If you have more than two kids, there's no question you need something a bit larger than your average two-row vehicle, whether it be a sedan, wagon, or crossover. Gallup polls shows that 28 percent of U.S. families have two kids, 15 percent have three, and 7 percent have four. With all of those family members, you need something bigger, but should it be a minivan or a large SUV? We weigh in. You've probably been thinking about upsizing to something significantly larger as your family grows (in quantity and physical size).

Big vehicles continue to grow in popularity. Automakers are ditching smaller vehicles and building bigger ones every year. Case in point, Chevy has gotten rid of the Spark, Ford killed off the Focus and Fiesta, Dodge ended the Dart, and Toyota no longer makes the Yaris. But vehicles like the three-row BMW X7, the large Toyota Grand Highlander, and even the new Kia EV9 three-row electric SUV are hot entrants into the automotive market. There's good reason for vehicles such as these.

What Do Big Families Need in a Vehicle?

If you have more than one kid, you know that space is a commodity. You can't exactly cram a family of five into a hatchback. If you have two kids or more, it's imperative to have at least two, if not three, roomy rows for people and gear. There's no question that it's tough to transport a large family in a medium-sized sedan, much less a compact car. Car buyers need to take quite a bit into account when it comes to their next new vehicle. So, what are the things you should look for?

  1. Generous Passenger Space: Think about headroom, shoulder room, and legroom, especially in the second and third rows. There are very few large vehicles that don't have sizeable front rows, but you have to take a look the interior dimensions for the other rows. Less than 37 inches of 2nd-row legroom makes things very challenging for car seats and growing kids. Anything less than 30 inches in the 3rd row will make it tough for adolescents and taller kids.
  2. Large Cargo Space: If you take road trips or your kids partake in sports of any kind, you need room for luggage and gear. Sedans typically don't have more than 10-15 cubic feet of cargo space, which means you can carry a few rolling luggage. Even mid-size SUVs can't take a family of five's luggage and gear. Larger vehicles with more cubic feet of space behind the second and third rows will be far more accommodating. A vehicle with good cargo space should also have a flat load floor and a low load height (the distance between the ground and the load surface).
  3. Family-Friendly Technology: Infotainment systems are very complex these days. Huge screens, tons of apps, and even climate and audio functions operated strictly through the vehicle's touchscreen are becoming more prevalent in the auto industry. Fancy tech with big screens doesn't mean an infotainment system is easy to use, so look for a large vehicle with great tech that's easy to operate while driving. It's vital to have in-car technology that's not too distracting (kids are distracting enough if you know what we mean). Legible menus, good responsiveness to inputs, and fewer vehicle operations (climate, audio) on the screen are idea.
  4. Great Safety Scores: If you're driving your kids everywhere, it's imperative to get a truly safe vehicle. Don't assume all vehicles are the same when it comes to safety. Even if it has tons of safety tech, a good family vehicle should also do well in crash tests. You also need excellent safety ratings that ensure that your loved ones can survive in a car crash, as well as have ideal driver assistance technology, easy-to-clean surfaces, as well as good visibility.

The Case for the Minivan

Minivans exploded in the '80s with the arrival of the Dodge Caravan and the Plymouth Voyager. They were roomy, had front-wheel drive, were easy to maneuver, and didn't cost an arm and a leg. It was a revolutionary segment that birthed other minivans such as the Toyota Previa, Chrysler Town & Country, Pontiac Trans Sport, Oldsmobile Silhouette, Ford Aerostar, and the Kia Sedona. Minivans provided the car buying public with a truly versatile option that didn't make them commit to a full-sized van or a huge SUV, and the segment exploded.

(photo: Toyota)

Modern minivans have truly come a long way, taking advantage of new safety technology, state-of-the-art infotainment, and convenience features that make them the most family-friendly segment in the automotive industry. They're easier to use, better to drive, safer, and more fuel efficient. Not every manufacturer has a minivan in its lineup, but there are some major players, namely the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival (now in hybrid trim for 2025; image below), Toyota Sienna, and the Chrysler Pacifica. While minivan sales aren't as robust as they once were, they now have much more to offer. Here are a few good reasons why you should consider a minivan.

(photo: Kia)
  1. They Provide Easy Ingress/Egress: Yes, that's a big deal. No SUV can claim to be as easy as any minivan when it comes to access. Huge automatic sliding doors, fold-flat seats, and walk-through space between the seats mean parents don't have to mess with things to get their kids inside. Since there's more floor-to-ceiling space, that means walking in and out rarely presents a problem for families with minvians.
  2. They Have Huge Cargo Areas: Minivans have the advantage of more overall cargo space and much deeper cargo holds in the very back. Even the smallest minivan, the Toyota Sienna, has over 100 square feet of cargo space. The Honda Odyssey offers over 140 square feet. You have to get the massive (and expensive) Chevy Suburban SUV to get something similarly sizeable. For minivan models with seats that fold into the floor (the Chrysler Pacifica, non-hybrid, for example), all you have to do is lower the seats that go flush with the minivan's floor, and you have more space than just about every SUV out there.
  3. They're Very Safe to Drive: Three of the four minivan models rank at the top for safety: Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and the Chrysler Pacifica. That means they perform remarkably well in numerous types of crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and/or the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), and they also provide excellent standard safety features and even advanced accident avoidance technology.
  4. They Drive Better Than Ever: Get behind the wheel of a Toyota Sienna XSE Hybrid with all-wheel drive, and you'll be rewarded with good steering, respectable handling, and a very smooth ride. Minivans are also far more luxurious than ever before. You can typically get leather upholstery, premium audio systems, digital touchscreens and instrument panels, as well as some of the most innovative storage options anywhere. With the addition of hybrid power in some models, you also get tremendous efficiency.

The Case for the Large SUV

So, what if you don't want a minivan? Well, we don't blame you because some folks still have trouble with the notion of looking like a “soccer mom”. Some minivan buyers ditch the minivan when their kids start driving on their own. Minivans impart a certain image that's very suburban, despite their extreme practicality. SUVs have also improved to be better than ever before, providing excellent features that make them more attractive as family vehicles.

(photo: Hyundai)

It used to be the case that you had to get either a huge SUV like a Chevy Suburban or a truck-ish Jeep Grand Wagoneer that had a mushy ride and lousy brakes. Then the crossover SUV was born, ironically enough, with the 1984 Jeep Cherokee that used unibody construction. The trend took off, and the segment grew like gangbusters. Soon, models grew in size to accommodate bigger families, but they adhered to unibody construction. Now, unibody crossovers and SUVs occupy the largest segments in the auto industry. Here's why you should consider a three-row version for your family.

  1. They Don't Drive Like Trucks: First of all, most large SUVs are no longer body-on-frame (like a truck), instead taking on unibody construction (like a car). They're better on the road, easier to drive, and have better efficiency and safety, as a result. Their longer wheelbase (the distance between the front wheels and the rear wheels) makes them smoother over uneven surfaces, and they don't have as jarring of a ride of SUVs that ride on truck frames.
  2. They're Big Inside: Many automakers make three-row SUV models that offer more seating choices than standard two-row setups. This means a family of 6 to 8 can fit reasonably comfortably, and automakers are even creating versions with more spacious third rows, something big families crave. For example. Mazda upsized its largest three-row by creating the CX-90, which replaced the smaller CX-9 three-row. The Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade are the brands' largest three-row SUVs, and they've found wild success with consumers. It's no longer unheard of to get a large SUV that's smaller than huge truck-like SUVs (Chevy Suburban, Ford Expedition) but still accommodates 7 people with ample space.
  3. They Look Better than Minivans: SUV designs tend to look better than minivans with their more varied designs. SUVs are available in a wider range of styles (put the boxy Jeep Wrangler Unlimited next to the sleek Land Rover Range Rover Velar, and you'll see the difference). You can get something that looks off-road rugged, or you can opt for a sexier more svelte SUV that points to a sophisticated lifestyle.
  4. AWD or 4WD Provide Traction: Only two of the four minivans for sale today have available all-wheel drive (Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Sienna). Most large SUVs have standard or available all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. This means they're better when it comes to inclement weather and handling. If it's important for you to have that feature, you might want to consider an SUV over a minivan. Also, SUVs tend to provide more ground clearance and better visibility due to the higher ride height.
  5. They Can Tow More: SUVs can also tow far more than minivans. The best minivan for towing is the Chrysler Pacifica at 3,600 pounds. That pales in comparison to even a basic Kia Telluride that can tow over 5,000 pounds.

When it comes to big family vehicles, both the minivan and the unibody-construction three-row SUV present the best options. The good news is that they are better than ever, and the number of models present a truly excellent selection to choose from. Based on the advantages of either segment, you have to decide what works best for you. Are easy ingress and egress, cargo space, and fuel efficiency priorities? Choose a minivan. Do you want great towing capacity and a higher ride height? Go with the SUV. These days, it's hard to go wrong given all of the great choices out there.