By Gregg Ciocca
As the owner and CEO of eight auto dealerships throughout the eastern Pennsylvania area with a comprehensive inventory of minivans and SUVs to choose from, I have helped countless families make the choice between an SUV and a minivan. No cut-and-dried response to the question exists, yet the answer is simple: it depends on your needs, your daily routine, and perhaps most importantly, your likes and dislikes.
For example, drivers who must chaperone children around on a regular basis want their ride to be safe and comfortable. Both SUVs and minivans offer high marks for safety, with anti-lock brakes, airbags, and other standard safety features. An SUV, however, has a much greater rollover risk than a minivan. As for comfort and fun, modern versions of both vehicles generally have three-way climate control systems and can be equipped with DVD players and power outlets for electronic games and computers. However, minivans are more convenient for smaller children, with their low step-up height and sliding doors that provide large openings. When parked, a minivan can more easily be transformed to a playroom or sleeping area than an SUV.
For hauling cargo, both vehicles are comparable, but minivans with removable benches are capable of carrying more bulky items. Items like bookcases, refrigerators and headboards can disappear into the cargo area of a minivan and still leave room for more. When it comes to cargo space, a minivan is much more versatile than an SUV.
On the other hand, a minivan cannot approach an SUV’s towing capabilities. If hauling a boat or a trailer will be a routine part of the vehicle’s duties, there is no question: the better choice is an SUV. Most SUVs are equipped with four-wheel drive, making them far superior to minivans for foul weather and off-road driving as well. Economy is another factor that must be taken into account. On the whole, minivans are generally less costly to buy and deliver better fuel economy.
Image is certainly a consideration that concerns many car buyers. A minivan and an SUV convey vastly different images: the SUV suggests a sporty, adventurous driver, while the driver of a minivan is seen as stodgy and practical. Thus, smaller children, not yet old enough to be influenced by such concepts as image, generally prefer the minivan for its ease of access, roomy interior, and versatility. Older children, on the other hand, shy away from the minivan’s geeky image.
Gregg Ciocca owns eight auto dealerships throughout eastern Pennsylvania with hundreds of new and used minivans and SUVs in stock.
Faulkner-Ciocca Dealership 