CD Article: 2007 Minivan Challenge

[stickshift]

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Comparison Test: 2007 Minivan Challenge, Part One
CanadianDriver asked a typical young family who say they are "not minivan people" to compare six popular minivans over a period of six months to see if any of these new vans will change their minds.  



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[tpl]

Although I will never own a minivan and have only every driven one of them ( Honda)  I am really interested in how this turns out.

[mdxtasy]

You may discuss the article in this thread. 3... 2... 1... Go!

Linkie?

Minivan article....I'm focusing on my other vehicle acquisition....can't this wait?   

[sirAQUAMAN64]

You may discuss the article in this thread. 3... 2... 1... Go!

Linkie?

I would not have seen this article on the front page without this thread. Needs a photo with the headline or something.

[mwqa]

Minivans have at least one advantage over the current crop of cars - rear, swing-out, latch windows. They open to a crack and allow a flow of air through the cabin without having the regular windows open and without using the AC.

I just did a weekend jaunt to Toronto in my Matrix and had the choice of having my ears blasted by wind by leaving the windows open, or closing all the windows and using the AC (which, for admittedly silly reasons, I don't like using).

Rear latch windows used to be standard on cars, but no longer... Ah, those latch windows!   

[carjoe]

I'm curious to see how this plays out too. Especially between the Kia/Hyundai. I actually find the Honda/Toyota/Korean offerings a little too big for a minivan. Parking them in the garage is like putting up a wall...

I understand GM and Ford are abandoning the segment but I know the GM quadruplets are still being offered with some pretty heavy discounts. Why were they not included in the testing? Yes, I drive one, would I buy another is a different story.

[carcrazy]

My choice would be the Oddysey EX for $36,900. I would be interested to see how the second row folds though. I know the third row goes into the floor, but how does the second row fold?

[tpl]

My choice would be the Oddysey EX for $36,900. I would be interested to see how the second row folds though. I know the third row goes into the floor, but how does the second row fold?

the one I borrowed ( a 1999) certainly had a totally flat floor but I have no idea if the 2nd row seats were all folded or taken out.

[mdxtasy]

I don't think the Honda has 2nd row fold into the floor seats....

[carcrazy]

I don't think the Honda has 2nd row fold into the floor seats....

Do they at least tumble forward? It would be a pain to take them out if you need to haul bulky stuff. I could live with that even though you loose some space.

[vanimpressions]

Intitial impressions of the Hyundai Entourage from Dave and family after one week in the van:

This GLS model is very well equipped: leather interior, all the amenities. Nicely appointed. It drives very smoothly.

Not having driven vans before, we are certainly impressed by the size of this vehicle. Interior space is abundant. Interestingly, we’re finding the Entourage is easy to drive, park, manoeuvre. Actually, it feels pretty much like driving a car, except it is heavier than our Sportage, and you have to adjust to this when cornering and stopping.

The power sliding door is a godsend, and the power liftgate is very helpful. But the sliding door is hands down the most useful feature for us.

Putting the dog behind the third-row seat doesn’t work, as it is too confining. With the third-row seat folded into the floor (very convenient) the space back there is cavernous. Now we worry that the dog might get thrown around in hard braking. Possibly a safety issue for all of us. But so far, so good.

Putting the third row seat up and down is a piece of cake. It’s a one-hand operation: pull this, pull that and it’s done. Very well thought-out. In reality, though, can't see ever using this seat. Still finding our way around other features of the seats and interior.

We notice that when you take your foot off the gas, the Entourage maintains its speed for 1-2 seconds before decelerating. We’re not used to this; don’t know if all vans do this, or all Hyundais. It’s a bit disconcerting.

Amazing how small the turning circle is. Very little room required to do a u-turn; very easy to wheel around a parking lot. Quite surprising.

We’re finding the automatic climate control a bit complex, mainly setting it front and rear. We actually had warm air coming out at the rear and cool at the front. Better read the manual!

Father-in-law excited by the second row windows that go up and down.

Access to baby in car seat much easier than in the SUV. Lots of room between seats to move around; lots of places to put things.

Fuel economy seems good.

So far this is working out okay. More in a few days.

[mdxtasy]

Ah....just as I had suspected....our MDX isn't going to win many family battles vs the minivan (King of family haulers).....

[airbalancer]

People new a minivan with just one childed

In the oooold days, we had 3 kids under the age of 2 in a Datsun B210, and it was a little cramp but ok
These parents now a day have it good,
 hey I sound just like my parents

[tpl]

I doubt you could get three modern child seats through the doors of a B210 let alone install them

[Mitlov]

I doubt you could get three modern child seats through the doors of a B210 let alone install them

  That's what people who say "we got three kids into X compact car 30 years ago" are forgetting.  Modern child seats are HUGE compared to what people used to deal with.  Not to mention rear-facing child seats (now recommended until about age 1) take up a whole lot more room than forward-facing.

The increase in safety has made it worth it.  But the days where you could fit three kids into any vehicle with a rear bench seat are over.

[mdxtasy]

I doubt you could get three modern child seats through the doors of a B210 let alone install them

I doubt anybody back then used a child seat....

I can barely get 3 child seats to fit into the MDX...and I could probably throw the B210 into the back of the MDX for kicks.

[tpl]

I doubt you could get three modern child seats through the doors of a B210 let alone install them

  That's what people who say "we got three kids into X compact car 30 years ago" are forgetting.  Modern child seats are HUGE compared to what people used to deal with.  Not to mention rear-facing child seats (now recommended until about age 1) take up a whole lot more room than forward-facing.

The increase in safety has made it worth it.  But the days where you could fit three kids into any vehicle with a rear bench seat are over.

I wonder what will happen as cars get smaller for better economy. I also wonder how the Euros do with their much smaller cars... I have never checked or looked at eu legal kid seats in cars... had no need or interest.  Sideshow Bob might know.

Certainly there were no child seats in my past nor seatbelts fitted. I guess I was just lucky not to be roadkill

[airbalancer]

I doubt you could get three modern child seats through the doors of a B210 let alone install them

I doubt anybody back then used a child seat....

I can barely get 3 child seats to fit into the MDX...and I could probably throw the B210 into the back of the MDX for kicks.

We always had our kids in car seats until they were about 7-8 years old
There was no rear facing car seats back then

[UmroAyyar]

I doubt you could get three modern child seats through the doors of a B210 let alone install them

  That's what people who say "we got three kids into X compact car 30 years ago" are forgetting.  Modern child seats are HUGE compared to what people used to deal with.  Not to mention rear-facing child seats (now recommended until about age 1) take up a whole lot more room than forward-facing.

The increase in safety has made it worth it.  But the days where you could fit three kids into any vehicle with a rear bench seat are over.

I wonder what will happen as cars get smaller for better economy. I also wonder how the Euros do with their much smaller cars... I have never checked or looked at eu legal kid seats in cars... had no need or interest.  Sideshow Bob might know.

Certainly there were no child seats in my past nor seatbelts fitted. I guess I was just lucky not to be roadkill

Compact people movers in Europe like Mazda5, Toyota Corolla Verso, Kia Carens, Ford C-Max S-Max etc.

You do need a minivan if you are hauling a lot of stuff together with children. The ease you can handle children and their support stuff is unmatched.

I don't see myself owning a large vehicle like this unless absolutely necessary. Midsize cars/wagons are pretty good for families with 2 children.

[mdxtasy]

I will try to throw up a pic of our two car seats that are installed in our MDX.....