Thanks for the reply, any recommendations?
Yes to kids, and just extra storage space helps as well.
I've had 2007 and 2010 grand caravans and live in Ohio, so rust is an issue but mechanically they've been dependable and solid. I made sure to have the stow away seats, so you can just fold them down. They can fit 4x8 sheets of plywood with the seats down, and I've gotten 4x4x10 posts in the older one while still being able to shut the hatch (12 footers were a different matter, but maybe??? room if you also take out the passenger seat). Drove a 2012(? maybe a 2011, it's been awhile) Honda and it seemed to lack of some the get up and go of the dodge, but from everything I've read the Honda and Toyota minivans are better made, and I know Toyota invested a lot of R&D into making them very driver/passenger friendly. There's a lot of talk about transmissions being bad in the Grand Caravans and if you make it to 150K miles you've done well. I've around 170K in the older one and it doesn't seem to have any issues. If cost isn't an issue I'd go Honda/Toyota, though. Just better track records. I haven't seen anything really bad said about the Kias, either, other than that they are Kias.
If you're going on vacations, I'd invest in a rooftop carrier regardless of what you buy. We got a bag (not a hard shell), been on two or three long trips through all sorts of weather and haven't had an issue. Getting all of the luggage out of the car makes long trips
way more comfortable. Also, if you can, have a hitch on it. Even if you're not pulling anything you can get these little shelf things you can attach to it and strap coolers and stuff. Like the bag, it just gets stuff out of the body of the car so you and the family have more room.