Long before the crossover/SUV craze, the minivan ruled the streets as the hip family car, and for good reason. Minivans are flexible and utilitarian, and you can cram a lot of people into one. All of that is missing to some degree in the modern-day crossover, which has become the most popular vehicle type in the U.S. Car-based crossovers are Swiss army knives that can do a lot of things well, but they aren’t masters of any. The minivan, on the other hand, excels at one thing—hauling any mix of cargo and people in comfort. Here are eight reasons why a minivan is still better than a crossover at hauling families.
Third Row Seats That Are Actually Usable
A number of crossovers, both compact and midsize, offer third-row seating, but they’re usually so cramped that you can barely even have kids sit back there. In a minivan, on the other hand, you have comfortable seating in the third row for adults, not just kids, so you can take seven people on a road trip with you, and no one will keep asking you to stop for a stretch break.
More Ways to Configure The Interior
Flexibility is the hallmark of a minivan, and no crossover can beat the number of ways you can configure its interior. Removable seats, a third row that stow into a tub, and second-row captain’s chairs that can be folded and pushed against the back of the first row are just a few of the many ways to configure the minivan’s interior, allowing you the flexibility to haul any combination of people and gear as you please.
A Larger Cargo Capacity
Got some large items to haul? Need a car that can swallow them all? Well, a minivan is the perfect solution. Minivans offer cargo capacity equal to or better than full-size crossovers, so you can’t go wrong with something like the Honda Odyssey or Chrysler Pacifica; they can swallow quite a bit of payload once the seats are stowed or removed.
Plenty of Storage Cubbies
If you need to bring lots of toys or electronics to keep the little ones happy during a long drive, the minivan has a solution. Clever storage cubbies under seat bins and spaces that double as places to stow seats or gear allow for abundant room for all the little things for the kids.
An Appropriate Shape
OK, they aren’t the sexiest cars available, but minivans are shaped appropriately for the intended function. The boxy shape and squared-off doors mean nearly everything will fit inside a minivan, from oversized Ikea or Costco boxes to bags of diapers and toys.
A Focus on Families
No, minivans aren’t as hip as crossovers, but one of the biggest advantages of a minivan is that it’s built with families in mind. In addition to storage cubbies, they also have baby seat latches within easy reach. This is a car designed for you, the parent, so you don’t have to break your lower back trying to strap the kids into their car seats—even if they’re in the third row.
Easy Access to the Second and Third Row
Although crossovers give easy access to the second row, minivans take ease of access even further via those sliding doors. No longer do you have to wrestle with a hinged door while strapping kids in or letting them climb to the third row. Instead, you can just calmly press a button and unfold the second row to let them in or secure the car seat without worrying about dinging the vehicle next to you.
Family-Friendly Tools
Yes, they come with tools that help make family life on the road even easier. The Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica are both offered with onboard vacuum cleaners to make tidying up messes in the car a breeze. And should the little ones make a mess just outside of the car, you can clean those up, too.
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