Prioritizing Safety: The Best Minivans and Alternatives
When it comes to transporting your family, safety is paramount. Minivans, with their spacious interiors, ample cargo capacity, and advanced safety features, are a popular choice for many families. But which minivans offer the best protection?
This article delves into the safest minivans currently available, providing a thorough review of each to help you make the best decision for your family. We’ve also included some top-rated midsize SUVs as strong alternatives.
Please note: The scores and pricing information presented reflects data current at the time of this writing. For the most up-to-date information, please consult individual vehicle reviews.
2025 Kia Carnival
Starting Price: $36,800
The 2025 Kia Carnival is a relative newcomer to the minivan segment. It impresses with a comfortable and spacious interior, a suite of standard driver-assistance features, and easy handling. While it may offer slightly less cargo space than some rivals, its strengths easily outweigh this minor drawback.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Carnival mostly “Good” ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet fully crash-tested this model. Standard safety features include blind spot monitoring, forward automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist.
The Carnival incorporates four complete sets of LATCH connectors in its seven-seat configuration, and a fifth set in the eight-seater version. The IIHS rated the Carnival’s LATCH system as “Acceptable.”
2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Starting Price: $51,055 | U.S. News Safety Score: 8.6/10
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid helped to introduce hybrid technology to the minivan class, making it ideal for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. This plug-in hybrid achieves an EPA-estimated 82 MPGe in combined city and highway driving.
As a plug-in hybrid, the Pacifica can travel up to 32 miles solely on electric power, and then reverts to standard gas/electric hybrid mode, achieving 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
In terms of safety, the NHTSA awarded the Pacifica Hybrid a top five-star overall rating. The IIHS did not crash-test the hybrid version; only the gasoline version. Standard safety features include rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring.
The Pacifica Hybrid is equipped with four complete sets of LATCH connectors.
2025 Chrysler Pacifica
Starting Price: $42,450 | U.S. News Safety Score: 8.9/10
The gasoline-powered version to its hybrid sibling, the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica offers significant passenger and cargo space and is available with all-wheel drive. It also offers smooth handling and a comprehensive list of standard features.
Some reviewers note its higher base price compared to some competitors, and some find the seats in the back two rows a bit firm.
Safety-wise, the 2025 Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded it mostly “Good” scores. Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and blind spot monitoring. This Chrysler model comes with four complete sets of LATCH connectors in the seven-seat model and five sets in the eight-passenger version.
2025 Toyota Sienna
Starting Price: $39,185 | U.S. News Safety Score: 8.9/10
The 2025 Toyota Sienna is widely regarded as one of the safest vehicles on the market, regardless of its minivan status. This hybrid Toyota also boasts a high fuel-efficiency rating for its class, comfortable driving dynamics, a spacious and comfortable cabin, and numerous safety features. While the engine has some limitations, the Sienna is a good choice for most families looking for a reliable and safe car.
The 2025 Sienna earns high scores from both the IIHS and NHTSA, solidifying its reputation for safety. It includes many standard safety features, such as blind spot monitoring, forward automatic emergency braking, and much more.
The Toyota minivan features up to five complete LATCH connectors, which earned it the IIHS’s highest rating.
2025 Honda Odyssey
Starting Price: $41,920 | U.S. News Safety Score: 9.2/10
The 2025 Honda Odyssey emerges as a top contender in safety. It also offers a more powerful engine than many rivals, pleasant driving characteristics, a comfortable, large cabin, and a long list of standard equipment. The only notable drawback is the second-row seating, which needs to be removed to maximize cargo space.
The Odyssey was named the winner of the 2024 Best Minivan for the Money award. It also earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was selected as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. The Honda Odyssey is equipped with five complete sets of LATCH connectors.
Minivan Alternatives
While minivans are specifically designed for family transport, some SUVs offer a compelling blend of safety, features, and performance
2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV
*Starting Price: $49,945
The 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, a recent addition to the market, provides drivers with a generous array of standard features, a luxurious cabin, a powerful engine, and agile driving dynamics. However, it has a smaller cargo area and less third-row passenger space than its minivan counterparts.
Both the IIHS and NHTSA have awarded the CX-90 PHEV positive scores in crash tests. It also includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward automatic emergency braking as standard features. It has two complete sets of LATCH connectors in the second row and tether anchors in the third row.
2025 Buick Enclave
Starting Price: $45,000 | U.S. News Safety Score: 9.4/10
The 2025 Buick Enclave, a midsize SUV, earns its place on this list because of easy handling, user-friendly technology features, a robust V6 engine, and a large cargo area. The Enclave’s higher starting price and a few subpar cabin materials are its primary drawbacks.
The Enclave earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS did not conduct a complete crash test on the midsize SUV. It has two complete sets of LATCH connectors in the second row, along with tether anchors for the third-row seats.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander
Starting Price: $28,395 | U.S. News Safety Score: 9.4/10
The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander, though ranked towards the bottom of compact SUV rankings, obtains one of the best safety scores in its class. Its strong points include an extensive list of standard features, a comfortable and durable cabin, a spacious cargo area when seats are folded, and balanced driving dynamics.
When it comes to safety, the 2024 Outlander performed well in both the IIHS and NHTSA tests. Standard safety features include rear cross-traffic alert, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors in second-row outboard seats and a tether anchor for the middle seat.
2025 Kia Telluride
Starting Price: $36,390 | U.S. News Safety Score: 9.4/10
The 2025 Kia Telluride is a well-rounded vehicle that delivers on multiple fronts. The Kia Telluride provides easy handling, an intuitive infotainment system, a bounty of standard features, and a luxurious cabin. The Kia is at the top of the midsize SUV rankings.
The Telluride is also considered one of the safest vehicles available, earning a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a coveted Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. This Kia includes rear cross traffic alert, forward automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring as standard features. There are three complete sets of LATCH connectors in the second-row outboard seats and the third-row driver’s side seat.
2025 Subaru Ascent
Starting Price: $38,910 | U.S. News Safety Score: 9.7/10
The 2025 Subaru Ascent is a good family vehicle with its standard all-wheel drive, a spacious cabin, an intuitive infotainment system, an extensive list of standard features, and a smooth, comfortable ride. Although some cabin materials are of lower quality, the benefits of this vehicles outweigh the cons.
The Subaru Ascent earned above-average ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA. This model offers a number of advanced driver-assistance features, such as pedestrian detection, cyclist detection, and lane keep assist. The Ascent’s second row features two full sets of LATCH connectors, while the third row has one.
2025 Ford Explorer
Starting Price: $39,755 | U.S. News Safety Score: 9.7/10
The 2025 Ford Explorer is an alternative with the second-highest safety rating on this list. The Ford midsize SUV offers one of the highest towing capacities in its class, a choice of two powerful engines, and excellent driving dynamics. The Explorer, however, lags behind its rivals in terms of interior quality and its infotainment system.
The Explorer earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. Rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind spot monitoring are all standard.
The Ford includes four complete sets of LATCH connectors — two in the second row and two in the third.
2025 Hyundai Palisade
Starting Price: $37,100 | U.S. News Safety Score: 9.8/10
The 2025 Hyundai Palisade, one of the safest minivan alternatives on this list, also enjoys high marks as one of the best midsize SUVs. The Palisade is distinguished by its large cargo area, comfortable ride, a wealth of standard features, and luxurious interior. The Palisade’s fuel efficiency is considered a downside.
When it comes to safety, the Palisade received good safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA. This vehicle also includes impressive safety features, like forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and cyclist detection. The Palisade offers two complete sets of LATCH connectors in the second row for child seats and a tether anchor for the middle seat.
