Ask the Car People.SM


Minivans vs SUVs (Vans & SUVs Board)

1874 messages,  Last post on Jan 26, 2012 at 8:39 AM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Ford Explorer, GMC Envoy, Honda Odyssey, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Sienna, SUV, Van

Messages Page 182 of 188

#1811 of 1874 Re: Help! [steve_] by dbt

Nov 22, 2009 (3:20 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 22, 2009 9:34 am)
I've posted this before, but to be clear, the reason no minivans have passed the roorf crush test and hence why no minivans are on this IIHS list is a simple one:
 
they have not been tested yet.

#1812 of 1874 Re: Help! [dbt] by steve_ HOST

Nov 22, 2009 (4:17 pm)

Replying to: dbt (Nov 22, 2009 3:20 pm)
Thanks for the reminder; the IIHS needs to get a move on. I wouldn't expect many to pass the test but I wouldn't have guessed that the Element would have either.

#1813 of 1874 in favor of the suv by explorerx4

Nov 22, 2009 (6:34 pm)

awd minivans don't get much if any better mileage than suv's.
a couple things i like about suv's, they handle things poor road conditions better due to more suspension travel and taller tires.
also, in a lot of snow, the extra ground clearance can allow you to get where you are going easier.
we have snow in ct, too.

#1814 of 1874 Re: in favor of the suv [explorerx4] by steve_ HOST

Nov 22, 2009 (6:58 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Nov 22, 2009 6:34 pm)
I'm going to post that MSN link you found over here - interesting reading about why the IIHS didn't test some cars for roof strength.
 
Toyota, safety group squabble over ratings

#1815 of 1874 Re: in favor of the suv [explorerx4] by tlong

Nov 22, 2009 (9:14 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Nov 22, 2009 6:34 pm)
Minivans get better mileage, ride more comfortably, drive more like cars, have more room, and cost less. Sliding doors don't ding the adjacent car in the parking space when your rugrats open the doors. They also don't ding your other car in the driveway or garage.
 
But perhaps the biggest issue is that minivans don't roll over as easily. We had friends and 2 weeks after buying a Range Rover they had to evade a car that cut in front of them, swerved, and it rolled over. Luckily nobody was hurt but the RR was totaled.
 
My brother knows a nurse in Minnesota who watched a swerving SUV roll over 2 cars ahead of her. As a nurse, she stopped and rushed to the scene. She found an empty child seat in the upside-down car. Mom had been ejected (no seatbelt) and was killed. Luckly the rugrat was not in the car at the time.
 
I would say get an SUV if you must have off road capabilities or towing capabilities. Otherwise you're likely paying $10K more for the privilege of not being in a mommy-mobile. Image *IS* important!

#1816 of 1874 . by dieselone

Nov 22, 2009 (9:26 pm)

Hard to beat the room of a minivan, not many cross-over SUV's can match the room of a minivan. That said it comes down to what you want/need. I've owned one minivan a Mercury Villager, and several SUVs (Pathfinder, Suburban and now an 07 Expedition). The only reason I have a full size SUV is I own a boat and travel trailer. Yes, the Expedition is superb in bad weather, with auto 4wd, plus traction and stability control, more ground clearance etc. But, I found the minivan to be very good in the snow too. Granted, I wouldn't want to drive in deep snow, but 6-8" snow was never an issue.
 
I know the minivan has never been cool, but neither are most SUVs. Except for those in the MDX class. But they don't have near the room either. My BIL has an 08 MDX and it's awesome, basically feels like a tall sport sedan,but my SIL has a minivan for family duties.

#1817 of 1874 Re: . [dieselone] by colloquor

Nov 23, 2009 (6:30 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Nov 22, 2009 9:26 pm)
Minivans are not perceived as "cool," by most, since image seems to be critically important to most people today. However, the minivan remains as the most practical vehicle on the road, as you can't beat a rectangular box for maximum practicality. As for gas mileage: I would say 26 to 27 MPG on a fully loaded minivan on a summer vacation is acceptable (my own experience with our van).
 
If you go off road or tow, buy an SUV. However, if all you do is take your kids to school, go to the mall, or load everything up for long road trips and vacations, buy a minivan. Otherwise, you're buying a vehicle for image only.
 
Winter operation: I live in central Illinois, and receive quite a bit of snow during the winter. I've never been stuck, or couldn't drive in the worst of snows, with our FWD minivan. Remember, the driving technique is sometimes more important than the technology available on the vehicle. It's always quite funny to observe which type of vehicle is in the ditch, or in the median on the freeway, when we have our first substantial snow storm -- it's always a 4WD SUV.

#1818 of 1874 Re: . [colloquor] by ateixeira

Nov 23, 2009 (10:48 am)

Replying to: colloquor (Nov 23, 2009 6:30 am)
The only AWD minivan right now is the Sienna, so it's not hard to compare:
 
[with tongue firmly in cheek]
 
Vehicle, Cargo Volume in cubic feet, EPA MPG:
 
Sienna, 148.9, 17/21
Suburban, 137.4, Censored
Tahoe, 108.9, Censored
Expedition, 108.3, Censored
Seqouia, 128.1, Censored
Armada, 97.1, Censored
 
Didn't want to scare people.
 
To be fair the Suburban does have a longer cargo floor, but it still cannot take a 4'x8' sheet of plywood inside like the Sienna can.
 
SUV mileage is really only close if you compare trucks with much smaller capacities. Explorer has just 85.8, or a little more than half.
 
If you don't need to tow or off road, you can't beat a van for sheer space and efficiency.

#1820 of 1874 confusion by inspectoring

Nov 25, 2009 (8:42 pm)

I agree that vans are the best - but what about in the snow? I have asked almost 100 people and everyone agrees to two things
1. Vans are the best for efficiency/space/convience
2. Vans will not perform as good as SVUs in the upstate NY/Canada snow/ice/rain

Messages Page 182 of 188

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement