Minivans like the Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica are great family cars. They are some of the leading choices when it comes to finding a trustworthy family carrier. They boast a reputation for safety and practicality. But prices can get so expensive, and a used 2010 or 2011 minivan becomes a more appealing option for those looking to spend less.

For many, buying a used minivan is a great way to get behind the wheel of one of these people and stuff toters for a bargain price. Minivans as old as 10 years and beyond are still viable as inexpensive top choices for many families looking for more space than a traditional sedan provides. So, what’s the safest 2010 minivan? Did any of them earn the prestigious honor of an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick title?

IIHS Top Safety Pick

To understand the way in which the the IIHS chooses a Top Safety Pick. For each year, a variety of model years for each vehicle are tested. That means the minivan that is rated a Top Safety Pick for 2010 doesn’t necessarily have to be a 2010 model year minivan. Moving forward in your used minivan research, this may be helpful information. Additionally, the criteria is very specific.

“To qualify for 2010 TOP SAFETY PICK, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and must offer electronic stability control.”

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

The IIHS also specifies that although a smaller car may qualify for an award, some larger vehicles may in fact be safer even in the absence of such awards. A heavier, larger vehicle will typically protect its passengers better than a smaller more flimsy one.

If you are hunting for the right used minivan for your family, you may already be wondering what is the safest 2010 minivan? In order to decide, you’ll probably want to know which vans earned the honor of being a Top Safety Pick minivan. There are a lot of minivans out there. If you’re searching for a used minivan with a budget price, going back about 10 years is a good starting point.

The 2011 used Toyota Sienna

The only winner of the Top Safety Pick award in 2010 is the 2011 Toyota Sienna. This used minivan suddenly rises to the top the list in terms of what to look for in the search for a used minivan. According to the IIHS the only minivan of all the makes and model years tested for 2010.

The previous 2010 model year of the Toyota Sienna earned some “poor” crash test ratings. Toyota presumably wanted to spruce up the safety of this minivan. Because the 2011 model year was tested in 2010, the 2011 Toyota Sienna became the safest 2010 minivan.

The 2011 Toyota Sienna is a good used minivan

The 2011 Toyota Sienna ranked as a Top Safety Pick minivan back then. And it is still a good used minivan today. Edmunds reports a price range of $11,499 – $11,999 for this used minivan. However, Cars.com gives a wider price range of $5,549 – $17,729.

Kelley Blue Book consumer reviews rate this van a 4.4 out of 5 stars. The Toyota Sienna was the only van that offered an AWD configuration until the recent release of the AWD Chrysler Pacifica. Overall, if you are searching for a nice used minivan, the 2011 Toyota Sienna is a great place to start looking.