendly minivan segment in some people’s books. But this tall, roomy, low-riding crossover likely has many years left in it. On the CarGurus used vehicle listings, most Chevy Orlandos run in the $8,000 to $12,000 range.
Nissan Quest
Like many automakers, Nissan gave up on selling minivans in the mid-2010s. Though the first two generations shared production with Ford, the 2004 model year saw Nissan take on assembly of the Quest on its own. Reliability is generally average, but the fourth-generation Quest was among the more stylish minivans of its era. Today, a decade-old Quest will cost, on average, between $10,000 and $12,000 on the used vehicle market.