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Which Minivan has easiest seat storage?
It seems like most minivans have some type of "magic" seat option, but which one is the easiest to use? What about 2nd row seats? The Town & Country has the "stow and go," but are the 2nd row seats comfortable? I'm not sure if I want to sacrifice seat comfort, just to stow them into the floor
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GM minis dont have the "magic" seat.
The Ody 2nd row seats aren't so much heavy, as just awkward to remove/install due to their bulk. Fortunately, I've only had the real need to remove them on a couple of occasions.
I prefer the 2nd and 3rd row seats of my 02 T&C to the Stow 'N Go for comfort and they are not very hard to remove. My 02 T&C 2nd row seats are much easier to remove and reinstall than the 2nd row in either the Ody or Sienna.
Doesn't someone have a power folding rear seat availible? I know the 2006 Ford Explorer does, why not minivans? I'm sure they are coming.
The power folding/adjustable 3rd row seat is NOT available in the Limited AWD.
I hear that DCX is working on it for T&C.....2nd and 3rd row power folding, for MY 08 though.
The Quest has the traditional full length 3rd row seat, but it is very simple to use. Grab strap, push button an dpull the seat toward you. Once it is int he well, lift up on the handle on the bototm of the seat (which is now in front of you) and it collapses into the well. Unfortunately you have to reomove the headrest though.
All minvans should have the deep well and disappearing 3rd row seats. Adds to the versatility of the vehicle.
What do you think?
Actually, I think it's just one part laziness, one part "at least three times in the last decade I've needed to drop the seat at the same time my hands were full, so I really really really need a power folding seat", and a huge dollop of "hey, check-out the cool seats in my new van!".
But that's just IMHO......
Well, I have to admit, I thought putting a power hatch on a minivan wasn't too smart, but now I can't imagine not having it. Here in Michigan in the winter, when cars are filthy from dirt and salt, being able to not touch a dirty handle to open and close hatch is FANTASTIC! I bet senior citizen would probably feel same about power folding seats....many SUVs have em already.
Now, I think the crown goes to the Toyota Sienna XLE Limited with PKG 3, which has those power folding seats
All you do is push a button!
Isn't DaimlerChrysler going to put power operated 2nd row seats "Stow ' N Go" into the Town & Country Ultra Limited?
Only a matter of time before the driver can use voice commands to select Drive, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Reverse, or Park. Time to reduce the workload for lazy Americans.
I'm not sure who all worked on the Power seat thing over at Toyota though...
I've never seen the Chrysler stow seats and I can't see paying for an optional power stow seat. Sounds like too much to break and/or crush.
Since this discussion is about seat storage in minivans, you might get more feedback in our MPV discussion here:
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Odyssey's 3rd row is easier to operate.
I still bought the Sienna LE though.
Chris
The DC minivans, Sienna, and Odyssey appear to have the most cargo space behind the 3rd row. The 2006 Kia Sedona is "The MOST Improved" minivan...but my preference remains DC, Sienna, and Odyssey.
Well the third row of the Dodge is a little harder but that is only because it's a split seat that will not only fold flat into the floor, but flip the other way so you can sit on it looking out the tailgate. But Chrysler marked the pull tags, so you know in what order to pull them to get the seat they way you want.
The second row seats are pretty easy when you remember to move the front seats all the way foreword.
Here is two pictures of one seat stowed and the storage bin part way open. I have a storage pad, battery cables, tools, rope, flashlight, can of fix a flat, tape and bungy cords in it and I could still put in another storage pad.
My Daughter is about to have a baby any day now and I'm going to take a set up bassinet to her house tomorrow and I will take a picture of it setting inside the side door all set up with one seat folded. This is why the Dodge is so family friendly. Your always ready for what ever you need to carry.
http://www.marine1.zoomshare.com/album/minivan/images/3c38fb2705868db01d3853fb53- af25d9_11404033020/image.jpg
http://www.marine1.zoomshare.com/album/minivan/images/f18f83bd36cdf303c22ab68724- 6252d3_11404032510/image.jpg
As you can see, no problem getting most anything in the side door. Your always ready with this van. It's as family friendly as you can get.
I also had no problems folding the seats in any of the models you mentioned. All are good choices. The Sienna seemed to have the most usable cargo room behind the 3rd row seat to me. It wasn't a huge difference, but it might come in handy for some. On the other hand, I do not care for the third row seat folding and design in the Quest and Freestar. Those definitely seemed heavier and harder to fold than the others.
Stow and Go is awesome if you mostly have kids and cargo in back. Just like the folding third row seat, I bet it will be pretty universal among the next generation of minivans.
Now if only one of the manufacturers could produce a minivan with Stow and Go seating that is also as comfortable for adults as regular captain's chairs. Include an 8th passenger option, top safety ratings, standard side curtain airbags, stability control and dynamic head restraints. Is that asking too much for a class of vehicle targeted at families?
Wait until the new generation Chrysler/Dodges come out. You may get all of that and more. Although there is nothing uncomfortable with the stow and go middle seats now. No one that owns one is complaining about them being uncomfortable. Only the people that doesn't own one.
I don't own one, but I have ridden in them. Stow and Go would be great for us if there was an 8th seat option, since we mostly have kids in back 95% of the time.
On the other hand, I personally wouldn't want to ride in the rear seats for anything much longer than a short commute. Obviously, if you ride in the second row frequently for longer trips and bought the Stow and Go, then I assume it was comfortable enough to purchase on that basis. So, it's no surprise that many owners would not complain, while some that don't own one may have purchased another van in part because of the seat comfort. That's why smart shoppers do research and test drive before buying;-) It's a good thing there are a lot of choices for people who have varying opinions on comfort and everything else, too.
That said, do you feel there is no room for improvement in the Stow and Go seats in regard to comfort for average adults? Do you doubt that the design will be improved by DC or competitors when they copy the concept? That was my point as far as next generation vans.
That said, do you feel there is no room for improvement in the Stow and Go seats in regard to comfort for average adults? Do you doubt that the design will be improved by DC or competitors when they copy the concept? That was my point as far as next generation vans.
I rode in the back once from Phoenix to Prescot and didn't find them a bit uncomfortable. They are a little firmer but not uncomfortable in the least. I find the Ody's ride much firmer than the Dodge, but I wouldn't call the ride uncomfortable either. The ride in our Civic is much firmer than the minivan and can be brutal on ruff roads.
I hear the seats will be changed to some degree on the new generation Dodge/Chrysler. They are suggesting to make them different to accomadate all wheel drive again and making them motorized. Not confirmed.
I have had no need for eight seats. Most families only have a couple of kids and even with their friends, I don't know if I would ever need eight seats. Haven't needed them yet. But I have sure used stow-n-go quite a few times in 14 months. Used it just today taking the bassinet to my Daughter's house.
Exactly my point. You bought something that met your needs, which may vary from someone else's. You can debate the topic of comfort all you like, but it's a subjective preference and was not among the main points in my original post, anyway.
"I have had no need for eight seats."
Never said you did. That was also only a side note in my original post and obviously any individual buyer can assess for themselves if they need an 8th seat or not. For my case, it was a selling point. For others, it's useless. You won't find anything to disagree with me about, there.
As for the thread topic, I certainly agree that fold-away seating systems are the way to go and provide the easiest storage. On the other hand, it is a bit ironic how things have changed from 5 years ago on these forums. Back then, many DC minivan owners refused to accept the utility of Honda's folding third row seat and criticized it for being less comfortable than a conventional seat. While I generally agreed about the comfort issue, it was clearly the most convenient solution at the time and is now emulated by almost every other minivan. Honda has since improved the comfort and folding systems, as I expect DC will do with Stow 'n Go. Likewise, as I said earlier, I would not be surprised if most other minivans debut some form of Stow 'n Go in their next generation models.
Wouldn't doubt that others will emulate stow-n-go either like they did Honda's folding rear seat, or how they emulated Chrysler's minivan. I remember when the minivan first came out and got a so,so review. Not thinking they would be very popular with the public.
"As you can see, no problem getting most anything in the side door. Your always ready with this van. It's as family friendly as you can get."
Personally, I would have stowed the 3rd row in our Odyssey and loaded it through the rear-hatch. And STILL been able to use the full 2nd row for the kids.
You remember kids, right? "Kids" are part of that recipe for a "family". So "family friendly" usually means the ability to haul stuff around WITH THE FAMILY. I'm fairly sure I would get some strange looks from my wife if I decided it was better to haul stuff around in the 2nd row and put the kids in the 3rd row, rather than put the kids in the 2nd row with the misc. stuff behind them.
Maybe "family friendly" means having the kids as far away from their parents as possible......
Second of all, it's much easier to put things in the side door sitting up than dropping down the third seat and lifting things up and shoving it in. Like I did a few months ago taking my air compressor to my brother's house to use. Try lifting that through the rear hatch yourself.
But even if I had the three grand kids with me, I could still take them and also put the bassinet in the same way. It would only mean the two in the third row would have to scoot over one seat to the left. Plenty of room.
Incidentally, Toyota has a great mobility option for the Sienna.
I'm just telling you that, as a parent of two young children (the typical 'family' for a minivan owner) that the preferred arrangement for passengers and cargo is: passengers in the first and 2nd rows with cargo behind the 3rd and 2nd rows. I simply cannot picture the situation where I would voluntarily chose to place cargo in the 2nd row space and passengers in the 3rd row.
However, assuming I WOULD choose such an odd arrangement...I CAN DO IT WITH THE ODYSSEY. It just involves taking out either one or both 2nd row seats.
I'm still trying to figure out why loading cargo in the middle and passengers in the rear makes one particular vehicle more 'family friendly'....
Frankly, IMO the Odyssey is more 'family friendly' since it offers MORE seating arrangements than the DCX vans (middle row seats can be placed together, you know, more 'friendly') whereas the mid row seats in the DCX are fixed in place.
Actually, I would call the DCX vans more 'cargo friendly' since it makes it easier to haul cargo on a moments notice and with no (or poor) planning than the others.
How about that? Why don't we refer to the Odyssey as the 'family friendly' choice and the DCX vans as the 'cargo friendly' choice (since it seems as though your use of your Dodge with sto'n'go is cargo first and people second).
Storage drawer? Yep. Lockable? Nope.
Are the infloor storage lockers for the sto'n'go seats lockable? The infloor storage locker for the Odyssey is lockable. And one doesn't have to completely empty out the infloor storage locker if one decides to remove a 2nd row seat for cargo handling.
around and around and around and around we go......isn't this fun?
As you say, you can plan ahead when hauling stuff, you can do the same with the Dodge. Don't want to put kids in the back seats, leave them home with the wife if your carrying stuff. But I see nothing wrong with them in back if you have things in the middle. What if you hit the brakes hard and what you were carrying broke lose? it wouldn't hit the kid's seat. They would be behind it, not in front. If you have a real little one, there is still a second row seat there to use.
You maybe like a lot of people and pay to have a lot of things delivered, I don't. I'll save that $30.00 delivery charge and take it myself. Like last week when I bought the Daughter the chest for the baby's room.
If you have kids and grand kids, you are constantly carrying and buying things. Some things you plan for, some you don't. I don't have to worry either way, my van's ready. In no way is the Honda more family friendly than the Dodge. It's basicily a people hauler. I would bet most Honda owners have never taken the seats out of their vans, or if they have, not more than once or twice at most over many years.
There are also rear end crashes, side crashes, frontal crashes and rollovers. If you have any heavy cargo, it should be very well restrained as the forces can be very high. Rope is good, but basic bungees won't hold in a crash.
"if you have kids and grand kids, you are constantly carrying and buying things. Some things you plan for, some you don't. I don't have to worry either way, my van's ready. In no way is the Honda more family friendly than the Dodge. It's basicily a people hauler."
I may be wrong, but I think this is pretty much what rorr just said. The Odyssey has an advantage at hauling family and people, the DC has an advantage at hauling cargo. You can always buy a Sienna, too. It has more cargo space than either one and the tumble forward second row and fold flat passenger seat make a reasonable compromise between the two. You can even get a power hatch and overhead trip computer for a more reasonable price than on the Odyssey.
Or just put the cargo in the rear where IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO.
"You maybe like a lot of people and pay to have a lot of things delivered, I don't."
The only time I've ever paid a delivery charge was on a load of lumber to build a 12'x16' storage shed. But I doubt I could have gotten that load into a minivan, regardless of whether or not it had sto'n'go. I'm still trying to picture the item you can haul which the Odyssey can't.
"If you have kids and grand kids, you are constantly carrying and buying things. Some things you plan for, some you don't. I don't have to worry either way, my van's ready."
Ditto (except I don't have grandkids). I've still never had a situation where I 'worried' about the capacity of our Ody for either cargo or people.
"In no way is the Honda more family friendly than the Dodge."
Really? The van which offers more safety equipment (in the interest of family safety) and more seating options (for families) is NOT the more family friendly vehicle? Yet the vehicle which makes cargo hauling easier (for things like air compressors) IS more family friendly? Okay..... :confuse:
Unless you have six kids, the seating option is mute. We have discussed safety already. Being able to use your van for anything that comes up makes it very family friendly. Being able to store kids stuff out of the way and out of sight makes it very family friendly and keeps your van looking clean and not having it piled all over the seats or floor.
Just out of curiousity, what is it about the floor height on the Dodge that makes it easier to load in the side vs. the rear? I'm trying to visualize loading a compressor in the side of our Ody and I don't see that it would be appreciably easier one way or the other (I suppose I could take a tape to it tonight and meaure the load height of the rear vs. the side).
Or 3 kids and the ability carry everything behind the 2nd row. Or the ability to push the 2nd row captains chairs together for very easy access to the 3rd row, or to provide cargo space down the side of the van with 2 seats in the mid row. See? More seating options = greating seating versatility.
"We have discussed safety already."
Yep. Advantage Honda w/ standard side/curtain airbags with rollover sensors and standard traction/stability control (good for families)......vs. the Dodge with.....sto'n'go (good for cargo).
"Being able to store kids stuff out of the way and out of sight makes it very family friendly and keeps your van looking clean and not having it piled all over the seats or floor."
Yep. Of course the Ody has in-floor storage too (of course, all that kid stuff STAYS out of sight should I have the need to remove a 2nd row seat).....vs. the Dodge where you store either the kids stuff OR the seats but not both.
BTW - I reviewed the Car & Driver comparison test of minivans from last year. The Caravan w/ Sto'n'go seats was rated as having the 2nd most comfortable 2nd row seats in the test. So you are correct that the sto'n'go doesn't unduly compromise comfort for utility (at least in the reviewers minds).
I would think the floor height would be about the same. What makes it harder is the rear bumber that sticks out not letting you get it close enough to get the wheels up on the platform. You would have to lift that compressor up to get it in. You don't using the side door. You can get as close as about two inches which I had to push it before the wheels touched. Then all I needed to do is lift the handle up and roll it in.
Did you see the one picture I put up with the one middle seat stowed? (Which is how I keep it most of the time) Two people could walk side by side to the rear seats. You can't get better excess than that. You still have room for four in the back.
Yes, I saw the picture. Looks remarkably like the interior of the Ody with the RH 2nd row captain's chair removed. And if it's how you keep it most of the time, why couldn't you do the same with the Ody?
My point was that with the Ody, I can push the two 2nd row seats together creating easy access to the rear AND still sit two in the 2nd row.
Okay - that makes sense.