The minivan plays an important role to the average family. Although they may not be the sexiest vehicles on the market, they certainly have a purpose. I remember when I was a kid it felt like every family owned a “A soccer mom van”, but lately it seems like SUV and compact cars have taken the family ride away from the minivan so I have to ask the question, do minivans matter anymore?
Minivans maximize family practicality at all costs. Unfortunately, that often means missing out on certain aspects of car ownership that matter to most drivers. For example, even someone like Pierce Brosnan would have a hard time looking stylish in a van littered with smashed breakfast cereal.
Most families with space needs beyond typical sedan capacity opt for a crossover or SUV, which means the minivan segment is shrinking. There are only a handful of products left to buy. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy one. Ask a parent, coach or really anyone who owns one and you’ll probably hear the same thing: there are times when a van just can’t be beat.
Here are the top reasons you should buy a minivan:
Safety
Minivans are some of the safest vehicles on the road, though certain models go a few steps further with features like knee airbags and rearview cameras. Shoppers should be aware of crash test scores as well, but it should be noted that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration adopted more strenuous testing procedures for last year, making the ratings of recently tested models incomparable with those tested in the past.
Family-Friendly Features
Key items to look for in a minivan include power-sliding doors, versatile seat configurations, rear air-conditioning, an entertainment system, storage containers and so on. Luxuries like automatic climate control, heated seats, iPod interfaces, navigation systems, keyless start systems and Bluetooth capability are now commonplace options on minivans. Full-size vans offer a few luxuries but are low on conveniences.
Versatility of Interior Seating
Family buyers should zero in on a minivan's second-row seat, as each model generally offers some sort of unique configuration or feature that may benefit your family. Some rotate to face the third row, some stow into the floor, some have built-in footstools, some feature removable center positions and some slide laterally to accommodate three-abreast child seats. All minivans now feature a third row that folds neatly into the floor, but the ease with which it performs this trick varies from model to model, as does the resulting passenger space
Cargo Capacity
No matter how you cut it, a minivan is superior to an SUV in its ability to haul passengers and cargo. The cabins are cavernous, though the versatility of its second row comes into play here as well. How heavy and easy are its seats to remove, or do they fold away as the third row does? Full-size vans are typically used by plumbers and contractors, so they obviously can fit a lot of stuff. However, their seats must be physically removed, and doing so is difficult.
Whether you want to admit it or not, minivans are still very important to a lot of people in the society.Although they may not be the best looking, they have come a long way and do have great features that benefit the whole family.
Steven Brolosko is an auto hobbyist; he loves fixing up old scrap cars and spends many weekends visiting Michigan recycling yards to find quality parts for his projects.