CKA Forums :: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge

It may be an exaggeration to say the minivan is dead, but make no mistake it has been dispatched to the land of niche vehicles. Need proof? Back in 2000, Americans bought 1.37 million minivans and they made up 7.9 percent of all auto sales. Today, the minivan is just 3 percent of total auto sales in the U.S.—and just over 500,000 were sold last year.

"Over the last decade we've really noticed the big change," said John Kranjovich, sales manager at Fair Oaks Ford in Naperville, Illinois. "Minivans back in the day were for soccer moms, everyone had to have one. As time has gone on, there are so many more options out there."

These days crossovers and sport wagons have become the vehicle of choice for many in suburban America.

More Options, More Choices

This year, CUV and sport wagon sales are booming, up 15.2 percent. That's almost double the pace of overall industry sales which are up 8.4 percent. Some of that is because redesigned models like the Chevy Equinox and Ford Escape are up more than 20 percent this year.

Last year, almost 3 million CUVs were sold.

Ron Hoering of Naperville, Illinois recently bought an Escape. Did he and his wife even consider buying a minivan? No.

"When we looked, we thought this was a great fit for us. We're a small SUV and a sedan family, that's how we run," said Hoering. "It has the ability to haul cargo, you can got to Home Depot, throw a plasma big screen in the back, whatever you gotta do."

There are also far more choices for CUVs and sport wagons than for minivans. Last month there were 60 different crossovers and sport wagons for sale in the U.S. compared to just 7 minivan models.

"I think that really the whole wagon concept has really evolved and a lot of the designs are sleeker," said Jessica Caldwell with Edmunds.com. "They still are essentially wagons at the end of the day, but designers have really taken the liberty to make them look a lot cooler."

Minivan Mom Stigma Still Exist?

Since the mid-90's when minivans were at their height of popularity many who needed cargo and space bristled at the idea of driving a minivan. It has come to be known as the minivan stigma. And it's still very much alive.

"That stigma is out there and people will tend to shy away if they don't have an absolute need for a minivan," said Caldwell.

Does it keep people in the market for a new vehicle from buying a minivan? Maybe.

John Hoering said for him and his wife, buying a crossover instead of a car was an easy choice. "My wife loves it because it gives her a higher point of view."

I've been in the market for something bigger of late and I don't see anything but a minivan in my future.

Shorter than Minivans, higher crash ratings, higher fuel economy - I guess I just don't see the upside of the minivan. I drove one for a job I had up north for a few years and didn't see the attraction, other than the huge windshield and side viewing area.

CUV = Completely Useless Vehicle.

Oh, you mean you want to put an adult in the back seat?

Oh, you want to tow something bigger then your BBQ?

Oh, you want something that looks neat, has some pep, and AWD...here is the new line up of CUV's!

When people are forced to buy for need, not image, mini vans will be back.

bootlegga bootlegga:

I've been in the market for something bigger of late and I don't see anything but a minivan in my future.

Ford stopped making the Windstar years ago. The Edge is a much better vehicle, but I still don't know why people stopped buying big cars. Shorter than Minivans, higher crash ratings, higher fuel economy - I guess I just don't see the upside of the minivan. I drove one for a job I had up north for a few years and didn't see the attraction, other than the huge windshield and side viewing area.

I wouldn't say that. Our Acadia has just as much room and access as a minivan but we don't have to sacrific having a bit of style. I guess it depends on the CUV and why you're buying it.

I am trying to find a vehicle that can seat 5 + pets, and tow something bigger then a wheeled tent..I mean tent trailer.

Your Acadia is not a CUV.

peck420 peck420:

I wouldn't say that. Our Acadia has just as much room and access as a minivan but we don't have to sacrific having a bit of style. I guess it depends on the CUV and why you're buying it.

The original Acadia crossover brought new elements of style and refinement to the category. Now the redesigned 2013 Acadia advances the world of crossovers yet again. I

Author:	bootlegga [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:08 am ]
Post subject:	Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
$1: It may be an exaggeration to say the minivan is dead, but make no mistake it has been dispatched to the land of niche vehicles. Need proof? Back in 2000, Americans bought 1.37 million minivans and they made up 7.9 percent of all auto sales. Today, the minivan is just 3 percent of total auto sales in the U.S.—and just over 500,000 were sold last year. "Over the last decade we've really noticed the big change," said John Kranjovich, sales manager at Fair Oaks Ford in Naperville, Illinois. "Minivans back in the day were for soccer moms, everyone had to have one. As time has gone on, there are so many more options out there." These days crossovers and sport wagons have become the vehicle of choice for many in suburban America. More Options, More Choices This year, CUV and sport wagon sales are booming, up 15.2 percent. That's almost double the pace of overall industry sales which are up 8.4 percent. Some of that is because redesigned models like the Chevy Equinox and Ford Escape are up more than 20 percent this year. Last year, almost 3 million CUVs were sold. Ron Hoering of Naperville, Illinois recently bought an Escape. Did he and his wife even consider buying a minivan? No. "When we looked, we thought this was a great fit for us. We're a small SUV and a sedan family, that's how we run," said Hoering. "It has the ability to haul cargo, you can got to Home Depot, throw a plasma big screen in the back, whatever you gotta do." There are also far more choices for CUVs and sport wagons than for minivans. Last month there were 60 different crossovers and sport wagons for sale in the U.S. compared to just 7 minivan models. "I think that really the whole wagon concept has really evolved and a lot of the designs are sleeker," said Jessica Caldwell with Edmunds.com. "They still are essentially wagons at the end of the day, but designers have really taken the liberty to make them look a lot cooler." Minivan Mom Stigma Still Exist? Since the mid-90's when minivans were at their height of popularity many who needed cargo and space bristled at the idea of driving a minivan. It has come to be known as the minivan stigma. And it's still very much alive. "That stigma is out there and people will tend to shy away if they don't have an absolute need for a minivan," said Caldwell. Does it keep people in the market for a new vehicle from buying a minivan? Maybe. John Hoering said for him and his wife, buying a crossover instead of a car was an easy choice. "My wife loves it because it gives her a higher point of view." http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/news/bye-bye- ... 12928.html As a parent with little kids, a CUV makes absolutely no sense. They have less room, fewer seats and guzzle more gas. Even when they have third row seating, you have to climb over the middle row to get to them - and then you have zero cargo space if you want to go anywhere. I've been in the market for something bigger of late and I don't see anything but a minivan in my future.

Author:	DrCaleb [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:16 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
bootlegga bootlegga: I've been in the market for something bigger of late and I don't see anything but a minivan in my future. Ford stopped making the Windstar years ago. The Edge is a much better vehicle, but I still don't know why people stopped buying big cars. Shorter than Minivans, higher crash ratings, higher fuel economy - I guess I just don't see the upside of the minivan. I drove one for a job I had up north for a few years and didn't see the attraction, other than the huge windshield and side viewing area.

Author:	dino_bobba_renno [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:24 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
DrCaleb DrCaleb: Shorter than Minivans, higher crash ratings, higher fuel economy - I guess I just don't see the upside of the minivan. I drove one for a job I had up north for a few years and didn't see the attraction, other than the huge windshield and side viewing area. More room for the kids, soccer gear, and groceries and what ever else you need to stuff in there would probably be the main reason why. I never really minded minivans, I never bought one but I didn’t mind them (my wife disagrees with me but that’s to be expected). I never have just my kids to worry about, I all ways seem to be packing around someone else’s ankle biters for some reason so they would be nice for that. We decided to go with an Acadia recently over the minivan but until the last few years there weren’t many options out there that had seating for 5+ people. With all the CUV’s that not an issue any more.

Author:	peck420 [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:37 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
CUV = Completely Useless Vehicle. Oh, you mean you want to put an adult in the back seat? Oh, you want to tow something bigger then your BBQ? Oh, you want something that looks neat, has some pep, and AWD...here is the new line up of CUV's! When people are forced to buy for need, not image, mini vans will be back.

Author:	dino_bobba_renno [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:45 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
peck420 peck420: CUV = Completely Useless Vehicle. Oh, you mean you want to put an adult in the back seat? Oh, you want to tow something bigger then your BBQ? Oh, you want something that looks neat, has some pep, and AWD...here is the new line up of CUV's! When people are forced to buy for need, not image, mini vans will be back. I wouldn't say that. Our Acadia has just as much room and access as a minivan but we don't have to sacrific having a bit of style. I guess it depends on the CUV and why you're buying it.

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Author:	bootlegga [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:00 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
DrCaleb DrCaleb: bootlegga bootlegga: I've been in the market for something bigger of late and I don't see anything but a minivan in my future. Ford stopped making the Windstar years ago. The Edge is a much better vehicle, but I still don't know why people stopped buying big cars. Shorter than Minivans, higher crash ratings, higher fuel economy - I guess I just don't see the upside of the minivan. I drove one for a job I had up north for a few years and didn't see the attraction, other than the huge windshield and side viewing area. The biggest reason is space. The Dodge Grand Caravan can carry a 4x8 sheet of plywood around if you want to - or 7 passengers and a lot of cargo. If you need to haul more than five people (especially for a vacation), then a minivan is your best bet. When my in-laws visit, I've got 6-8 people to transport (depending on how many come), and I think it's incredibly wasteful to drive two vehicles say from Edmonton to Banff. Most CUV/SUV with third row seating basically eliminate your cargo space if you use the third row. I test drove a Veracruz (Hyundai) a few weeks back and it has lots of space in the back for luggage, golf clubs, etc, IF you don't use the third row. Once the third row is unpacked and in use, there is basically just enough room for a backpack or two - certainly not a suitcase or a set of golf clubs. Same went for the Honda Pilot and other third row SUV/CUVs I test drove. But with a minivan, I can haul around 7 people (8 if I get a bench seat in the second row) comfortably with room for several suitcases or a couple sets of golf clubs. Finally, there is no climbing over seats to get to the third row like there is in the SUV/CUV class of vehicles. SUV/CUV look nicer and are more sporty, but for simple utility, the minivan beats them all IMHO.

Author:	bootlegga [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:01 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
peck420 peck420: CUV = Completely Useless Vehicle. Oh, you mean you want to put an adult in the back seat? Oh, you want to tow something bigger then your BBQ? Oh, you want something that looks neat, has some pep, and AWD...here is the new line up of CUV's! When people are forced to buy for need, not image, mini vans will be back.

Author:	andyt [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:06 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
When will people be forced to buy for need not image - when will minivans be back? A Pilot is a shortened Odyssy. People say the Odyssy drives nicer than the Pilot. Boots - how do you transport 8 people and all their luggage on a long road trip even in a minivan? Doesn't sound very pleasant to me.

Author:	Lemmy [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:09 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
We have a Toyota Sienna and there's plenty of room behind the back seat for luggage for the 7 people it can carry. It's not crowded at all. and when you pull out the middle row and drop the back row of seats, the Sienna has more cargo room than my Tundra pick-up. We usually use the Sienna for dump-runs.

Author:	peck420 [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:14 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
dino_bobba_renno dino_bobba_renno: I wouldn't say that. Our Acadia has just as much room and access as a minivan but we don't have to sacrific having a bit of style. I guess it depends on the CUV and why you're buying it. Your Acadia is not a CUV. That being said, an Acadia is not even remotely comparable in internal volume, or access area to a minivan. There isn't a swing door, currently available, that comes even close to a mini van's sliding door in term of access area. And here are some internal volume figures for comparison: Acadia:Passenger 154 cu ft, Cargo 24 cu ft Dodge Caravan: Passenger 163 cu ft, Cargo 33 cu ft Honda Odyssey: Passenger 172 cu ft, Cargo 38 cu ft Nissan Quest: Passenger 178 cu ft, Cargo 26 cu ft Sorry, but facts speak for themselves, aside from crappy looks, minivans are far more utility than any current C/SUTILITYV. Now that C/SUV's have lost their truck roots, they can't even use the potential towing benefits to balance out the loss in interior functions. Edit to add: Dino, you drive what suits your needs, I am not trying to attack your choice. I am just very disgruntled at auto manufacturers,as I am trying to find a vehicle that can seat 5 + pets, and tow something bigger then a wheeled tent..I mean tent trailer. The part that really gets my goat, is that 20 years ago, I could have bought an Astro van that seats 7, and tows 5,000lbs...how is that we have regressed in vehicle capacity since then?

Author:	Robair [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:18 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
Nothing mini about a minivan. Our Montana was huge, too big for what we need. The only MINIvan out there is a Mazda5. Might end up with one sometime in the distant future.

Author:	Robair [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:20 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
peck420 peck420: I am trying to find a vehicle that can seat 5 + pets, and tow something bigger then a wheeled tent..I mean tent trailer. Toyota 4Runner? Ford Expedition?

Author:	andyt [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:24 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
peck420 peck420: Your Acadia is not a CUV. GM calles it a CUV. What makes it not a CUV? Dodge Durango should meet your needs. It can tow 6200 lbs. The Grand Cherokee can tow 7500. Or get a body on frame SUV like a Yukon - they can tow more. Choices may be fewer but they're out there. You want to tow big loads you just have to pay at the pump, even if you're not towing at the time.

Author:	OnTheIce [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:24 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
dino_bobba_renno dino_bobba_renno: peck420 peck420: CUV = Completely Useless Vehicle. Oh, you mean you want to put an adult in the back seat? Oh, you want to tow something bigger then your BBQ? Oh, you want something that looks neat, has some pep, and AWD...here is the new line up of CUV's! When people are forced to buy for need, not image, mini vans will be back. I wouldn't say that. Our Acadia has just as much room and access as a minivan but we don't have to sacrific having a bit of style. I guess it depends on the CUV and why you're buying it. The Acadia isn't classified as a CUV, it's an SUV. It's much more capable than a Crossover. We have a minivan as well. With 3 kids and 2 dogs, there really isn't much out there that compared with cargo capacity besides epic gas-guzzlers like a Yukon or Escalade. CUV's are practical for families with 1-2 kids and little travelling. I had a friend buy a Dodge Journey only to kick himself in the ass cause he has no cargo room to haul shit to the cottage.

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Author:	andyt [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:26 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye-bye minivans, sales slump while CUVs surge
$1: The original Acadia crossover brought new elements of style and refinement to the category. Now the redesigned 2013 Acadia advances the world of crossovers yet again. I http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles/gm ... a/overview The Acadia is a unibody design - it's a cross over. What is it more capable of?