Tons more room and easier access to everything. For me for home and trips and such I prefer the Suburban - but mini vans are still great vehicles for what they are. I try to get one as a rental every time we fly out west, works best for hauling people and gear (I'd do a Suburban or Tahoe but the mini van I can get for no upcharge).
Bring your shorts and swimsuits. It's going to be hot down here.... On the minivan front....my wife swore she'd never drive one. Then I knocked her up for the 3rd time and changed her tune. Having 3 kids in car seats is horrible without a van. The ability for an adult to climb in and access all the kids/seats is a game changer. Then there's the weather....when it's raining or freezing and you're stuck loading kids in an SUV with all the doors open, you realize how much sense a minivan makes.
The Kia Carnival Is Better Than The Kia Telluride "The two are almost the same under the skin, but I fear there's a reason why people aren't buying the better car." https://jalopnik.com/the-kia-carnival-is-better-than-the-kia-telluride-1848254768 Funnier is that all the Telluride lovers are basically a less functional minivan
Ugly!? Look at this RaceVan! (not mine specifically but exact same year/color/wheels) Edit to add: Got back yesterday and didn't have a single issue with kids or the van doing 4, 8 hour days (2 each way). I will say though, we left Memphis up I55 at 5am yesterday because the 2yo wouldn't sleep and holy shit the fog up through Arkansas and Missouri was bad. Looking at a map today and makes sense since that whole stretch runs along the Mississippi, just never white knuckled it in fog like that.