We used a Mazda5 "micro van", good little car, no major issues in 10 years and 200k, still beating on it, not 4wd but that's over rated IMO, if the roads are bad enough to need 4wd, prolly not going out anyway esp with the kids in the car, our is a manual transmission which is a big reason why we got it, waaay cheaper than a mini van.
Just got our 1 st minivan a few months ago. 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. We love it. Have 2 boys age 8 & 11. My wife had a 2004 Ford Explorer. We had that for 13 years. Minivans are great for kids, plenty of room.
Chrysler/ Dodge has discontinued the mini vans in their forthcoming line ups. My oldest son will have to purchase something in the near future with the twins at 5 and their sister at 2 . The van they have now has a bad case of the red death. the Corolla and the Saturn coupe are not going to make it with every one on board plus the car seats. ( friggin nanny state). I have a line a Suburban ( 460 up front but only 2 wheel) which could get them around the bend for awhile. Under a grand low miles was a friends dads who can't drive any more for medical reasons.
Having been at an accident after the driver went to sleep and drove off the road with car ending upside down and seeing her toddler safe and secure in her car seat made me a believer in car seats. No matter how big and inconvenient they seem to be, they work. I shudder to think of my brother and I playing in the back of a sedan delivery while our family was on traveling holidays and even our two kids playing in the back of our Toyota station wagon. Both of our kids started traveling in a laundry basket stuffed down between the front and back backs seats. They graduated to a "car seat" booster seat which I am sure would not be legal today.