Minivans, popular with families for their passenger space and car-like efficiency, have been around since the 1980s. They typically have three rows of seats and sliding doors, and are now often made with V6 or V8 engines. Some automakers are developing hybrid minivan models to meet demand for fuel efficiency.
A minivan is a vehicle smaller than a pickup truck but large enough to seat seven to nine people. These vehicles are associated with soccer moms and families with kids these days, but they’ve actually been around much longer. The minivan’s predecessors include vehicles like the Volkswagen Bus, but the first true minivans began mass production by companies like Toyota and Chrysler in the 1980s.
There are several features common to most minivans. These include a length not much larger than a car. Such vans also have a coach front, opening rear hatches, and three rows of seats. You can usually delete one of the rows for additional storage space. The center of a minivan usually has sliding doors rather than those that open out. Sliding doors can be located on one or both sides of the vehicle.
Minivans often became preferred over cars like station wagons, a typical car for large families, because they were more like cars and could be a bit more efficient. They were also a prime option for people who wanted plenty of passenger space. Many parents have thanked minivan makers for creating three rows of seats, thus providing the ability to separate arguing children down a row.
The size of these vehicles can vary and they can be made in smaller and smaller sizes, which can increase the length. Height is typically about 65 inches (165.1 cm), or slightly taller. Especially in the early days, minivans might not be preferred because many of them lacked powerful engines. If people wanted a big ride with a lot of power, they tended to turn to SUVs. Today, many models of the minivan are made with a V6 or V8 engine. This gives them more power and makes them more capable of towing things like small trailers.
The popularity of these vehicles has remained high, although there has been a dip in popularity because they are not tremendously fuel efficient vehicles. Some people have turned to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars or hybrid SUV types. There have also been concerns about the safety of early models. Adding driver and passenger airbags and side curtain airbags have improved crash testing and safety features in most minivans.
Trends in creating alternative fuel or more efficient vehicles are prompting automakers to find ways to produce hybrid minivans. Several car manufacturers are developing hybrid minivan models. These are likely to replace standard minivans in the coming years as demand for fuel efficiency increases.
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