{"id":3487,"date":"2026-02-17T10:00:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/?p=3487"},"modified":"2026-02-17T08:59:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T13:59:02","slug":"minivans-growing-in-popularity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/minivans-growing-in-popularity\/","title":{"rendered":"Millennial guys are fighting back against oversized SUVs and reviving the minivan in the process"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the longest time, minivans have been mocked in the car community, seen as a bit\u00a0lame\u00a0<\/em>in a country obsessed with monstrous SUVs and oversized trucks. Nobody wanted to be caught dead driving a minivan, not even soccer moms. What three-person family wants to be in a Dodge Grand Caravan<\/em> when there are SUVs with five rows of seats, enough cargo space for a year-long camping expedition, the ability to tow over 8,300 pounds, and a cabin full of all of the ambient lighting, warmed-up seats, and screens you need to drive down the street?<\/p>\n

As Americans continued to pine for excessive, oversized vehicles, the minivan just seemed inconvenient, ugly, incapable, and embarrassing. But now that millennials are the new soccer parents, they are having a change of heart. Last year, minivan sales rose 21% in the United States, with Edmunds reporting<\/a> nearly 394,000 units sold. With millennial dads experiencing less feelings of toxic masculinity<\/a> and even less money<\/a> in this economy, minivans make a lot more sense than a massive six-figure SUV that takes up two parking spots at Trader Joe’s.<\/p>\n

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“Minivans currently hold a 2.4% market share, which is the highest level it\u2019s been since 2019 when it was also at 2.4%,” said Edmunds Director of Insights Ivan Drury. “While still a relatively small segment overall, the recent increase reflects how competitive and well-rounded today\u2019s minivans have become.”<\/p>\n

Men are realizing the minivan is actually pretty cool<\/h2>\n
\"2026
Image Credit: Toyota<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For millennial parents who need space for a growing family while still being conscious about fuel efficiency and cost, minivans fit the bill. Especially ones with off-road tires, overlanding tents, and other off-roading extras.<\/p>\n

And it’s not just any millennial buying these minivans \u2014 we’re talking about male<\/em> millennials. Dudes just want a comfortable family car that can handle a weekend getaway and have those sweet center row captain’s chairs.<\/p>\n

“This is attracting a new buyer to the minivan segment, predominantly men around 40 years old,” Chrysler president Chris Feuell told Automotive News. “They said, ‘Finally, we\u2019re seeing a minivan that\u2019s attractive to me.'”<\/p>\n

The Chrysler Pacifica has become one of the most desired minivans in the United States, selling 110,006 units in 2025. The Chrysler Voyager saw a 41% year-over-year sales increase, selling 15,792 units. Over at Toyota, the Sienna sold 101,486 units, a 35% increase, with dudes choosing it over the competition due to its all-wheel-drive capabilities for camping<\/a>. Despite no major updates, the Honda Odyssey saw a 10.2% spike last year, reaching 88,462 sales. This is its best year since 2019. The bros are loving the Honda Odyssey<\/a>, which sold for an average $43,300 last year.<\/p>\n

Compare that to the big three-row SUVs, which have continued to skyrocket in cost over the past few years. Auto News recently reported<\/a> that three-row SUVs actually had the largest average price increase in Canada last year at 8%. If you’re no longer afraid of seeming wimpy for not getting a 6,400-pound, $100,000 Cadillac Escalade for your drive to school, a minivan seems a lot more practical at this point.<\/p>\n

As the average price of a new car continues to increase<\/a>, minivans are looking cooler and cooler. For a generation that grew up fighting against social norms, maybe the minivan can even be seen as the emo alternative to preppy culture. And you don’t need a GMC Yukon XL to blast Silverstein and Hawthorne Heights on the way to work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the longest time, minivans have been mocked in the car community, seen as a bit\u00a0lame\u00a0in a country obsessed with … <\/p>\n

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