Getting started - Minivan guide

With the rise of the car-based crossover vehicles, the minivan market has shrunk in recent years. Many models have been discontinued, and those that march on are either quite traditional in design, or are daring to be different to appeal to shoppers who may be œminivan adverse." Minivans continue to improve overall refinement, while introducing clever packaging features and leading-edge entertainment solutions. As a category, minivans provide the most spacious, versatile, and cost-effective solution for families on the go.

Why buy a minivan?

The main appeal of minivans is versatility: the ability to carry various combinations of people and cargo. Cabins can be configured from being strictly functional to living-room plush, with leather seating, tri-zone climate control, power doors, and rear DVD entertainment systems. A minivan can transport as many people as a three-row SUV, with more passenger comfort, easier access, and better fuel economy. Those accommodations and flexibility make minivans the best choice for a wide range of buyers, from families to commercial users.

Key things to consider

When looking for a minivan, consider how many people you will be transporting, how much cargo space and storage capability you need, fuel economy, safety, and price.

Most minivans come with a single V6 engine right now, though the Toyota Sienna is also available with a four-cylinder engine. Six-cylinder power is typically in the 250- to 270-hp range. Fuel economy extends from the high teens to 20 mpg. Admittedly, minivan fuel economy is not great, but it is better than most of the three-row SUVs these vehicles compete with. Modern minivans are all based on front-drive platforms that are similar in size to what used to be called "extended length" some years ago. Today's shoppers can focus on how the minivan rates for overall performance and reliability, and on packaging and features, rather than deliberating over body size and configuration.

What you'll spend

Minivans are priced in the $25,000 to almost $40,000 range. The most costly models have long rosters of equipment, such as captain's chairs, power rear hatch, wide rear-entertainment screens, and all-wheel drive. Built-in entertainment and navigation systems can add significantly to the price.

See also:

GPS

Car batteries

Tires

Car seats