The Best 2009 Minivans for Parents with Small Children

The minivan is an ideal mode of transportation for parents with small children. The roomy interior and sliding side doors make getting small children in/out of the vehicle a snap. The minivan is a relatively safe vehicle in a collision due to its size and weight. Because they ride higher than a car the driver tends to have better forward visibility. Minivans are not as fuel efficient as a small car. But, if you need to transport a number of passengers a minivan is the way to go.

2009 Chrysler Town and Country LX

This minivan has a sleek exterior. The base price (msrp) is $26,430. It averages 17 city/24 highway mpg. It has a 3.3 L, V6 engine. There is room for seven people.The driver and front passenger seats can be adjusted for individual comfort. They offer the option for heated front seats. They also offer three zone temperature control. It has front and rear head restraints. The driver and front passenger have front airbags with multi stage deployment. All rows have the side curtain airbag. The cabin has tinted glass. It has a full warranty and roadside assistance for 36 month/36,000 miles.

2009 Toyota Sienna CE

This is a sharp looking vehicle. The base price (msrp) is $24,690. This eight passenger minivan averages 17 city/23 highway mpg. It has a 3.5 L, V6 engine. It comes with heated outside mirrors (a plus in the winter), dual power sliding doors with power windows and privacy glass. It has front multi stage deployment airbags. There are front and rear head restraints. There is also a rear heater. It has a full warranty for 36 month/36,000 mile.

2009 Honda Odyssey LX

This vehicle made the IIHS 2009 minivan Top Safety Performance list. The base price (msrp) is $26,255. It averages 16 city/23 highway mpg. It has a 3.5L, V6 engine. All vehicles are equipped with safety features such as vehicle stability assist with traction control and the tire pressure monitoring system. It has daytime running lights. There are driver, front passenger and side curtain airbags. It can seat up to seven people. There are tinted cabin windows and a rear heater. The back row folds flat to the floor for more space to haul cargo. It has a full warranty for 36 month/36,000 mile.

2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

This is another excellent minivan. The base price (msrp) is $24,230. It averages 17 city/24 highway mpg. It has a 3.3 L, V6 engine. It has power heated black driver and front passenger mirrors. There are airbags for the driver and front passenger with multi stage deployment. All rows have the side curtain airbag. The cabin has tinted glass. It offers stow 'n go rear seats -- this allows additional room for hauling cargo. It offers a smooth ride for seven people. There is a full warranty and roadside assistance for 36 months/36,000 miles.

2009 Volkswagen Routan S

This is an outstanding choice of minivans. The base price (msrp) is $24,700. It averages 16 city/23 highway mpg. It has a 3.8L, V6 engine. It has driver and front passenger power heated mirrors. It carries seven people. Some of the notable features are the ESP system, tinted cabin windows, European tuned suspension, the tire pressure monitoring system and power operated windows in all rows. It also has side airbags for the outer seat positions. The third row seats fold up for additional room in the back. It has full warranty and roadside assistance for 36 month/36,000 mile.

2009 Mazda5 Sport Minivan

This vehicle has a sporty appearance and boasts compact like handling. The base price (msrp) starts at $19,105. It is fuel efficient averaging 21 city/27 highway mpg. It has a 2.3L, 4 cyl engine and carries six passengers. It has driver and front passenger airbags and side curtain airbags in all rows. There is lots of extra room when the third row seats are folded down. It has dual sliding doors. The cabin windows have tinted glass. There is a full warranty and roadside assistance for 36 month/36,000 mile.

Good luck purchasing your new minivan!