Minivans: What's Not to Like?
Kiplinger's Personal Finance|February 2020
The minivan has been unfairly displaced by the three-row SUV as the family hauler of choice.
David Muhlbaum
Minivans: What's Not to Like?

We were on our way to peak minivan in 1995 when, in the comedic thriller Get Shorty, John Travolta’s character Chili Palmer kept passing off his rental Oldsmobile Silhouette as the “Cadillac of minivans” (probably the movie’s most memorable line). Back then, just about every major American and Japanese carmaker offered a minivan. Even the final iteration of the Volkswagen bus was still sold here.

Twenty-five years later, you need only one hand to count the minivans on the market in the U.S. Why? Demographic shifts, in part. But mostly, the decline stems from the emergence of three-row SUVs. Minivan sales have been dwindling for decades as drivers ditch the symbol of suburban surrender, the automotive equivalent of drawstring sweatpants, for something they like to call their “truck.”

But having spent Thanksgiving week hauling my extended family around town in a 2020 Honda Odyssey (MSRP $34,690, EX trim), I am again reminded that when it comes to putting a lot of humanoids in a box, you just can’t beat a minivan. Most of the credit goes to the sliding doors. The ability to not just unlock but open these giant access ports remotely is huge. While still fussing with locking up the house, I could pop open the doors and let the nieces and nephews scramble into the back row, as the elder generation followed into the middle row with far less acrobatics (and grumbling) than when entering any vehicle in my own fleet (which, yes, includes a big three-row SUV).

My friend Jody Danforth Root, who considers herself a big van fan, notes another plus. “My van’s sliding doors meant there was never a wind gust or thoughtless kid that blew the door open, dented the car next to us, and left me paying for someone’s body work,” as happened with her other vehicle, a GMC Yukon Denali, a big ol’ SUV.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2020 من Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2020 من Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE مشاهدة الكل
HOW INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS WILL AFFECT YOUR TAXES
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

HOW INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS WILL AFFECT YOUR TAXES

We looked at IRS rules for 2025 on everything from tax brackets to how much you can save in retirement accounts.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 2025
GUARD AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT IN THE NEW YEAR
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

GUARD AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT IN THE NEW YEAR

Scammers are getting better at impersonating legitimate businesses.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 2025
SHOULD YOU BUY PET HEALTH INSURANCE?
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

SHOULD YOU BUY PET HEALTH INSURANCE?

You can fend off big veterinary bills with a policy that covers your furry companion.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2025
THE LOWDOWN ON BUYING A VACATION HOME
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

THE LOWDOWN ON BUYING A VACATION HOME

If you return to a beloved destination again and again, purchasing a home there may be a smart move-but don't overlook the costs and effort that go into it.

time-read
8 mins  |
January 2025
HOW COUPLES CAN MANAGE DIFFERING RETIREMENT TIME LINES
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

HOW COUPLES CAN MANAGE DIFFERING RETIREMENT TIME LINES

Staggered retirement is increasingly common, but it can create financial and emotional challenges.

time-read
7 mins  |
January 2025
AVOID THESE CREDIT MISSTEPS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

AVOID THESE CREDIT MISSTEPS

KIPLINGER ADVISOR COLLECTIVE

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2025
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKING FOR YOURSELF
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKING FOR YOURSELF

Whether you're looking for a side gig or planning to start your own business, it has never been easier to strike out on your own.

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 2025
My Top 10 Stock Picks for 2025
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

My Top 10 Stock Picks for 2025

SINCE 1993, I have offered an annual list of 10 stocks with the potential to beat the market in the 12 months ahead. My 2024 selections notched the highest return ever: an average of 48.9%. I beat the S&P 500 index by 10.8 percentage points, and every one of my stocks was up-six by more than 30%.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025
WHAT MAKES AN ETF SUCCESSFUL?
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

WHAT MAKES AN ETF SUCCESSFUL?

EXCHANGE-traded funds have exploded in popularity, with the industry now reaching the milestone of $10 trillion in assets.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2025
TIPS FROM INSIDERS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

TIPS FROM INSIDERS

When corporate insiders buy or sell, it can offer clues on whether you should do the same.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025