Minivans are great with fuel and they have plenty of cargo space, so why are they so divisive? The minivan evokes strong emotions.
Minivans are unpopular because they are seen as an uncool car. They are seen as a car for older people, they do not have sport functions like AWD and they are not designed to be beautiful. Minivan sales have been declining since 2006 and continue to decline.
The minivan is often considered a family car, but with SUVs offering 3 rows of seating and plenty of cargo room they are a good choice for many families.
Minivans make up less than 2% of the cars sold in America and the trend is downward. The more stylish SUV and crossover has taken over much of the passenger vehicles.
Minivans were originally rolled off the assembly line as an alternative to the station wagon which fell out of popularity for the same reason that the minivan is now unpopular.
Minivans are not a good option for many people who require AWD in their climate. Dirt roads, frequent snow and ice require more performance from a car. Only Toyota offers AWD on their minivan, the Sienna.
Reasons People Hate Minivans
People don’t like minivans, the market has been declining since 2006, but what happened?
Public perception of minivans is not a young person’s car, that it is not pretty and that it is not fun to drive.
These are the 4 main reasons that people do not like minivans:
Aesthetics
Minivans are designed to haul people, as many people as possible. The sliding doors, cargo room and focus on comfort makes it boxy and unattractive.
The focus on function makes the minivan popular with transport services and other business uses.
The minivan was originally designed to be an alternative to the station wagon. The large profile, high roof and large windshield were a direct reaction to the growing dislike of the station wagon.
Perception
The most often cited reason that people do not like minivans is that they see them as an older person’s car.
They are associated with the ‘soccer mom’ stereotype of a frumpy older mom. This is the car they grew up riding and they want something different.
The car is often seen as a last resort. Families expecting a third child may find that they “have to” go to a minivan.
I have seen many social media posts lamenting the move from a smaller 4 door car to a minivan. It is seen as a necessary evil.
Function
The minivan lacks the availability of some features that are important to many drivers.
Minivans do not offer all wheel drive in most models. Toyota is the only manufacturer that has a minivan with AWD.
Minivans are also almost all automatic transmission and they have limited customization options for audio, navigation and exteriors.
These issues deter many buyers from purchasing minivans.
One function consideration is the sliding doors on a minivan make it more compact in a garage. If you are considering the switch to an SUV or crossover, be sure to check that your garage has sufficient width.
Memories
The minivan was invented as a reaction the the station wagon. People stopped buying station wagons because they remembered them as their parent’s cars.
Many people today also associate the minivan with being their parent’s car.
The average minivan buyer was in their 30s in the 1990s and in 2014 the average buyer was 57.
What is the point of a minivan?
So, with all the reasons not to get a minivan, why are they still being sold by the 7 major automobile manufacturers?
Minivans are great and efficient people movers. They fit a lot of people and a lot of stuff. They get decent gas mileage as well.
Minivans are also still more affordable than full sized vans and crossovers.
The minivan is less desirable which drives down the price of the vehicle.
Full sized work vans have gone up in price in recent years making the minivan a more attractive option for work crews or small businesses.
Are minivans going out of style?
The decline of the minivan began in 2006 with the introduction of more crossovers and SUVs. These smaller and more stylish passenger movers were on everyone’s wish list and the trend has continued.
In 2020 minivan sales made up 2.2% of the market and in 2021 that number dropped to 1.9%.
The minivan does seem to be nose diving as SUVs become more and more fuel efficient and more affordable.
The reliability and seating capacity that was once only available in a minivan are now available in other more popular models of SUVs and crossovers.
It was interesting to learn that the minivan was introduced as an alternative to the station wagon. When it was first released they called it the “magic wagon.”
The SUV and crossovers were introduced as a reaction to the decline of the minivan. I read one quote that said that SUVs are “minivans without sliding doors.”
Maybe it is true, maybe it is all marketing.
Should I buy a minivan?
When you are looking to carry 5-8 people in your car at one time, or travel to craft fairs, or drive the swim team to a meet, a minivan is an affordable, fuel efficient choice.
While they may be harder to find as they are not being manufactured in as much volume, they can still be ordered.
7 manufacturers still make minivans and the surviving models are:
Town and Country Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
Nissan Quest
Mazda5
Kia Sadona
The Toyota Sienna is the only manufacturer that offers an AWD minivan, so that is your only choice if your climate requires that capability.
I have owned quite a few minivans and I have loved them all.
I drove a minivan to high school in 2002-05. I took out the middle seat so it was easier to throw all my volleyball, cheerleading and soccer equipment in the back and I found it easy to drive and my parents felt that it was a safe car.
The safety of minivans has been proven year after year, but the SUVs and crossovers are catching up.
My mom still prefers a minivan as it gives her a higher view of the road and she likes the comfort of the seat to support her back.
