When looking for a new car best suited for a family, the two classes that enter the discussion most are SUVs and minivans. While there are many similarities between the two, choosing what’s right for you and your family can be a tough choice. After all, you’ll be driving this vehicle for the next five to 10 years or more. Here’s how to decide whether SUVs or minivans are better for your family.
Overall Value
If economics end up playing a big role in your decision, minivans are a step ahead. Not only do minivans tend to have lower MSRPs for similar feature sets and trim levels, but they don’t vary wildly in upkeep costs compared to SUVs. Minicans get roughly the same gas mileage on average when compared to SUVs, and they have similarly sized tires.
Entertainment
Most new models today come with plenty of music connectivity, be it Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, or all three. However, what do you do for entertainment when not everyone can agree on what to listen to on the radio? A car full of five or six people means there are bound to be some differences of opinion on what to listen to.
This is where the minivan earns extra props. Many minivans have optional or standard DVD entertainment systems in the second-row seating, which opens up more entertainment possibilities on long drives.
Performance Capabilities
When it comes to performance and capability, the SUV usually comes out on top. SUVs are more regularly equipped with all-wheel drive, a feature that’s great to have in wintery or slick road conditions. If your family enjoys outdoor adventures, such as camping in the wilderness, you’ll definitely want the extra power found in SUVs.
Capacity
While most SUVs have ample cargo capacity, minivans tend to offer a bit more. Third-row seating is usually a standard inclusion on minivans, while usually only full-size SUVs and a small selection of compact SUVs have third-row seating. This extra row of seating translates to better cargo capacity overall thanks to folding rear seats. For two-row SUVs, having extra cargo room means sacrificing room for all but two passengers.
Towing
If you find yourself needing to do towing of any kind, you’ll want to consider a mid-size or full-size SUV over a minivan. While compared to trucks, both SUVs and minivans are lacking in the towing department; however, SUVs have a clear edge over minivans. Full-size SUVs are generally capable of pulling small campers and trailers, and minivans typically only tow under 2,000 pounds. This is enough for a small moving trailer, but very limited otherwise.
If you’re still having trouble deciding whether an SUV or minivan is the right fit for your family, make a list of the features most important to your family. Whichever category earns more points should be where you look first. However, don’t forget to test drive at least a few minivans and SUVs, since how the car feels to drive can be the most important factor of all.
Check out our Monthly Specials for even more savings on all Rath Road Ready used cars in Fort Smith, AR.
Photo by MIKI Yoshihito | Licensed under cc by 2.0
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