The minivan is a staple of many American families’ lives, and recently, even more people have been buying them.
An increasing number of families have been turning to the minivan as the average price of an SUV continues to rise above $67,000. The starting cost of a minivan is around $40,000, and the average price of the new car in general is around $50,000.
According to Scripps News, sales of minivans in the U.S. increased by 21% in 2025, far exceeding the rest of the auto market that grew only by 2%.
“The question isn’t whether minivans are back — it’s whether you’ve been paying SUV prices for a vehicle that a minivan would outperform on space, fuel economy, and cost,” per Scripps.
Not only are minivans a more affordable option, the minivans of today are much improved from the ones your parents drove. The standard features of the new ones include flat-folding third rows, power sliding doors on both sides and reconfigurable middle seats.
Another advantage of the minivan is who can use it: The sliding doors on both sides make it easy for children, pets and seniors to enter the vehicle, something that isn’t often considered when it comes to other vehicles.
The surge in minivans comes as car buyers have been prioritizing utility and space. Automakers have introduced new trucks and SUVs over the past few years, but they aren’t meeting the new demand in minivans, per the New York Post.
One reason people are choosing minivans over SUVs is they are more fuel efficient. Space in the vehicle is another thing that convinces people.
Minivans have also become popular among Uber and Lyft drivers, specifically in places with higher than average airport drives.