So says our own Michelle Krebs of AutoObserver : "Frankly, sliding doors are what give minivans open access, but that's what makes them uncool. Practical, yes, but uncool."
She's right. Sliding doors on vehicles are a great idea, but unfortunately they've become a negative symbol of minivandom. Wes Brown, president of the Los Angeles-based automotive marketing firm Iceology, adds that the sliding door has come to epitomize the boring realities of owning a minivan. That's not the case when compared with the vibrant and fun images of go-anywhere SUVs and crossovers that use normal doors...
"Ultimately, it's a symbol of being stuck in a rut of having a family," he says.
The bottom line here is this one reason why minivans are on the wane, and SUVs and CUVs continue to eat away at the minivan market.
It's a shame that this is the case, as I would think applying sliding doors to SUVs would make a lot of sense. I doubt that will happen judging by how they're viewed. The funny thing is that sliding doors are a huge selling feature on commercial vans like the Dodge Sprinter.
Full story here.
...And Michelle further elaborates: Taking Heat for “Uncool” Minivans
The bottom line here is this one reason why minivans are on the wane, and SUVs and CUVs continue to eat away at the minivan market.
It's a shame that this is the case, as I would think applying sliding doors to SUVs would make a lot of sense. I doubt that will happen judging by how they're viewed. The funny thing is that sliding doors are a huge selling feature on commercial vans like the Dodge Sprinter.
Full story here.
...And Michelle further elaborates: Taking Heat for “Uncool” Minivans
noflash1 says:
09:04 AM, 08/13/07
This is another ridiculous example of how the media keeps a silly idea going.
Sliding doors are not the uncool part of minivans. The uncool part of minvans is that's what your Mom drove.
Sliding doors should be on all cars. Front door slide forward, rear doors slide backwards, no more door dings!
jriz says:
09:58 AM, 08/13/07
If that's the case, then people are even more illogical than I thought. Instead of having a space-saving feature that allows easy access regardless of how tight the parking spot is, lets prefer big-old swing out doors because they're "cooler." How is a Buick Enclave or a Honda Pilot any cooler than a minivan? I bet that in a few years, they'll have the same stigma that minivans have today. Along the same lines, I think Noflash1 is correct, it's the idea that you don't want to be seen as somehow fitting into some stereotypical, boring "mom" cliche. Maybe I don't have a problem with minivans and sliding doors because my mom owned a bright red Integra
iancar says:
10:42 AM, 08/13/07
Try to load kids into a vehicle without sliding door, when you have hand full of groceries. Or going to school runs by yourselves and little children don't have enough strength or careness to close big doors?Okay, having kids or going to get groceries might not be cool, but hey, let see how many people can survive without being kids, parents, or elders?
ateixeira says:
11:12 AM, 08/13/07
I'll take your question a step further:
How is stepping out of a Buick Enclave or a Honda Pilot with a diaper bag and your kids any cooler than doing so in a minivan?
At least I have power sliding doors.
anythngbutgm says:
12:40 PM, 08/13/07
lol, doing the minivan kind of things in a non-minivan does nothing but make your Mom and Dad duties harder. Minivans, SUV's, crossovers, they all serve the same purpose...
provide family transportation. None of them will ever be considered "cool".
Jeeze, people need to stop taking themselves so damn seriously.
blueguydotcom says:
01:22 PM, 08/13/07
Agree with you guys. There's nothing remotely cool about an SUV/CUV/SAV or minivan. So get over that and mix the features that would at least make the vehicles useful.
autoboy16 says:
01:23 PM, 08/13/07
I'm with jriz. Maybe i don't have a problem with minivans because my mom owns a shiny green MX5 miata.
-Cj
steve_ says:
02:23 PM, 08/13/07
Sliding doors are the most cool.
Next are the normal, let's ding the adjoining car, swing open doors (watch that gust of wind or you'll bend it double).
Then we have suicide doors that like to slam into you if you get sideswiped by a distracted driver while trying to open the door in traffic.
The most uncool doors are gull-wings. Nothing like having a $100,000 sports car that clunks you in the head when you open the door or try to crawl in, not to mention the leaks those style doors have.
estreka says:
11:50 PM, 08/13/07
The General Lee was cool. How about we eliminate doors altogether and crawl in through the windows.
hondacura4 says:
02:14 PM, 08/14/07
Is there any other method of maintaining the same practicality of sliding doors while making htem "cool"?
hondacura4 says:
02:14 PM, 08/14/07
Is there any other method of maintaining the same practicality of sliding doors while making them "cool"?
rendezvouser says:
09:28 PM, 12/ 6/07
I drive an suv, and what I'd really like is an suv with sliding doors. Have an elderly mother who has trouble getting in with the doors that open out, and I really don't need the space of a van. Has anyone ever heard of an SUV with sliding door?