The Hyundai Palisade has been receiving rave reviews and has experienced markedly good sales numbers since it debuted in 2018. It was so popular that dealers were commanding a markup up until earlier this year and availability was scarce. It seems like it’s a little easier to get one now, however, you might have to put an order in and wait. In case you, don’t want to do that, here is one alternative: The Honda Odyssey.

No one cares if you drive a minivan

Let’s face it, most three-row SUV buyers need the space but don’t need all that utility. Technically, they’re really going more for “form over function.”

A minivan, on the other hand, is all about “function over form.” The issue, of course, is that most consumers can’t stand the thought of driving a minivan for fear that it would put a dent in their image, or perhaps make them feel like a “soccer mom/dad.”

However, we think that it’s time to put the stigma to bed and just know that no cares if you drive a minivan. They’re made to be practical people and cargo carriers that are easy to get in and out of, provide great entertainment for the occupants, and do it all in a fuel-efficient manner.

Your typical three-row SUV, on the other hand, is made more for utility. Sure, it can carry seven passengers, has entertainment, and looks rugged. However, that higher ride height and burliness were made to be used in actual off-road driving, and we suspect that most families don’t really use it for that purpose.

This is why minivans still exist and why the Honda Odyssey would be a great choice.

Hyundai Palisade vs Honda Odyssey

Don’t get us wrong, the Hyundai Palisade is a great means of transportation for any budding family. It has 155 cubic-feet of total passenger volume and three rows to fit up to eight passengers and a beautiful interior to boot.

But, guess what? The Honda Odyssey can fit up to eight passengers, has 160 cubic-feet of passenger space, and is available with a leather interior as well.

We get it, though, the Hyundai Palisade has 7.9 inches of ground clearance and you and your family need every inch of that to get to the cabin you rented in the mountains once a year. Might we suggest renting an SUV for the annual trip and going with an Odyssey as your daily driver?

The Honda Odyssey might not have the ground clearance, but it’s made to be comfortable for the everyday commute. Its 3.5-liter V6 delivers 280 horsepower, which is more than enough for errand duties and might actually get you to your cabin vacation spot just as well as any SUV. Provided that the road up there doesn’t get too rocky.

On top of that, the Odyssey is available with a Cabin Watch feature that allows you to keep an eye on all of your passengers right from the driver’s seat for the entire trip and when it’s all over, you can clean everything up with the available HondaVac.

Forget the stereotype

As far as fuel efficiency goes, the Palisade and the Odyssey can achieve 22 mpg in combined driving, however, the Odyssey is rated at 2 mpg more on the highway, so it’s better for longer trips.

When fully equipped, both the Hyundai Palisade and Honda Odyssey can easily reach the $50,000 mark, but in terms of value, you’ll get more with the Odyssey. It has more storage spaces for tablets, more outlets for charging phones, and it is available with a rear-entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen.

So while an SUV like the Hyundai Palisade might sound like a great idea to haul everyone around, the Honda Odyssey might actually prove to be a more-efficient and more-entertaining way to do so. You might just need to get over the “minivan stereotype” first.