Minivan vs crossover

Families across this great nation have long needed a vehicle aptly suited to meet their needs. From the days of jumper seats, to family sedans, to the timeless station wagon, and most recently the minivan and SUV, each generation of parents has had decent, reliable options to haul the family around in.  However, today's families are faced with an endless list of capable choices.  So how do you decide which is right for you?

From the outset, it is quite easy to eliminate a number of categories. For example, SUVs, those body-on-frame, gas guzzling behemoths of the past few years are on the way out. Not green enough by today's standard. The tell-tale example of this is the newly introduced Ford Explorer.  This vehicle started the craze and this year succumbed.  It is no longer a body-on-frame SUV, but a uni-body cross-over.  If you whittle the list further by only taking into account those categories which pay homage to the station wagons of yesterday (vehicles which carry more than a sedan full of people plus gear), two categories remain.  Do you purchase a crossover or minivan?

Admittedly, today's minivan is really not all that mini.  Honda acknowledged the size with a recent ad campaign which reminded buyers of the custom vans of the 80s (See ad here) .  The size of today's top sellers are in line with some full-size vans of that era. Likewise, Toyota has tried recently to reinvigorate this segment with their Swaggerwagon media blitz. Size aside, fuel economy, layout, and general drive-ability is far advanced from the full-size vans dad and grandpa drove. 

For those interested, a smaller segment of mini-minivans is appearing in the US.  Brought here from Europe and Asia, these small vans provide an option for those who want flexibility, while benefiting from the small stature of these vehicles.  Unfortunately, for now, the only model currently available is the Mazda 5.  However, Ford has announce their bringing the Ford C-Max to the US this year as a 2012 model.

Whichever you pick, large or small, splurging for top-of-the-line accommodations in today's minivans can easily put to shame any retro van.  Even with all of the hype about how cool the minivan is, the fact is, they are still minivans.  So if the image you portray is important, then you have a long list to weed through.

Next post, a look at cross-overs...until then, your comments and memories about your family minivan are welcome!