So, have minvans peaked? Is their popularity indeed on the decline?..
Are they too smarting from the high gas prices, like SUVs and pickups? Are the 3-row seat crossovers starting to steal traditional minivan customers? Is the "soccer mom" stigma finally taking its toll?
Seems to me there will always be a need for this type of vehicle, so I definitely don't see them disappearing. That's just not going to happen—but are customers looking to other choices? Clearly there are far more family-friendly vehicles out there to choose from today than say five years ago. Is that what's happening; the market is just fragmenting into more sub-groups, hence there more to choose from?
Seems to me there will always be a need for this type of vehicle, so I definitely don't see them disappearing. That's just not going to happen—but are customers looking to other choices? Clearly there are far more family-friendly vehicles out there to choose from today than say five years ago. Is that what's happening; the market is just fragmenting into more sub-groups, hence there more to choose from?
steve_ says:
11:40 AM, 09/29/06
One problem is that they've gotten too big. My '69 VW Bus was huge inside yet small outside. My '89 Voyager had a short wheel base and was ideal for up to 5 people and loads of gear. My '99 Quest isn't too much bigger and I turned it into a 5 seater, and it will haul a couple of bikes or a washer/dryer set in the back, but I can still parallel park it when I need to.
The newest batch of minivans are so big they would barely fit into my garage. The Mazda5 is the one I'd look at next since it's the last of the breed around here that's compact yet still has sliding doors.
rsholland says:
11:52 AM, 09/29/06
Yeah, but the Honda is among the biggest, and its sales continue to grow. The small minivans have never done well in our market, at least as compared to the LWB versions.
estreka says:
07:13 PM, 09/30/06
I think the stats are a bit skewed here. Honda's Odyssey is simply picking up the scraps since no other manufacturer is progressive in this market. I work with a lot of dads and most either own an Odyssey or desperately want one, calling it the "king of minivans."
bmwk75s says:
08:52 AM, 10/ 2/06
I'm waiting for the 2007 Sienna with all wheel drive and the high horsepower motor from the Avalon & Rav4.
hondacura4 says:
02:14 PM, 10/ 6/06
The Sienna is nice but it drives like a Toyota, which is comparable to driving a dishawasher. The Odyssey ( we have an 05 Toruing) drives like its much smaller and gives great feedback (for a van), something no van Ive driven has. The Quest is close but its not nearly as refined as the big Oddy. The Ody has good power, great gas milage, and enough room for me, my wife and our 5 kids and offers a kinda Acura-esque feel. Before you ask we have 2 sets of twins and a single so the Odyssey has been EXTREMELY useful.