SUV Vs Minivan - Who Wins

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In the war for hearts and minds in school parking lots, mini-malls, and soccer camps everywhere, the debate of SUV vs Minivan rages on. In a struggle of form versus function the task to compare minivans to SUVs has for years divided. And while both have their advocates which is truly the preferred choice? Let's break down their selling points.

Who Looks the Best?

Let's not dance around it, SUVs win. With sizes and styles for all flavors with all the advantages size bring its hard to argue. So why do people hate minivans? Maybe it's because the design hasn't radically changed in over a decade, that Toyota, Chrysler, or Honda minivans still look much the same no matter who you buy.

Or maybe it's the admission that you've caved to the demands of parenthood over performance and styling. Of course looks aren't everything and if life was a beauty pageant lets just most parents don't have extra time to stylize and leave it at that.

Winner: SUV

Features & Function

What was once the undisputed stronghold of the minivan market has seen its advantage diminished on two fronts. Where once SUV owners could only look inside a Toyota minivan in awe of all the extras, changes in video and wireless technology such as tablets have cut down the lead minivans held. The prevalence of affordable aftermarket in car screens also has brought in-car-cartoons to the masses.

Captain chairs have sprung up in SUVs as well as automakers acknowledge the power such no-man-lands hold on lengthy car trips. Still, minivans continue to hold an edge when it comes to collapsible seating, child seat management, and who doesn't love power doors?

Winner: Minivan

Price - The SUV vs Minivan tie breaker

The pure diversity in pricing is what pulls it out for SUVs here. With the cheap SUV starting for as little as $18,000 (under $16,000 if you consider include the Patriot) and with the price of most of the good SUVs under 25000, you have to really want a minivan these days. Especially when you consider the price point for minivan models tends to run $25,000 and up. Now if you're trying to run a multiple car seat circus single handed price maybe no object, but for those on the fence this is the decider.

Winner: SUV