You may feel more comfortable driving in stormy weather knowing your minivan has all wheel drive.
Minivans, which peaked in popularity in the 1990s, remain excellent vehicles for families with their easy sliding entries, large seating capacity and comfort features. If you are looking for the safest minivan to transport your precious cargo, you may be interested in a model with all wheel drive-AWD-for better traction in inclement weather. All wheel drive is similar to four-wheel drive in that all four tires have equal torque to move your vehicle on the road, but AWD minivans can be safer to drive on wet or icy roads. Before you go shopping, check into which minivans have all wheel drive.
Toyota Sienna
Base model 2011 Toyota Sienna minivans are outfitted with two-wheel drive; however, the LE, XLE and Limited models have optional AWD. According to an Edmunds review, since its introduction in 1998, the Sienna has posted some of the best crash test scores of any minivan on the market, and with the addition of AWD, your choice of this minivan would be an extremely safety-conscious one for your family. The Sienna is a great used car as well, but keep in mind that AWD has always been optional for this minivan. You will need to determine whether the vehicle that catches your interest possesses this safety feature.
Chrysler Town Country
Minivans in different model years feature visible changes, like trim styles, and internal changes, like the drivetrain.
Since its unveiling in 1990, the Chrysler Town Country, along with its older siblings Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, has been one of the best-selling minivans in history. These minivans first came out with the AWD option on their longer wheelbase models-the Grand Voyager, the Grand Caravan and the Town Country-in 1991. With the third generation of Chrysler minivans that came out in 1996, the V6 engine models no longer offered AWD; however, the auto maker reprised that option the very next year-1997-due to popular demand. The final Town Country model to offer AWD came out in 2004. In the next model year, the auto maker introduced a Stow 'n Go seating option that was not compatible with an AWD configuration.
Ford Aerostar
Ford made its contribution to the AWD minivan arena in 1990, when it introduced a long wheelbase version of the Aerostar with optional AWD. The auto giant continued to offer the AWD option until the Aerostar's demise in 1997. The replacement minivans in Ford's lineup, the Windstar and, a few years later, the Freestar, did not have an AWD option.
Other Options
Many used minivan models have years of use left in them.
The Mazda MPV-multipurpose vehicle-marketed from 1990 to 1998 featured a part-time four-wheel drive control that allowed drivers to switch over as they drove for added traction. Not strictly an AWD, the Mazda MPV also differed from other minivans of its period by being more maneuverable on a shorter wheelbase and eschewing the stereotypical sliding rear door for a conventional door. The Chevrolet Astro, made from 1985 to 2005, began offering optional AWD in 1990. In 1999, the auto maker revamped its AWD option to auto AWD, which kicks in only when a built-in sensor determines more traction is necessary.
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