Do Minivans Have Trunks? (Does It Have Enough Cargo Space?)

One of the most popular transport vehicles in recent times is minivans. They are mostly preferred for their huge storage space behind the third-row seats, which provide travellers with tons of cargo space. If you are looking for a vehicle for your family with a good seating arrangement that is m practical and equipped with enough cargo-carrying space, a minivan would be the perfect vehicle for you. 

One question that people often have about minivans is whether they actually have a trunk or not.

The trunk of a vehicle is technically the cargo space so based on that definition then minivans do have trunks. However, if by trunk you mean an enclosed storage area separate from the vehicle then minivans don’t have that since their cargo space is connected to the back seats and not separate. 

The only reason that people typically want trunks is for storage space and minivans certainly have that down. Behind the third row of a minivan you can typically fit 3 giant full sized suitcases or 6-8 smaller ones without losing any seating capacity. If you don’t need all of the seats you can even lay them down into the floor and put a much of luggage or cargo in it’s spot as well. 

Minivans combine the thrilling experience of a sedan and the height and look of an SUV to some extent. Altogether, getting a minivan is a worthwhile experience if you need it for many passengers, lots of cargo, or both. 

Important information about a minivan’s cargo carrying capacity

If you are looking for a minivan that has the maximum cargo-carrying capacity, you need to know a few basic things so you can choose the right one. You must know how much weight your vehicle can carry be it in terms of its towing capacity or payload. Usually, the load capacity of your minivan is mentioned on the tire information placard or in the owner’s manual. 

You should also know that the level of air pressure in your vehicle’s tires affects its load-carrying capacity.

If you don’t fill the tires to the recommended pressure requests, it would seriously affect your vehicle’s load capacity no matter what the manual says. If the cargo towing or hauling capacity of your vehicle is exceeded, it would cause issues with your minivan’s engine, tires, brakes, and other components. Hence, knowing all the details related to minivans like its GVWR, towing capacity, curb weight, GCVW, and hauling capacity is an important thing for any minivan owner. 

You must be wondering what these terms mean. 

A minivan’s payload capacity denotes the maximum quantity of weight that it can carry safely in its cargo space on top of its curb weight or empty weight. While towing capacity means the maximum amount of weight a minivan can tow after including any cargo or weight of the vehicle. 

Remember that if the weight of cargo exceeds the vehicle’s carrying capacity, it would cause unnecessary stress on the vehicle’s engine, suspension, and transmission. This severely increases the risk of road accidents as well. 

Which provides more room for cargo: SUVs or minivans? 

While choosing the best vehicle for their family, often people have a hard time choosing between an SUV and minivan, for both offer similar features and utility. Choosing the one that best suits your needs can be pretty difficult, however, you can compare the two based on certain factors. 

If you are looking for a vehicle that has the maximum storage space, you will undoubtedly want to buy a minivan. It has sufficient space that allows for effortless cargo loading. Minivans come with deep wells behind the last row of seating which offers plenty of space for loading cargo and luggage.

Also, on minivans the seats can be folded completely, removed, or reorganized to allow for more cargo-carrying space. In this respect, an SUV has limited space designated for loading cargo. 

The cargo storage capacity of a minivan always exceeds that of an SUV. 

For instance, a Honda Odyssey provides a whopping storage space of about 38.4 cubic feet as compared to 40 cubic feet of space provided by Chevrolet Suburban . Another example worth quoting would be the Toyota Sienna with a huge cargo space of 39.1 cubic feet. There are other models of minivans providing such staggering cargo spaces such as the Chrysler Pacifica with 120 cubic feet of cargo space when the seats are laid down and the Dodge Grand Caravan with 40 cubic feet and 70 cubic feet behind its third row and second row of seats respectively. 

However, there are aspects where an SUV is advantageous. Some of those are when driving off road, or to simply not look so “uncool”. 

So at the end of the day, neither of the two is the wrong choice. Both are useful and have great utility to offer. You simply have to weigh your needs and requirements, and choose whichever of the two meet your needs the most. 

Which models of minivans provide the most cargo space? 

There are plenty of options available on today’s market. Minivans have become very much advanced and luxurious. They come in a variety of styles, designs, colors, and specifications. Some of the best ones that have the most cargo carrying capacity have been listed below: 

• Nissan Quest
  

This minivan’s distinct cargo space design makes it stand out from the models. It provides 37.1 cubic feet of cargo area, enough to allow passengers to store their cargo and sit comfortably at the same time. The storage well of this vehicle is only 11. 4 cubic feet but it comes with an inbuilt cover on top of the storage well, which makes additional space for cargo carrying. 

• Toyota Sienna
  

Another minivan equipped with the largest cargo space is the Toyota Sienna. Providing a cargo room of 39.1 cubic meters, this is the largest space any minivan has to offer. It also offers a cargo organiser worth $ 239. 

• Honda Odyssey 

This model closely follows the former one, providing a cargo-carrying space of 38.4 cubic feet. The vehicle is equipped with high-end cargo management mechanism rings. The sides and handles available for easy carrying of the cargo fold into the center, creating a necessary cover effect. This also allows passengers to keep bags and other stuff on top of the cargo space as well. 

Conclusion 

While a vehicle with more cargo space might be useful for a family outing, you must tally other factors as well before buying any vehicle. Besides considering the cubic feet, you must compare their real-world functionalities too. 

You mustn’t only think in terms of your vehicle’s cargo carrying capacity, you should also think about how you are going to use it. Consider the kind of weight it would be carrying daily and how much of the vehicle is designed to carry that amount of load safely to ensure its longevity.