Help me find a minivan

[RazorDX]

I am in the market for a vehicle for commercial use. Here are my requirements:


4-wheel powertrain (can be full-time or part-time)
7 passenger seating
Model year 2000 or newer
Around or under $5000 US


Fuel economy isn't a huge concern, but it is desirable. Essentially I need an SUV or minivan that is dependable, but I'm not exactly well informed on the market for these vehicles.

As of right now, our eyes are set on a set of Chevrolet Venture vans. They are AWD, but I don't think they have the 3400 for those models.

Other vehicles that have been in our eyes are the Dodge Durango, Mitsubishi Montero, and the Chevrolet Uplander (although it is typically out of our price range).

What I would like from you guys would be any advice or opinions on what we should consider. I know that 90s model Dodge/Chrysler vehicles were notorious for transmission failure, but how are the newer models? Are there any other quirks we should be aware of?

Thanks to all who offer advice!

[Grandam1999V6]

You can try looking for the TrailBlazers. We've rented one a few times and they are quite nice.

[RazorDX]

I've seen those, but I've also heard that a good number of them (as well as the Suburbans) had catastrophic transmission problems. This could be specific to a range of model years though, so I'll look into them. Thanks for the suggestion.

[GregFarz78]

A minivan for commercial use? Why not a ford econoline van?

[RazorDX]

I looked at those, but I don't like them. I've rented them before. They felt way too cheap for daily use. Lots of road noise, shoddy interior, etc. Thanks for the suggestion though!

To elaborate a bit more, these vehicles are for a child care center. They will be used to transport children between our center and area schools. 15-passenger vans are a no-no, and all seating must be factory. 7-9 passenger is pretty much the limit.