Demand for new vehicles could be driving this trend.
Cars, SUVs, and trucks are selling at sticker prices.
As well, minivans are undeniably more practical and perhaps buyers are remembering.
Minivans are only the smartest most useful vehicles available in any market. Short of hauling 5,000lbs or towing 10,000lbs, minivans can carry more stuff and more people than any SUV. This could be a factor explaining why they are such hot sellers at the moment.
Cox Automotive, the parent company of Kelley Blue Book, recently shared a report that showed that minivan buyers were not only trying to find a new sliding-door vehicle but once settled on a model, ended up paying 8% more than the sticker price on average.
2021 Toyota Sienna Limited AWD | Photo: Olivier Delorme
The combination of the ongoing demand-driven new car market and low inventories could be a reason for some buyers, who were considering a midsize 3-row SUV, ending up signing on the dotted line for a minivan. There’s also the possibility that these same buyers have come to realize that an SUV is a flawed attempt at replacing the minivan – the ultimate family hauler.
“For families, there are still few better vehicle choices than a minivan,” said Matt Degen, a senior editor at Kelley Blue Book, as reported by CNN Business. “They’re just easier.”
The other reality is that, from a dozen offerings some years back, only four minivans remain available in North America. And we tested them all this past spring so if you’re shopping, make sure to check out our comparison test.
