| Has your family started to cram into the old | | | | gasoline tank, then a minivan would make a |
| sedan like a pack of sardines? Have members | | | | more economic choice than an SUV. Other |
| of the neighborhood car pool begun to look | | | | ownership costs, such as maintenance and |
| suspiciously at your battered station wagon? | | | | insurance, also tend to be higher for SUVs |
| Perhaps it's time to retire the old family | | | | than minivans. Unless you're willing to pay |
| car and move up to a bigger vehicle. Often, | | | | the price for being cool and stylish, the |
| the choice for a more spacious family vehicle | | | | practical minivan is the way to go. |
| is a toss-up between a sport utility vehicle | | | | |
| (SUV) and a minivan. Both offer flexible | | | | Passenger and cargo space |
| passenger and cargo areas, comfortable | | | | |
| seating for five to eight persons, and | | | | Sport utility vehicles and minivans have |
| rear-seat entertainment systems. Although the | | | | comparable passenger and cargo space, but the |
| SUV has a slightly higher risk for rollovers | | | | roomy interiors of a minivan can be a delight |
| than minivans do, both are equipped with | | | | to young kids. Unlike SUVs, minivans also |
| similar safety features, such as air bags and | | | | have a low step-in height, so they're easier |
| anti-lock brake systems. So, which one | | | | for kids to climb into. Minivans' large |
| deserves to park in your family garage? To | | | | picture windows afford young passengers a |
| come up with the right choice, you need to | | | | better view of the passing scenery, therefore |
| look at how the vehicle's styling, fuel | | | | keeping your impatient young ones amused for |
| economy, passenger and cargo space, towing | | | | a good part of the ride. |
| capacity, and safety will suit your family's | | | | |
| needs and lifestyle. | | | | Towing capacity |
| | | | |
| Styling | | | | If you own a boat and like to take the entire |
| | | | brood for weekend sailing retreats, then an |
| More than a matter of need, a vehicle's | | | | SUV would make an appropriate choice. SUVs |
| styling is a matter of personal preference. | | | | have superior towing capacities, enabling |
| The SUV usually wins out over the minivan | | | | them to pull practically anything between a |
| when it comes to appearance. With its rugged, | | | | trailer and a small boat. Otherwise, if |
| sporty styling, an SUV oozes urban cool, | | | | you're only schlepping groceries and your |
| unlike the minivan, which is perpetually | | | | kid's soccer team, then there's no reason to |
| associated with soccer moms and suburban | | | | overlook the minivan. |
| neighborhood carpools. Most men would recoil | | | | |
| at the thought of driving a minivan, so if | | | | Safety |
| your husband would be sharing driving duties, | | | | |
| you might have to talk it out with him. | | | | Although both have comparable safety |
| Likewise, many teenagers wouldn't be caught | | | | features, SUVs have a higher rollover risk |
| dead stepping out of a minivan, so if you'd | | | | than minivans. SUV devotees counter this by |
| be using the vehicle mainly to drop off and | | | | pointing out that rollovers account for only |
| pick up your adolescent children from school, | | | | three percent of all traffic accidents and |
| you'd have to consider their preferences, | | | | claiming that SUVs offer excellent passenger |
| too. | | | | protection in two-car collisions. It remains |
| | | | to be seen whether this supposed collision |
| Fuel economy | | | | safety factor outweighs the risk of |
| | | | rollovers. If the threat of rollover |
| Minivans give better mileage than SUVs, which | | | | accidents keeps you awake at night, then a |
| have a reputation for being gas guzzlers. If | | | | minivan could give you a little peace of |
| you want to squeeze more miles out of the | | | | mind. |