Vehicleshop Paradox: Minivan or SUV

You just had or are expecting your third child.  The sedan or small SUV you’ve been driving is now absolute.  The kids have to be in car seats until they are in their mid-20s, and all of those seats cannot fit into the back of your current ride.  You also have to take all of their things on big trips or

little adventures.  Strollers, bags, books, toys, and Ipads for long trips. It’s a lot of pure material to store.  You want to be able to get in and out easily.  Also..those groceries.  You cannot forget about needing to fit all of those and, in unfortunate times, the kids into your vehicle.

Mini-vans and SUVS really have merged, in some senses over the years.  SUVs don’t look quite as sporty.  Mini-vans (the few that are still made) look a little more like SUVS.  The delineation between the two has blurred.  But, saying these two are the same would make for a pretty uninteresting piece, right?  So, we’re going to start with the similarities.

• We don’t want the kids being able to punch, pull, or steal from each other.  I know when they are cuddly babies and toddlers, this may seem impossible.  With two 4 year olds and a 7 year old, I am enterally thankful they cannot smack each other.
• We need room in the back.  We have to be able to put all of the stuff listed above into our vehicle.  We need it be at least big enough to fit all our groceries.
• We want it to be safe.  We want five stars on crash tests.  Safety seemed like something only people who listened to NPR and drove Volvos  or Subarus cared about, until we all started listening to NPR or quietly began yearning for Volvos or Subarus.
• We want a nice sound system.  We will be in this van or SUV for extended periods of time.
• We want the AC and heat to work, no matter what.
• We don’t want it to be breaking down.  Sitting in a car dealership or other car service provider with kids is the epitome of the Poison hit, “Nothing But a Bad Time.”
• We want it to be stain resistant.  Stains come.  If they can come out, that is best.
• We need fold down seats so we can carry stuff home without paying for delivery

Your list might be longer.  Let’s say it is.  There are pros with each vehicle.  Each will be reviewed below.

Mini-van Positives

• Generally cheaper
• Bigger
• Can have extra storage systems like “stow and go”
• Fit more people and things into them
• Called “great deal” by people like Consumer Reports
• 25 mpg
• Available sliding doors with remotes

I should mention one thing I found confusing about Consumer Reports lists, as I was making this decision for myself a few years back.  If you just look up “minivan ratings,” what you will get is consumer reports or another similar publication talking about how good the car looks, price, safety, and “predicted” reliability.

Though those are informative, what I really wanted to know, especially after suffering through a minivan I had into the shop every month after my first year of ownership.  In fact, there is a list of “do not buy” or “worst used” vehicles.  Frequent visitor :  mini-vans.

When you think about it, minivans are not quite a truck (rugged) and not exactly a car (nimble, compact).  It is something in between.  There is less competition in the market too, since Ford and GM really don’t produce one any more.  Less competition may mean less quality and reliability.

As someone who has owned both, I can tell you that I never wanted to be driving our Town and County in the snow.  It went through tires like a race car.  It also skidded and slid.  But..the kids have to get to school every day.  I had to go to my job.  I had to drive the van in bad weather conditions.  I hated it.

Minivans do give you a lot of vehicle for the money, offer better MPG, and more room.  They also give you the opportunity to show that the style of your car doesn’t define you as a parent.  This shows strong moral character and models for your kids that externals don’t matter.   I felt like this was a good lesson when I owned a mini-van.

SUVs definitely have some downside.  They are typically are more expensive up front.  They get lower MPG.  They do have some positives, though.

• Positives of SUVs:
• Especially AWD handle well in the snow
• Safe in accidents
• Seem to more typically contain at least mediocre sound systems
• Generally more reliable (fewer issues with internal and external systems with the car)
• Generally more available features
• Maintain value better

If we got five parents into the room, we likely could debate this until we all were blue in the face.  Much like many decisions in parenting, you have to prioritize what you care about, make your decision, and then be happy with what you decide. My preference is with the SUV....fewer headaches, better features, generally a better experience for our family.

Please leave comments if you’d like me to add to the article.