Recently, two of my co-workers were discussing their growing families and the need to buy a bigger vehicle. They discussed various SUVs with third-row seating to accommodate their needs. When the idea of a minivan entered the conversation, both immediately responded unequivocally, “I could NEVER drive a minivan.”
I have a friend who just had his third child and when I joked that it was TIME for a minivan, he said that his wife is completely against it as she does not want to be seen in a “soccer mom car.” But she IS a soccer mom? Another friend who also just had his third child, said that he has “held out” long enough and that he is finally “biting the bullet” and buying a minivan. It’s as if he were trying to avoid the bubonic plague!
All over the internet, in forums and articles about the best vehicles for families, I read the same vitriol towards the minivan. In the comments section of an article about minivans, one person asked, “is there anything sadder than seeing a dad shamefully climbing out of a minivan in front of his friends and colleagues…instantly beleaguered, defeated and utterly emasculated?” Wow! That’s harsh! Another commenter demanded that one’s “man card” be revoked for driving such an uncool vehicle. A mommy blogger compared it to wearing mom jeans and argued that she wanted to retain a semblance of her pre-mom coolness and did not want to be “defined” by her minivan. Some anti-minivaners would rather buy a behemoth like the Chevy Surburban than be relegated to soccer mom/dad status by driving a minivan.
After our recent addition to the family, we decided it was probably time to replace our old car. My wife was a trooper squeezing in-between two car seats in our Hyundai Sonata when there was another adult, but that wasn’t an optimal solution. A big vehicle really isn’t a necessity for a family of four, but my in-laws do not drive and my parents prefer not to have to drive as they are getting older. In any case, it just made sense to buy a vehicle where I could transport more people. So which is better? A large SUV or a minivan? I didn’t put too much stock in people’s opinion of the coolness factor as image is not my priority.
Doing the research on SUVs and minivans on various sites that talk about cars, I found a common theme. The writers would say that the minivan is the best people-mover, that it is the most functional, practical, and utilitarian choice, but lament the fact that it is ugly and uncool. Sure, I can see the possible coolness factor in a sports car or even sedans and cross-over vehicles, but was a huge SUV really sporty or cool compared to a minivan? I don’t know, and I’m probably not the best person to ask since I mainly see a vehicle as a tool to get from one location to another. Sure, I’d like a “sporty” looking car (whatever that means) with some of the newer safety as well as entertainment features, but ultimately I just want something reliable that does its job.
So after doing some research, deciding that the minivan was more practical, I bought a minivan. Here are a few reasons why I think a minivan is better than a large SUV based on what I read and on my experience so far:
Power sliding doors – I love them. They’re awesome! I can open the door with a push of a button which is very helpful when I’m carrying a car seat or a bunch of bags. Sliding doors are also great because there’s no risk of the door banging into another car’s door in the parking lot.
Versatility – What good is a third-row if you can’t access it? My friends with SUVs that have a third-row tell me that you can’t get to the third-row if they have car seats installed. You’d have to uninstall the car seat, push the seat up, have the person climb into the third-row, then reinstall the car seat. Then you’d have to repeat this when it’s time to get out. That kind of defeats the purpose of having the third-row to begin with. Minivans also have more interior cargo space than large SUVs. Many of the seats in the minivans can be moved, folded down, or even removed to configure the space how you like it. This Motor Trend article is a bit dated but it does a great job comparing minivans with large SUVs.
Costs – If you compare the costs of a large SUV to the costs of a minivan, you’ll notice that minivans are more affordable. A large SUV like the Chevy Suburban can cost over $50,000 and the Ford Expedition starts at $41,700, while the Honda Odyssey starts at around $30,000. Your auto insurance premiums will also be cheaper. You’re a boring soccer mom or dad right? The insurance companies figure you’re probably not weaving in and out of traffic and making risky maneuvers on the road so you get a lower insurance premium! Fuel economy for minivans are generally superior to large SUVs so you’ll save money on gas too. The Chevy Suburban gets 16 city/23 highway while the Honda Odyssey gets 19 city/27 highway.
And finally, “it’s fun!” Well this is what my 3 1/2 year old son told me when he first climbed inside our new to us minivan. He also called it a “city bus.” Yea, it’s pretty big I guess.
Minivans have lost their popularity as most families flock to the big SUVs. Many car companies have tried to rebrand it, with Toyota calling its minivan a “swagger wagon.” Kia doesn’t even want to call its minivan a minivan, they call it an “MPV” (Multipurpose vehicle). It seems that when choosing a vehicle, most will choose style over substance. I don’t want to judge those who choose large SUVs over a minivan. It’s your choice, your money, and you can do whatever you want. But it just seems ridiculous that so many people will overlook a perfectly good vehicle choice because it might cramp their style.
Okay, can I have my man card back now? Oh wait, I never lost it. I’m not defined by what car I drive and I proudly drive a “dad mobile.”
Why do people despise minivans? Are they really that ugly looking?
We owned a Honda odyssey for over 10 years and loved that minivan. We took the plunge when our third child was born. Like you said lots of room for the kid stuff and great for traveling. It ran and drove great. We have since moved on but there are some days I miss it.
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Yea, I think once you have 3 kids, you really can’t avoid not getting one. I looked into the Odyssey but end up getting a Sienna since I got a good price on it.
Wow on some of those comments. If your identity is wrapped up in your car, boy do you have some problems that need to be ironed out. The only judging I do when I see people in nice cars is when I wonder whether they can afford it.
I’m not going to say that I’ll get a minivan (no kids yet) but I certainly won’t be getting an SUV. I have no need to drive a tank around town. Also, my first car was an SUV so maybe I got it all out then. One cool thing about minivans is that they are self-contained entertainment machines. You can put your kids in the back and they probably have everything they need to entertain themselves for hours. Meanwhile you’re up front, pretty far away from them, driving the ship. I like the thought of that!
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The Toyota Sienna actually has a feature where you can talk to the rear passengers via the intercom! (Most likely to yell at your kids?) I don’t have any entertainment back there but maybe when the kids are older, I might have to get a tablet to put back there. For now, they can look out the window and enjoy the scenery! =) I’m old school…that’s what we had to do growing up!
Isn’t it funny the extremes people will go to for appearances? The comments are ridiculous, in my opinion.
I used to have a mini-van when the kids were younger. It was sooo functional and comfortable on long road trips with little ones. When we would stop, we could even change diapers in the van and, since we only had two kids, we could keep them separate so they couldn’t touch each other. The only problem I remember about the van is a blind spot in the back when I backed up, but this was before those awesome back up cameras were common (which dates me).
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Oh absolutely, being able to change diapers back there comes in handy! And I made sure to get the back up camera since parking would be very tough without that feature.
We drive a Suburban for various reasons (four kids, we drive when we travel, a truck works best when you live in the country, and it offers the room to keep our growing kids from invading each other’s space. Plus I don’t drive that much so it doesn’t cost us a ton in gas.), and I LOVE it. But we drove a Minivan for over a decade. They are super functional. I did get some serious grief about it though. You just have to really not care what people think and do the right thing for yourself and your family. To me, the minivan sounds like the perfect vehicle for your family. And that one in the picture is cool-looking to boot!
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Yea, this probably doesn’t apply as much to you and others out in the country. I think the towing capacity and AWD/handling of the SUV may be more important in the country. But many people who buy them…well at least the folks who live in the city who I know…they’re not towing anything and are just driving on city streets/highways. They’re not off-roading pulling a boat behind them!
The hatred towards minivans is huge! And yes those are some very harsh comments you shared. I think if you don’t let other’s opinions affect you it’s easily the most economical option out there.
I try to not have opinions on it as I don’t have kids and won’t have kids for a while. With all the re-branding – and the fact that SUVs likely have a higher profit margin (just a guess – not sure about that) I wonder if we will see some companies get rid of minivans altogether?
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Actually a lot of companies have gotten rid of minivans altogether. I think only a handful of companies still make them. And, yes, I do think the SUVs have a higher profit margin because of the higher demand.
My wife is all about a minivan. Before we even had kids she was like let’s look at minivans I want to haul stuff. She’s big into Craigslist and loves dumpster diving so she is always looking for more room 🙂
We haven’t taken the plunge yet but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before a minivan enters our lives. While aesthetically they don’t look amazing, they are super comfortable and drive really nice. So if people want to make fun of me go ahead. They can have fun driving their gas hogs!!!
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So what kind of car does your wife drive now since she likes to dumpster dive and buy things from Craigslist? The downside of owning a minivan or any big car in an urban area is parking…it’s tough to park in tight spaces but I’m getting used to it! And aesthetically I think they’ve definitely improved from the older versions.
Currently she’s driving a Toyota sedan. As much as we’d like a pick up truck or minivan, the sedan is paid for so it doesn’t make much sense to buy something bigger at this point.
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Hey I have a mini van too, but the wife drives it. I dont mind it as it is more efficient than an SUV. I got the Toyota Sienna, and so far so good. Those people who despise them have some sort of a complex. Good post and good luck.
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Nice! I have a Sienna too and it’s great so far.
That’s kind of crazy there’s that much of a stigma attached to mini-vans! I know of the “soccer mom vehicle” thing but it’s a little silly that people would be so against them despite their utility. I actually haven’t been in a mini-van many times in my life (most people have SUVs), but when I have, I’m always amazed by how roomy they are. Plus, like you said, they have so many features these days and I think their look has been revamped to be pretty darn modern. I don’t have a need for one, but I wouldn’t be against owning one if I did. Then again, my firs car was a bright teal Chevy Corsica (hand-me-down), and my current car is an “old” 02 Civic, so I clearly don’t care about what I’m driving around in as long as it works. 😉
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Yea they are very roomy. My co-worker who is 6’3 sat in the back and said he was comfortable and had enough space! Bright teal Chevy Corsica…we need to see a pic of that car in a post or something! Civics are great cars…very reliable and it’ll last you forever.
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Minivan pride! We’ve spent the majority of the past year touring the continent in our Dodge Caravan, and now I’m even more of a proponent of the minivan. It’s fuel-efficient, comfortable, and flexible. When other people write something off as a style faux pas, the financially savvy should see an opportunity for a killer deal. Minivans seem to depreciate extremely quickly, so you can often score a great bargain on a late model used one. And hey, you can always throw this sticker on the back for everyone’s entertainment: https://www.amazon.com/used-cool-Bumper-Sticker-10/dp/B018IUHKGK
Yea, I think the Odysseys and Siennas don’t depreciate as quickly, but they are definitely more affordable than the SUVs. I love the bumper sticker! Not sure I could get it being that I don’t think I was ever cool =)
Minivan is what I think suits your needs. I think it’s very convenient and budget friendly in the long run. I see those people driving minivan practical, so I think it’s just based on people’s perspective. And, if you’re driving a minivan, you may not be cool but you’re practical, which I think is more reasonable.
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I think minivans are pretty darn cool! But I’m a geek so what do I know?
The stigma against minivans is rooted in sexism: they’re feminine, SUVs and other cars are not. That’s why you’ll hear men (and women) take shots at MEN getting out of a minivan. It would be the same for a lot of behavior they feel isn’t fitting with being a man: being a stay at home parent, for example.
It’s simple to say we’d just rise above such criticisms and, if you’re able, by all means do so. But we’re social creatures and we are likely just impacted by the good impacts of culture (don’t smoke crack or we’ll shun you!) as by the bad ones (women should take care of children, men should earn the money and do other manly things, like chop wood).
I personally think it’s folly to simply think we are immune to such pressures. We still need to feel respected by our peers, after all. There are way better ways of getting that respect than by a car, of course.
My solution will be some sort of wagon, like a Subaru.
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Actually just as many women as men have said they refuse to drive minivans. I know we’re social creatures but for the minivan thing…I REALLY don’t care what others think. Subarus are nice cars but if you need to move people…a wagon might not do it. It’s not like back in the days in our time before car seat regulations when you can just stuff a bunch of kids in the back.