Minivan? SUV? Crossover? Deciphering the New Generation of Automobiles

It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that when it came to automobile purchases, your choices were simple—car or truck. Nowadays, the choices seem to be endless, and it can be a bit overwhelming. With all the new choices available to the average family—minivan, SUV, and the latest craze, the “crossover vehicle” how do you know which one is the right one for you?

Minivans

Minivans are not a new concept. Introduced in the 80’s, minivans gained tremendous popularity in the early to mid-90’s as a solution to a growing family’s diverse needs. Offering more seating capacity, more cargo space, easy drivability and accessibility, the minivan quickly became the standard for families on the go. Todays minivans offer things like swinging or sliding doors on both sides and rear seats that fold down into the floor. Now the symbol of “soccer-moms” and even “hockey-moms” everywhere, minivans are still one of the best choices for today’s families.

My Pick: The best-selling minivan continues to be the Honda Odyssey, and with good reason. Honda continues to hold its position at the front of the pack by offering features such as the best fuel economy of any minivan, “Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)” and rearview cameras (perfect for those of us who were not born with the gift of backing up!). Plus, in keeping up with today’s technology, the Honda Odyssey has features like built-in MP3 jacks, built in DVD entertainment systems and Bluetooth Hands-Free link. Honda has always been known for its high resale value, and starting in the mid 20’s, the Odyssey doesn’t seem likely to be losing momentum anytime soon.

SUVs

If something a bit more “beefy” is what you’re after, then a Sport Utility Vehicle, or SUV, is probably right up your alley. Originally created as descendants of military off-road vehicles, SUVs are designed to combine the towing capacity of a full-size truck with the passenger and storage capacity of a minivan. Most are 4WD, with off-road capabilities. However, as the needs of today's car buyers have changed, so has the SUV. Many manufacturers now focus on fuel-efficiency and driving and riding comfort, rather than towing capacity.

With fuel prices of over $4.00 still fresh in our minds, though prices as of this date have returned to a comfortable $2.67, SUV manufacturers are still having to stay ever-mindful of fuel economy when making design changes to their vehicles to keep them competitive in today’s market.

My Pick: Chevy Suburban. Chevrolet has proven that there is reason why their Suburban is still considered the “big-boy on the block” when it comes to SUVs. It has a ton of storage space, the best ride compared to any other that we test drove, and you can still expect a respectable 19-20 MPG on the highway. Contrary to its large size, the suburban is surprisingly easy to handle. Plus with split seats in the second and third rows, it doesn't matter whether your kids come with carseats or laptops, there's plenty of room for everyone and their "stuff".

Crossovers

One of the newest additions to the “family fun wagon” category is the Crossover Utility Vehicle, sometimes just called Crossovers or CUVs. Crossovers may just be the perfect amalgam of all other the other choices. Crossover vehicles tend to have the seating capacity of a minivan, the storage space of an SUV and the handling and driving comfort of a sedan. Some even offer towing capabilities. Visibly the sleekest and most stylish of all family cars, crossovers are gaining popularity across the board.

My pick: The Hyundai Veracruz has the highest safety rating of any crossover in its class. But don’t let the safety features fool you, this baby handles like a dream, has plenty of ‘giddy-up and go’ and best of all…its fun to drive. It has seating for 7, and a super sleek body with all the interior luxury of a Lexus…without the hefty price-tag. Plus, being a girl on a budget, I like the fact that Hyundai continues to have the best warranty in the business and gets an unbelievable 23 miles per gallon (highway).

If you want more information on any of the cars mentioned here, you can contact me at (208) 569-4112. Or stop by and take a test drive at the Smith Group, 1255 N. Holmes Ave., Idaho Falls, ID. (208) 522-9800.

References:

Wisegeek.com, Wikipedia.org, Hyundai USA, Chevrolet, Honda Intereactive

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