7 Passenger Vehicles: SUV, Crossover or Minivan?

Most people love big cars, they provide comfort, a sense of security and are generally cool. However for some people and especially families, big cars are a necessity. In the old days the family car of choice was the station wagon (probably because there were no other alternatives). Today consumers have more available alternatives, and station wagons is not one of them. Modern vehicles that have seating capacity for 7 or more people belong to one of the three categories mentioned in the title (SUVs, Crossovers and Minivans). In this article I will try to highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of each of those 7 passenger vehicles types.

SUV Advantages

• Towing capacity: SUVs generally offer considerable towing capacity because of their powerful engines. They are ideal for people that need to tow trailers or a boat.
• Off-Road Driving: This is what they are built for. Although city roads are filled with SUVs, where they actually shine is when it comes to off-road driving. Most of the available models offer AWD (All Wheel Drive)
• Space: Although not as spacious as Minivans (when comparing vehicles of the same size), SUVs offer plenty of space for passengers and cargo/
• Height: This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Most people like it because it gives them an elevated view of the road and a sense of security. However as we will see the higher center of gravity increases risk of rollover accidents.
• Coolness Factor: This is subjective but SUVs look cool, and this is an important factor for a lot of people.

SUV Disadvantages

• Fuel Efficiency: Because of the not so aerodynamic shape, the increased weight and the powerful engines SUV are gas guzzlers. Even hybrid ones don't get extremely good gas mileage.
• Parking: Parking may be an issue, especially for some of the humongous SUVs in the market today. Even if someone has a big garage at home it can be a problem if the parking space at work is limited or even at crowded parkings of malls etc.
• Price to own and maintain: SUVs are more expensive compared with Minivans and Crossovers, and have higher maintenance costs.
• Rollover Risk: As I mentioned, because of the higher center of gravity, SUVs are more likely to rollover.

Minivan Advantages

• Price to own and maintain: Minivans are generally cheaper compared to SUVs and Crossovers.
• Space: This is the main advantage of the Minivan. The design of the Minivan is focused around space, lots of space. They offer roomy and comfortable interiors and plenty of cargo space.
• City Driving/Handling: Because of their lower height they provide better handling when driving in the city.
• Fuel Efficiency: They are more fuel efficient when compared with all other family haulers. An advantage that affects both your wallet but also the environment.

Minivan Disadvantages

• Design: Let's be honest, Minivans are not the prettiest or coolest vehicles on the road.
• Off-Road Driving: Not exactly a Minivan's forte.
• Towing capabilities: If you own a boat or a trailer, Minivans are not the best choice.

I am not going to create a list of advantages and disadvantages of crossovers, simply because they sit somewhere in the middle. They are cool cars that offer plenty of space but less compared to minivans, better gas mileage than SUVs, but worst than Minivans, are cheaper than SUVs but more expensive than minivans etc. They are probably a good solution for people that don't want to buy a Minivan but are concerned about the price of SUVs and the poor gas mileage. It should also be noted that even if their off-road and towing capabilities are better than Minivans they simply cannot be compared to SUVs, they are cars built for the city.