Let’s travel back in time about 20 years to the year 2000.
The Y2K scare had just ended after the “99” to “00” date changed within computer databases without incident, MySpace had recently been introduced on the internet, and minivans were the vehicle of choice for many families throughout the U.S.
The Ford Windstar, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chevy Venture, Pontiac Montana, Chevy Astro, and Dodge Grand Caravan, as well as several more models, were all available to the discerning family who needed the space and capability that these vans provided.
Fast forward to the current time, and there are only five commonly-available minivan models from which the public has their pick. That’s quite a big difference within a major industry over just 20 years. This large a change shouldn’t be that surprising, though, considering the massive technological advances in driver safety systems that have occurred in the industry over the past five years.
Even though the scale of the change should not come as a surprise, it doesn’t explain the reason behind the complete loss of momentum that minivans experienced over a relatively short period of time.
The same kind of loss in momentum is currently being experienced in the sedan segment. Sales of family sedans have been dropping steadily over the recent years in favor of SUVs. In many ways, this makes sense. People see SUVs as more versatile, capable, and comfortable. Indeed, many are when compared to a similarly-sized sedan. I myself much prefer a car over an SUV, but with most models being at least available with an all-wheel-drive option, I can definitely see at least some benefit in adverse weather conditions over a lower sedan.
But, minivans often have more space, can haul more, and often have driving characteristics that more closely resemble a car than a truck. It seems then, that all the factors that might push someone to buy an SUV over a sedan would also push them to consider a minivan over an SUV. Obviously, this is not the case, and there must be a different reason that minivans have fallen out of favor.
The answer to the question of why the minivan is no longer that popular for potential car-buyers is that they just aren’t cool.
This may seem an unsatisfactory answer to many, but it is the correct one. Those looking to buy a vehicle find much more value in buying an SUV than a minivan. Many SUVs are just as large, they are often just as versatile, with many offering third-row-seating, and many offer all-wheel-drive, a feature that is only currently offered on the Toyota Sienna.
For as much as vehicle sales are declining anyway, if one were to buy any vehicle now, those who grew up being transported around in minivans just don’t want the same thing their mom drove around in. They want to be their own person, and with so many SUV options, it just makes the decision a little easier. To be fair, minivans are still readily available, and for those who do buy them, they love the value their minivan provides. They have simply fallen out of favor because of the current SUV trends, and because minivans have become seriously uncool to so many up-and-coming car-buyers.
