Is a 3-row SUV or a minivan better for a large family?

For pure practicality, a minivan like the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey beats most 3-row SUVs on interior space, ease of access (sliding doors), cargo flexibility, and fuel efficiency. Minivans have lost their cultural stigma significantly and many families with three or more kids find them more functional than any 3-row SUV. That said, 3-row SUVs offer better all-weather capability, stronger resale values, and are often easier to position with extended family or in dual-use situations. If you have no strong preference against a minivan, it is worth comparing the Toyota Sienna against your 3-row SUV shortlist before deciding.