Why More American Dads are Choosing These Two Minivans for Family Life

Minivans are popular with dads
Practicality in an ample space
Two cost-effective minivans

Minivan models with practicality, spacious interiors, and cargo space are in steady demand. They are especially popular with fathers who have many children. Minivans have the advantage of being able to accommodate multiple people at once and carry a lot of luggage.

Although it does not have a flashy design or powerful performance, a minivan with reasonable price, practicality, and a smooth ride through suspension may be the best car for someone, depending on the purpose. We will introduce two types of minivans from American brands that meet these conditions.

Chrysler Pacifica
Delivers 287 Horsepower

The first is Chrysler’s large RV Pacifica. It starts at $41,095 for the Touring trim. The gasoline model is equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and is combined with a 6-speed or 9-speed automatic transmission to drive front-wheel drive, and a four-wheel drive system can be selected as an option. This generates a maximum output of 287 horsepower.

Thanks to its high output, even though it is a minivan, it only takes about 7 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill. Based on EPA standards, fuel efficiency is approximately 8.1 km per liter (19.1 mpg) in the city and 11.9 km per liter (28.0 mpg) on the highway. The body size is 5,189 mm (204.3 inches) in length, 2,022 mm (79.6 inches) in width, 1,775 mm (69.9 inches) in height, and 3,089 mm (121.6 inches) in wheelbase.

Advantages: High usability indoors
Sliding door applied

When entering the cabin, the second-row seats can be folded entirely flat to expand interior space, and a sliding door is installed in the second row behind the passenger seat to ensure the convenience of boarding. In addition to the spacious interior, there are shelves, cup holders, and slide-out storage space. Although some plastic parts feel clunky, the finish is decent, and the materials are not cheap.

This model’s standard features include a heated steering wheel, interior leather trim, heated front-row seats, and 18-inch wheels. Safety features such as emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic collision prevention assist are also standard.

Ford Transit Connect
Price in the $30,000 Range

Next is the 2023 Ford Transit Connect. As the demand for small minivans decreased, production was discontinued with the 2023 model year. However, its reasonable price and practicality still make it the optimal choice if the situation suits it. The price starts at $35,485 and rises to $38,170, depending on trim and options.

The powertrain is equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline turbo engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and moves with front-wheel drive. Fuel efficiency based on EPA was recorded at 10.2 km per liter (24.0 mpg) in the city and 11.9 km per liter (28.0 mpg) on the highway. In terms of body size, the length increases from 4,500 mm (177.2 inches) to 4,859 mm (191.3 inches) depending on the model. The width is 1,855 mm (73.0 inches), the height is 1,798 mm (70.8 inches), and the wheelbase is 2,755-2,975 mm (108.5-117.1 inches).