Minivans have long held the honor of the most popular family-transport mobile, and they make a ton of sense. They’re roomy and loaded with practical conveniences — and even some luxurious comforts. But today’s early-millennial parents don’t always want to cruise around in the same minivan that their own soccer moms did. So, we’ve put together five unconventional family-friendly vehicles that offer minivan-like functionality, without the 1995 stigma.
Dodge Journey
Ditch the minivan and take a look at Dodge’s adventure-driven 2018 Journey crossover SUV. Dodge’s three-row seater offers available technology that will impress even your biggest bandwidth-hogs, including Uconnect 3 with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and available navigation.
The Journey is built with tons of storage spaces to grow with your family, and 67 cubic feet of cargo room is plenty for all the kid’s gear. With heated front seats and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that gets 500 highway miles per tank, go ahead and hit Albany’s roads.
The 2018 base-model Journey SE has a sticker price of $22,795, with the top trim GT starting at $32,995.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
When you’re on the lookout for a minivan stand-in with exceptional off-road chops, give the Jeep Grand Cherokee a go. Thankfully, Jeep offers an impressive lineup of 2018 Grand Cherokees, including 11 trims opening with the base equipped Laredo.
The Grand Cherokee has received more lifetime honors than any other SUV. From potent engine options to all-weather capability, fuel-saving technology, and Jeep’s legendary off-road performance, there’s not a minivan around that can compete with Grand Cherokee’s rugged, yet sophisticated charm.
Jeep’s award-winning luxury SUV starts at $30,695 and tops out at $86,000 for the new Trackhawk trim.
Dodge Durango
Dodge’s king of the SUVs, the Durango, is an excellent alternative to the traditional family minivan and is available in six trim levels.
The Durango is America’s most powerful SUV with an available 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine that generates a whopping 475 horsepower. Add the best-in-class towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, and it’s time to load up the kids, hook up the camper, and get away to Lake George.
Drive home in your new Durango SXT starting at $29,995, while the well-appointed SRT starts at $62,995.
Jeep Wrangler JK
No one will ever confuse the 2018 Wrangler JK for a minivan in disguise. When Dad has carpool duty, he wants to tour the Albany area in something rugged and steadfast, yet roomy enough for the whole family.
The Jeep Wrangler JK has the highest model loyalty in the compact SUV class for the third consecutive year according to IHS Markit. The kids will love the Wrangler’s open-air freedom with removable doors and top, and parents will appreciate the JK’s plentiful storage space.
The iconic Wrangler Sport starts at a very reasonable $23,995 and tops out after nine trim levels with the Rubicon starting at $33,645.
In conclusion, families need room, but if the idea of shopping for a minivan holds about as much appeal as changing diapers, remember they aren’t your only choice. Test drive one of these great alternatives for the traditional minivan today.
