The whole affordable minivan market is disappearing. Cheap new Grand caravan used to be mid $20s. Now they are " fancy vehicles" all of them are starting at almost $50k. I guess the Kia Carnival starts around $40k.
a new mazda 5 model would be nice...
Hmmm, makes me wonder what the cheapest 3 row vehicle is right now? As you said, you used to be able to get a Caravan for $20K new (not that long ago even), the Mazda 5 was in the 20's, Kia Rondo also, plus the Dodge Journey. Looks like it's the VW Atlas and maybe the Mitsubishi Outlander as the two cheapest 3 row vehicles you can buy, with the Kia Carnival being the cheapest minivan.