Luxury Minivans Are Having a Moment

The minivan is experiencing a mini-revival in America.Sales spiked by 20 percent last year to 395,000, driven in part by a growing number of millennials finding themselves in a family way and succumbing to the siren song of cabin space. That’s a far cry from the 1.3 million that were sold at the turn of the century, before SUVs conquered America’s driveways, but it is a recent high mark.Honda, Toyota, Kia and Chrysler are the last brands that still offer minivans, and it is appropriate that Chrysler sells the most. The legacy of Lee Iacocca’s creation of the segment in the 1980s still lives within it.Chrysler is technically the only luxury brand that sells minivans, but it prices them in the same $40,000 to $60,000 range its competitors do. It is also in the unusual position of having only minivans in its showrooms right now. New SUVs are in development, but evolving product strategies have delayed their arrival.The VLE has a widescreen display suspended from the roof. Mercedes-BenzIt makes very good ones, however, and pulls out all of the stops when it comes to minivan innovation. The Pacifica is available with features like seats that fold flat into the floor, a built-in vacuum cleaner and a FamCam that provides the driver with a live view of the second and third rows, which can zoom in on any seat.Rather than sit on its lead, Chrysler has updated the Pacifica for 2027 with new exterior styling for its 10-year-old bones. Vertical headlight stacks are connected by a slim grille that debuts a modernized version of Chrysler’s wing logo, which resembles something from an old video arcade game.The most significant new functional feature is a blind spot camera system that turns on when the driver engages a turn signal. Power is provided by a 287-horsepower V6 that can be paired with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.Chrysler used to sell a plug-in hybrid Pacifica, but reliability issues and the sunsetting of tax credits for electrified vehicles led to its discontinuation last year. Minivan shoppers looking for a luxury minivan with a plug will have to wait until next year to get one.The VLE will be available with reclining rear seats. Mercedes-BenzThat is when the Mercedes-Benz VLE goes on sale. Mercedes-Benz prefers to call it a grand limousine, but the sliding doors belie this description. It is larger than the Pacifica and pushes the limits of the minivan definition, but is still smaller than commercial vans like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Exact pricing for the VLE has not yet been announced, but it will likely start around $80,000.Mercedes-Benz projects that the VLE will be rated for approximately 350 miles per charge and need just 15 minutes at a fast-charging station to fill up with enough electricity to cover half that distance, which is more than enough for family duty or VIP airport shuttle service. The VLE was designed with both in mind as a spacious SUV alternative.The interior is decked out with the same finery found in one of the brand’s SUVs, with premium trim materials, a 40-inch Hyperscreen digital display across the dashboard and sumptuous upholstery.It can fit up to eight, and the very Chrysler-sounding Roll & Go system allows them to be removed and repositioned as required. The second row can be turned around to create a lounge setup or shifted to the side for easy access to the far back seats. Full recliners with tray tables are also an option.The Chrysler Pacifica has been restyled for the 2027 model year. ChryslerA 31.3-inch widescreen folds down from the ceiling for the rear passengers to use for entertainment when the kids are on board or for video conferencing on the way to the office. An air spring suspension system helps keep the ride smooth in either situation.Although the VLE is on the large size for a minivan, a four-wheel steering system turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front to shrink the turning circle and make it easier to negotiate parking lots and tight streets.Fancy vans like VLE are not uncommon in Asia and Europe, but haven’t yet caught on in America, where the Pacifica’s Pinnacle trim is the top of the heap. Mercedes-Benz is aiming much higher, and it is hard to predict if it will be a hit or a miss.

Luxury Minivans Are Having a Moment

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