Must See Vans & Minivans of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show

2015 kia sedona

Vans & Minivans have started to catch up to the rest of the industry in terms of next-gen technologies, with a new wave of city-sized, high-efficiency commercial vans making a particularly welcome impact in the marketplace. In fact, the segment will even get a new all-electric entry this year. But the current crop of minivans hasn’t stood still either, and show-goers will find some surprising new features among these more family-friendly options.

2015 Kia Sedona

Finally taking advantage of Kia’s penchant for strong and striking designs, the 2015 Kia Sedona wears one of the least minivan-ish faces ever shown in the segment, backed by surprisingly fun driving dynamics, yet it still offers all the versatility one expects from a dedicated family hauler—and then some. Just consider its content-packed cabin, capable of offering face-to-face lounge seating for second- and third-row passengers, or its long list of available features, like the latest UVO Infotainment & Telematics system, an automatically opening “smart” rear liftgate, and a suite of driver-assistance measures such as forward collision warning, smart cruise control, blind-spot detection and rear cross-path detection. Unsurprisingly, the 2015 Kia Sedona also is a Top Safety Pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

• What hasn’t?
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• The 2015 Kia Sedona opens at $25,900.

2015 Ford Transit

The 2015 Ford Transit team relies on the same sort of next-gen approach that informs the latest city vans, but make no mistake: The Transit is a full-size entry that can be configured to hold up to 542.2 cubic feet of cargo or carry up to 15 passengers, while further boasting a payload of up to 4,300 lbs. and a max tow rating of 7,500 lbs. But it provides that power responsibly, with EcoBoost and diesel engine choices. SYNC with MyFord Touch is available as well.

• This is the first year of Ford Transit sales in this country, although it has a long track record of success internationally.
• The 2015 Ford Transit is on sale now.
• The 2015 Ford Transit van starts at $29,735, while wagon pricing opens from $32,270.

2015 Toyota Sienna

The 2015 Toyota Sienna remains the only minivan on the market to offer all-wheel drive, but—courtesy of an extensive mid-cycle makeover—that won’t be the only exclusive on the menu as the next selling season begins.

• Highlights here include yet swaggier styling inside and out, including available LED daytime running lamps, as well as what should be an especially welcome breakthrough for minivan owners: Driver Easy Speak. This setup lets drivers speak directly over the Swagger Wagon’s back speakers, using the microphone already integrated into the vehicle’s multi-media system. Speaking of which, Entune multimedia is now standard across the lineup, as are a full complement of eight airbags, while the Sienna’s optional rear-seat entertainment system, highlighted by a 16.4-inch widescreen display, adds Blu-Ray compatibility.
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• The 2015 Toyota Sienna is offered with MSRPs that begin from $28,600.

2015 Chrysler Town & Country

The 2015 Chrysler Town & Country finished up 2014 as the best-selling minivan of the year, and it certainly has the kind of package needed to repeat that feat. After all, the Town & Country touts exclusive features like a Blu-ray player with HDMI input for video gamers and adaptable “Stow ‘n Go” seating, a best-in-class 283 hp, sophisticated Uconnect technology that offers a mobile wi-fi hotspot, and the SafetyTec suite of driver-assistance measures; that latter bundle includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, a rear park-assist system, automatic high beams and rain-sensitive wipers.

• There are two new models in the mix for 2015, with a Limited Platinum edition joining the roster at the top of the range and an LX model configured for value shoppers.  
• The 2015 Chrysler Town & Country is on the market currently.
• The 2015 Chrysler Town & Country starts from $29,995.

2015 Sprinter Van

The 2015 Sprinter Van stays at the leading edge of the full-size segment with a plethora of configurations and engine choices to suit all sorts of commercial needs, a stylish Euro-centric design, Becker Map Pilot navigation, and many of today’s top driver-assistance measures—and the confidence that comes with Mercedes-Benz engineering.

• The restyled 2015 Sprinter Van will introduce its first all-wheel-drive system for the U.S. market, complete with an available low-range gear and a multi-inch boost in ground clearance. Also new and standard will be Crosswind Assist, designed to automatically compensate for breezy conditions by using individual braking adjustments to create a subtle steering effect.
• Rear-wheel-drive models of the 2015 Sprinter Van are available now, with the 4X4 models due this quarter.
• MSRPs for the 2015 Sprinter Van begin at $35,995 for cargo models.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2015 Nissan Quest

The 2015 Nissan Quest offers a distinctly modern design approach while also boasting minivan must-haves like one-touch power door, numerous infotainment and safety resources, and easy-to-manage second- and third-row seating that never impinges on the rear cargo well.

• A noticeable engineering change provides a more traditional feel for the Quest’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission, and there’s an efficiency bonus, too: Per the EPA, the 2015 Nissan Quest is rated at 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, marking bumps of 1 mpg/2 mpg/1 mpg. Increasing as well is the size of the standard audio display, currently up to 5 inches ( a 16 percent jump). Then, from the safety department, moving-object detection is added to the vehicle’s array of driver-assistance technologies.
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• The entry point to the 2015 Nissan Quest lineup is at $26,530.