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Minivans - Domestic or Foreign - Car Forums - Edmunds
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Minivans - Domestic or Foreign

3798 messages,  Last post on Mar 31, 2013 at 5:37 PM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Dodge Caravan, Chevrolet Venture, Mazda MPV, Kia Sedona, Honda Odyssey, Chevrolet Uplander, Nissan Quest, Hyundai Entourage, Van

Messages Page 117 of 380

#1160 of 3798 Re: Mazda MPV reliability is BELOW Average for 2003 and 2004 ! [jchan2] by jipster

Nov 15, 2005 (8:25 pm)

Replying to: jchan2 (Nov 15, 2005 3:13 pm)
I'm big on reliability... being a frugal consumer. So, if I were buying today there are few minivans I would not put on my list.As I believe most minivans in todays market are fairly reliable. At the top of my list would be Mazda , Toyota, Honda, DCX and the GM minis. At this time I would not put the Ford Freestar,the 2004-2005 Nissan Quest or Kia Sedona on my list.The 2006 models of Sedona and Quest I would look at if reliability continues to improve.
 
But, yeah...CR shows little love beyond Honda and Toyota in the minivan category,

#1161 of 3798 New here, question about fold flat seats by mjpinto

Nov 15, 2005 (5:39 pm)

Hi All,
 
My name is Michelle and I'm new here. We are researching minivans in hopes of buying one soon. I have a question: Does anyone know which minivan makes/models have the fold flat seats? I know some have both rows that fold flat and some only the back row. We are looking to buy a used minivan - so any minivans that have those seats from the year 2000 and up. We rented a Dodge 2005 Grand Caravan the other day and loved how the bucket seats folded right into the floor!
 
Thanks for your help and information!

#1162 of 3798 Re: New here, question about fold flat seats [mjpinto] by badgerfan

Nov 16, 2005 (7:57 am)

Replying to: mjpinto (Nov 15, 2005 5:39 pm)
Nearly all minivans except GM's four versions have fold into the floor third row seats. GM's second and third rows fold to form a fairly flat cargo area, but do not fold into pockets in the floor, so they compromise cargo capacity. Also, their SUV wannabe front end is kind of ugly, in my opinion.
 
The long wheel base versions from Dodge and Chrysler brands all have fold into the floor second and third row seats, except on some stripped low end models. Their short wheel base versions do not fold flat, second or third rows either
 
Odyssey and Sienna and Ford Freestar have fold into the floor third row only. Second rows must be removed to have a complete flat load floor up to the front seats, though some of them can be tipped and collapsed up against the front row, I believe.
 
Nissan's minivan has the second row seats that "semi fold". They drop down part way but not completely flush with the floor, so you do not get a flat cargo surface. Also, you better be aware that Nissan's minivan dash arrangement is bizarre.
 
I don't know much about Kia's however.

#1163 of 3798 Re: New here, question about fold flat seats [badgerfan] by mjpinto

Nov 16, 2005 (8:18 am)

Replying to: badgerfan (Nov 16, 2005 7:57 am)
Thanks for the info Badgerfan! The models you are referring to, are these 2005 models - or can this information be applied to models in the past few years?
 
Thanks

#1164 of 3798 Re: New here, question about fold flat seats [mjpinto] by badgerfan

Nov 16, 2005 (12:32 pm)

Replying to: mjpinto (Nov 16, 2005 8:18 am)
For the Dodge/Chrysler vans, it applies to the 2005 models and newer. The 2005's were introduced early in calendar year 2004, if I recall.
 
Current Honda Odyssey has had stowable third row in both the current generation introduced in 2005 model year and the previous generation, which was introduced in 1999, I believe. For Sienna, I do not know if it's previous generation had a stowable third row, but the current generation was introduced in 2004 and basically unchanged since then.
 
GM's current Minivans were introduced in 2005 model year. Previous generations did not have even the semi-stowable seats they have now in either second or third row.
 
Ford Freestar has been on the market about two years and all Fresstars have had the stowable third row. The previous generation Ford was the Windstar, which did not have stowable seats.
 
Currently the Dodge/Chrysler twins have the edge in easily stowable seats for both second and third rows. If you see a little "Stow and Go" decal right below the driver's side window near the rear post, it will have the second and third row stow into the floor feature.

#1165 of 3798 Re: New here, question about fold flat seats [mjpinto] by jchan2

Nov 16, 2005 (4:38 pm)

Replying to: mjpinto (Nov 15, 2005 5:39 pm)
For flat folding third row seats, here's somewhat of a guide. These minivans have it:
1995-2006 Honda Odyssey
1999(?)-2006 Mazda MPV
2004-2006 Toyota Sienna
2004-2006 Nissan Quest (fold flat second row too)
2004-2006 Ford Freestar/Mercury Monterey
2005-2006 Dodge Grand Caravan (not sure if the 04's had it, but I think they had an early 05 run starting in Feb 04)
 
The current GM vans (2005-present) have fold flat seats, but those are several inches above the floor, so you lose some space. You can take those seats out, but its not a "genuine" fold flat into the floor seat like the ones listed above.
 
Good luck. The minivan segment actually doesn't have too many entrants. You've got the Big 3 Americans, (GM, Ford, Chrysler) the Big 3 Japanese (Honda, Toyota, Nissan), Kia, and Mazda.

#1166 of 3798 Re: New here, question about fold flat seats [jchan2] by jipster

Nov 16, 2005 (4:55 pm)

Replying to: jchan2 (Nov 16, 2005 4:38 pm)
"1999(?)-2006...MPV"
 
The MPV took a one year hiatus in 1999 and returned in 2000 with a total redesign. Much like the Nissan Quest did in 2003.

#1167 of 3798 Nissan Quest by badgerfan

Nov 17, 2005 (8:29 am)

The Nissan Quest second row, strictly speaking does not "fold flat" to the floor, they stick up to some extent. If you are loading a sheet of plywood, it would not rest flat in the Quest.

#1168 of 3798 Re: New here, question about fold flat seats [jchan2] by rorr

Nov 17, 2005 (9:30 am)

Replying to: jchan2 (Nov 16, 2005 4:38 pm)
Nice concise list.
 
I would only add that the current '05-'06 Honda Odyssey and '04-'06 Toyota Sienna have a 60/40 SPLIT 3rd row rather than a 1 piece seat (Not sure about the DCM vans). This not only makes for more options in the 3rd row but means the seats are lighter and easier to raise/lower than non-split seats.

#1169 of 3798 Re: New here, question about fold flat seats [rorr] by jchan2

Nov 17, 2005 (3:48 pm)

Replying to: rorr (Nov 17, 2005 9:30 am)
The Chrysler vans have the split folding third row in the Stow N Go package.
 
The split seat sure aids in flexibility.

Messages Page 117 of 380

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