SUV vs MINVAN: THE GREAT DEBATE

[@lapinecommunitychurchorego5102]

My daughter and SIL have a 2 yr old, with twins on the way. We recently helped them purchase a new Karnival EX partially based on your previous review. It's a fantastic driving car, and the 2nd row seats are marvelous for car seats. Thanks Car Mom.

[@marcusdavis8650]

This is a great debate. It reminds me of the days when people was comparing the hummer with other SUVs and a lot of people realize the Hummer did not have as much room as other SUVs do it at the time.

[@kristenkaufman163]

You hit the nail on the head! I never thought I would go from an SUV to a minivan, but when our 4th was born and we also had a 2yo and a 5yo in carseats, the sliding doors were the game changer.

[@Wasabi9111]

Ha ha… When we had twins, my husband refused to get a minivan, so we got a large SUV and Realize how quickly we ran out of space. I grew up with minivans, so knew how amazing they are. We ultimately got a minivan and now he agrees and understands the practicality.

[@kristenkaufman163]

@Wasabi9111 We rented a Suburban for a week this summer for a road trip/vacation, and I fell IN LOVE. It's definitely best for bigger kids than can get in and out easily, but it had so much cargo space to haul all of our luggage and had lots of seating room for the ride. Our youngest is 4 now and still can't open traditional doors, so we'll have to wait a while to make the switch. The minivan has been great for the kids while they were little, just wish there was more trunk space for all their stuff.

[@paulamorris7466]

Mini vans are a phase of life. When you have a bunch of littles, the van just works really well. I prefer an suv but currently driving a carnival. Of the vans, it really is the best.

[@jillfranklin7377]

Minivans definitely win in MANY areas....this is why we will always own one in our vehicle fleet. We have 2 SUVS and a truck also. We have 5 kiddos and my hubby and I are business owners who drive loads of miles and travel frequently. We own an A/V company and I can tell you....hands down the minivan has more usable cargo space.....especially one with stow and go features like ours. We can get up to 75" TVs in our van. When we were adding an addition to our home my hubby would take the van and load up materials rather than his truck.....no worries about immediately unloading to protect the materials from weather or theft. He only used his truck for very long lumber.....although, he has successfully strapped that to our minivan roof LOL! I do prefer the style and drive of an SUV, but I will never be without a minivan!

[@kimo6584]

I think I would agree with you.. for this phase of life a van makes more sense (with small kids) but i definitely will be getting an SUV once we pass this stage.

[@torocars9227]

All the parents out there undecided, I’ll make it simpler choice. End of the day safety and highest survival rate for kids is deciding factor. Van wins hands down on most practical variables: such as ease of use. But all of those advantages is worth zero if another family with half ton Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe/Suburban , Lincoln Navigator, or Cadillac Escalade , Nissan Armada, InfinityQX 80 , Toyota Sequoias, Jeep Wagoneer crashes on to your passenger side of a Van. Where would your rather have you family in? Those late to conversation: my perspective is based on video made by IIHS Insurance Institute Highway Safety (non profit organization) “Which Cars Are Deadliest “ if you got some time watch the video/data. Reason Van got relatively good safety rating is not due to how it’s constructed but how less likely it’s involved in accident due to how ITS DRIVEN not because it’s a safe vehicle to be in when in a crash. Logic holds true to Large SUV if it’s driven as defensively as most Van drivers . But variables out of our control are aggressive drivers on the road among us, that’s when according IIHS biggest and heavyweight vehicles are recommended.

[@CyrusMurphy]

The good ol arms race

[@berto8232]

“End of the day safety and highest survival rate for keep DS is deciding factor.” So based on the data, that’s a minivan. But you keep thinking otherwise cutie pie. #ignorance.

[@mihaelisaev]

SUV is safer just because it is higher, minivan have less chances to survive. So I prefer Lincoln Navigator for my family of 7.

[@yerbamate86]

When does it end though? When everyone is riding around in military-grade tanks to go to school drop-off? And getting 4 MPG 😂. And again, what about families who can't afford these vehicles?

[@torocars9227]

@@yerbamate86 it ends alright. Not everyone’s gonna make it. Most will not survive the middle class. Survival of fittest.

[@DakotaLindsay]

Why pick? My husband drives a Yukon XL and I drive Sienna. Van is great for school drop offs and day to day. Yukon XL is awesome for long trips and all the gear you need for kids!

[@farmereliza770]

Payload, which actually does make a difference if your car doubles as a Home Depot hauler, or even if you have teen boys. The Yukon maxes out at 1900, and the carnival at 1500. I have a family of seven, with just one teen boy currently.

[@astrosntexans]

So basically 40k for the more practical vehicle with better mpg or 80k for the less practical vehicle that looks cool.

[@jeddaaah]

the only issue is the safety, as i know mini van did bad for crash tests comparing to suvs. im thinkin of buyin new expedition or mini van.. i have little ones, the mini van is more practicle, but when it comes to safety there is huge gap

[@sanedeen]

I think the comparison for most people would be a minivan vs a midsize 3 row suv like the kia telluride, honda pilot, etc, as opposed to a full size suv like a GMC Yukon XL. They're more similar in size and cost

[@brittanykelly9073]

Yess please do carnival vs traverse!

[@RDJ1SS]

Had a 3rd kid. Carmom convinced my wife that she didn't need a Tahoe. Got a Carnival instead, because Carmom got one

[@XDMIIIIIIIII]

Lol How much did you save?

[@RDJ1SS]

@@XDMIIIIIIIII got the SX Prestige and still saved 15-20k

[@berto8232]

@@XDMIIIIIIIII His first born child 😅🤣

[@wesleyathompson]

Very fair evaluation. Thank you. The only other point that an SUV has over minivan is when loaded down, it still is way more powerful for highway driving to still be comfortable passing. I'm thinking the annoying slow driver you get stuck behind on those two-lane roads, especially.

[@SuperP123]

Parking a SUV though is much more difficult . Maybe I’m alone on this but I require cameras to park my Expedition. Granted I’m on the East coast currently and spaces are tighter but I use my cameras every time. My Minivan was always a breeze and I could easily swing her in and out. Still I’m also not sure other than parking if I would pick either one although my expedition gets a lot more attention vs my minivan 😂.

[@brett233]

A mid size 3 row seems like a good middle ground for most people. You get most of the space of these two options with slightly less trunk space and legroom, AWD, close to minivan gas mileage, and closer to minivan price. Something on the bigger end of the mid size 3 row market is probably the best overall choice.

[@AbcDef-go8ds]

That's my choice as well, the new Honda pilot, Chevy traverse, or Grand highlander would be the options. But the last one is probably too expensive.

[@jaao3414]

We got a Kia telluride and I love it. Plus we got one under 40,000 dollars.

[@cubist12]

I think most people are going to compare a vehicle like the Telluride to a minivan. In that case, the Carnival kills it when it comes to cargo space. Easily double with the third row seats up. If you're a family of 4, any SUV will probably work, as the last row won't be required on those family road trips and you'll have plenty of cargo room. But, if you're a family of 6+?, then that cargo space w/the third row up is going to be critical. Also, the more I think about it, the more important those sliding doors are when you have kids. My kids would be dinging those outward-swinging doors constantly. Hell, they've even found ways to ding the sliding doors. But, being able to drop that third row and remove the second row gives you enormous cargo room with the minivan. So, it really is a no brainer for bigger families.

[@kalicrownover9523]

The mpg for all GM full size SUVs is inaccurate though. You can get the 3.0 duramax and it's fuel economy is 26 highway, 20 city, and 22 combined mpg

[@trumpisastump9382]

And if we are talking about alternative engines, the Chrysler Pacifica gets 32 miles on electric, then gets 32mpg combined after the battery is depleted. There, a better apples-to-apples comparison.

[@JustDance24]

Your video makes me want a minivan if we decide to go from 2 to 3 kids but worried about the snow driving living in Northern Alberta Canada

[@radi-fc9wl]

My awd sienna is amazing in the snow here in New England

[@cynthiaharshbarger6776]

Where I live we get 8-15 ft of snow in the winter. My aunt recently bought a minivan and had it lifted (slightly, it doesn’t look insane) to give her more clearance. She made sure to get studded tires on it and loves it!

[@AbcDef-go8ds]

Safety? I am not talking about the safety tech, because that won't avoid the other half of accident, other people hitting you, which in my opinion, sometimes has greater probability than having an accident myself. So full size SUV provides a perfect protection while the minivan is like a paper box.

[@trumpisastump9382]

Do a little research before pulling stuff out of your orifice. Look at death rates per vehicle published by the IIHS. A full size SUV is a body-on-frame vehicle vs. a unibody construction for the minivan. Unibody construction is safer and is more capable of absorbing the crash forces than a body-on-frame vehicle.

[@tamaraYvonne02]

Thanks for this video. I have no money for a big SUV and dont drive alot. My town and country does great for my 3 kids under 9. Maybe when they get older I will invest in a small SUV though but love the space in my minivan.

[@joses4593]

First comment! Woo! Love the Car Mom! And as a father of 3 I want the minivan!

[@francisrivers1111]

A lot of moms hate the idea of driving minivans. Lol im all about comfort and practicality. i have 1 kid and i already want a minivan. 😁

[@gstoner8432]

One thing on the minivans and most others as well. The so called extra markup services they are putting on these new cars to get $3k-$6k more for the dealership is really hurting them in the long run. You can't find anyone to sell you the cars at MSRP

[@keytothegate68]

Some cars are priced near 25% bellow msrp.

[@gstoner8432]

Not in the Austin area. Every Kia & Hyundai dealership has the markup services charges.@@keytothegate68

[@johntrevett2944]

Name a new toyota/lexus or honda/Acura van or suv priced under msrp.

[@CMCNestT]

If you are not a WNBA Center ingress and egress is A LOT easier in a minivan, especially for old folks. And a cubic foot is in three dimensions, not any two.

[@lerogers33]

Wouldn’t a midsize SUV like a Grand Highlander or Telluride be a more realistic comparison to a minivan?

[@surinderphull]

Hi, thanks a lot for this review. I was going to trade my Carnival EX+ with infiniti QX80, but not now, really helpful

[@thereeltbell3289]

I have a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT and I love it for the space for my three children. However, I will say if you're going with a minivan you should go for one with TVs, a power lift gate, auto sliding doors, and a good dash entertainment system. My van has none of those, unfortunately.

[@Perfect_Storm4]

I love the drive of an suv but the functionality of the mini van because of the side doors. I have loved my mini van for the last 7 years but i miss the drive and feel of an suv and thats what my next one will be.

[@JorgeHernandez-co5on]

Minivan ❤!!!

[@jillfranklin7377]

I also wanted to point out for those that are watching this for help in choosing between the 2....there are minivans that have alot more tow capabilities than the Kia. We own a Chrysler town and Country, it has a 5,000 lb tow ability.....in comparison, our Chevy Traverse without the tow package can only tow 2,000 and our Audi Q7 can tow 7,700.....so, its a nice middle ground. If you are interested in a van, but want tow capabilities there are better options than the Kia.

[@tamaraYvonne02]

Love my Town & Country and did great towing a trailer for our last move.

[@jillfranklin7377]

@@tamaraYvonne02 IKR! We have 5 kiddos and own an A/V company. We tow a trailer with our equipment and TVs for customers deliveries with our T&C. It has over 250, 000 miles on it now and is still going strong. It is by far the most used and most practical of our vehicles. My hubby loves our van! We will never be without one. When it finally bites the dust, we plan on getting a Pacifica. Chrysler hands down makes the best performing and best looking vans imo!

[@mark.harvey]

The SUV trunk is so much more usuable though. It will be quite precarious to use every inch of the minivan cargo space, while its very easy to stack two or three high and use every inch of the SUV. If you need to carry a lot of bags or gear regularly the SUV is a coear winner in that category.

[@jillfranklin7377]

That's actually NOT accurate at all. You have apparently never owned a minivan. We currently own both a minivan and midsized SUVS....we recently sold a full size SUV.....I can tell you HANDS DOWN the minivan has more usable space....especially those with stow and go features. The problem with SUVs is the seats. They fold down....but not away....thereby taking up valuable vertical space. We can get up to 75" TVs... still in the box...into our minivan. Even the trunk space is more usable in our van because it's deeply recessed for folding away the back seats.....so it offers alot of vertical space. We have 5 kids, we are business owners and have recently added an addition onto our home......we've utilized our vehicles every way possible...and there is no comparison! A minivan offers WAY more usable space and the space is much easier to utilize!

[@everydayfun9531]

@@jillfranklin7377what kind of vehicles do u guys have honestly cause we currently have the 23 highlander hybrid for family even though it isn’t enough for a family of 6 cause 3rd row sucks and have a 23 RAV4 that my dad uses for work and my dad was thinking of adding an RX so that my little brother can learn how to drive but I’m looking for a family SUV that does it all you know like comfort, 2nd row being great with headroom and leg room and 3rd row with better legroom and headroom so that passengers don’t get uncomfortable during a road trip oh and having a lot of cargo space aswell and it being able to tow and haul stuff if we need to do that when we will move to a new place…

[@everydayfun9531]

@@jillfranklin7377oh and it has to be a V6 CAUSE V4 is underpowered most of the time I don’t care if it’s aspirated or turbo as long as it’s able to tow and haul and be a great family SUV car I’d definitely get it.

[@tomryan3768]

I feel like the last gen Pilot is a good compromise. Looking at the outside causes me to fall asleep but it's got SO MANY family friendly features in a reasonablely sized package. But man that exterior ZZZZZZ

[@kurt44ko]

IIHS just released a report saying minivans are not the safest for second row passengers. Which is why you get them.

[@deniseadornato6281]

Hi! Will you be doing a review of the new VW Atlas SEL Premium R line?

[@brdgtdyg]

So basically the minivan wins, but people are so stuck on their image and being cool that they'll still pick the SUV every time and pay more money for the privilege. And justify with reasons like "it's safer" or "I need AWD." A minivan with snow tires does basically the same things, lol.

[@jhugo1986]

No it doesn’t win. You forget the towing capabilities and power delivery. That 6.2 will run circles around that van. And when you’re loaded up that power comes in handy. You sound bias lol And no. A mini van with snow tires is not the same as having low and hi gearing for 4wd and a locking differential. Not to mention ground clearance. The suv will always be far superior off road.

[@joejames4847]

​@jhugo1986 This just comes off as if you're trying to justify your expensive SUV purchase. The average family in America is not towing a damn thing. Nor do they need any fancy AWD or ground clearance. School, groceries, point A to B basic driving. No one in the real world cares if the SUV gets them there marginally faster lol. Minivan is the right and responsible choice for 99% of families. It wins pretty easily.

[@jhugo1986]

@ lol so you know what everyone does with their suvs? We pull a 26 ft boat out to the lake 2 twice a month almost year round. We take long road trips with 6-7 people plus luggage and a trailer. A mini van would never be able to do that. We go out to some secluded camp grounds in Colorado where 4wd is neeeded. Again. No mini van would make that.

[@joejames4847]

@@jhugo1986 Congrats that's great for you, but you're just one person. Real world experience meeting people tells me the vast majority of families don't tow anything nor do they take their SUVs/vans off-road at all. For them, there's no practical reason to get an SUV over a minivan. All these big pavement princess SUVs/trucks do is clog up the roads even more.

[@jhugo1986]

@ lol wow. So you met every family out on the road and know exactly when they tow and when they don’t?

[@berto8232]

Scotty Kilmer made a very good video discussing the big advantages between both. Things that were not mentioned here, insurance cost is lower for a minivan as is a family friendly vehicle, a minivan is less likely to get stolen, and child fatality rate during car accidents are lower in minivans than SUVs.

[@torocars9227]

Figured mentioned in Vans safety is due to types of drivers driving minivans. Often families yes. Less accidents due to being defensive driving. But it does NOT mean Mini Vans a safer vehicle vs half ton weighted FULL size SUV. Physics and common sense solves that question of which is preferred vehicle likely to win in a crash.

[@berto8232]

@@torocars9227 The data is the data. And since you’re speaking of “physics and common sense”, a heavier vehicle in a roll over (which SUVs are more likely to be in that a minivan) just means more momentum and kinetic energy during the rolls. And I’m speaking here as an engineer.

[@torocars9227]

@@berto8232 ok. Since you’re an engineer. Will you put your family in lower van while I drive thru your van on a Tahoe with my front bumper aiming straight to head level passengers of most vehicles on the road , like a Van? I’d rather plow my Full size weight thru obstacles not around it. Likewise , t bone a Tahoe using a van and let’s see who absorbs the impact. Simple common sense. Moral of the story. Get heaviest vehicle you can afford when transporting your loved ones. Don’t be fooled my marketing sales talk.

[@berto8232]

@@torocars9227 ITS LITERALLY WHAT THE DATA IS SAYING. FFS

[@CyrusMurphy]

​@@torocars9227 easy decision for me: minivans daily utility is way more valuable than irrational fear of very small percentage chance of a larger vehicle hitting my van (which gets very good crash ratings) in an unsurvivable scenario

[@calvint3419]

Depends who is the main driver: Mom -> mini van Dad -> SUV

[@CyrusMurphy]

I'm a dad and won't be caught dead in an ego-fueled SUV

[@74357175]

What about entertainment system? 🙂

[@lifewalker808]

great and detailed comparison in practicality!

[@TheCarMom]

Glad it helped!

[@XDMIIIIIIIII]

Yes but Yukon vs Kia minivan is a foul comparison 😂

[@mihaelisaev]

THE BIG SUV is first of all about SAFETY!

[@domdom6624]

Go drive a tank then

[@mihaelisaev]

@@domdom6624 That's what I do

[@domdom6624]

@@mihaelisaev Your SUV is not a tank. Also, your SUV is far more likely to result in a fatal rollover accident or cause you to run over your own kids in the driveway. Sorry to break it to you.

[@mihaelisaev]

@@domdom6624 nice try

[@everydayfun9531]

I’d get a full sized SUV for my family just deciding which one to get cause we decided that we’ll be getting an RX for my lil bro just the SUV is the problem with good 3rd row seating and extra storage space.

[@eml818-l3b]

Minivan!

[@user-up4vd5ov8x]

Suv feels commanding on the road.

[@123MATEMATICAS123]

I have a dodge GRAN CARAVAN 2017 WITH 250,000 MILLES AND WORK PERFECT IF YOU HAVE HIS CHANGE THE OIL AND CHECK WITH THE mechanic every 2 year for check

[@Resqme]

Great video!

[@HishamMahmudinOC]

It's bizarre to me that American automakers still haven't had their feet held to the 🔥 as far as at least trying to make more fuel efficient gas engines. Koreans & Japanese are just eviscerating them in that regard before we even get to tech features... Sienna hybrid interior probably a step below Carnival but 35 mpg is pretty ridiculous

[@annarakannan6620]

Brilliant comparison. I am digging your reviews. Fabulous job.

[@joeramos8404]

TEAM "Common Sense" (Mini Van) makes more sense.

[@jasonscoggins01]

Thank you

[@norrmcd32]

Great debate. Yukon XL has to be with the Duramax diesel engine for better fuel economy

[@user-up4vd5ov8x]

Suv storage is better for those costco visits.

[@dman7668]

I think the carnival looks better.

[@berto8232]

I don’t even need to watch the video to know that the minivan is the better option. We just refuse to drive them because they’re not cool.

[@kgfig]

😂😂😂

[@cecy6891]

😂

[@staceyackerson5197]

Team huge SUV forever

[@ann5028]

I will live and die on the SUV hill…simply for what you said at the end of the video. Sliding doors have no grip on me 🤣

[@ChicagoTarnow]

If you have small kids, suck it up or be miserable in your cool SUV.

[@devnull182]

Your mic is horrible, it’s been like this for a while.

[@mihaelisaev]

Yes please fix the mic

[@kc0lif]

suv.

[@spoonsnaper]

Minivan hauls wayyyy more

[@Pockymuncher888]

I believe minivan handles better too because it's lower to the ground

[@gogglespaisano59]

Gawd, what a smokeshow 😮

[@williammehling3135]

Van all day. More affordable. More room. Smoother ride. Better MPG. More convenient.

[@jimmy_spa_praticien]

👍🏻

[@HemiChrysler]

"get started" - what grammar is this ?

[@clangbang.4370]

Lol, worst review, you have to be sponsored by Kia cause this video is very inaccurate.

[@thecluckster3908]

SUVs suck

[@babydooll84]

Yukon xl is hands down the best mom car that exist without you looking like a total looser on the road! 😂 it was perfect for everything life threw at me with 3 kids. I can’t believe they still even make minivans! Those things are hideous!!!

[@MotionMayer]

👍