SUV or Minivan: A Big Decision for Growing Families
As your family starts to grow, so do your transportation requirements. You were probably used to get by with a smaller vehicle, but now you may find yourself needing something a lot larger, especially once you start having children that you need to begin carting around.
At Service King Southwest Frwy in Houston. TX we fix a lot of SUVs and minivans, so that's why we are sharing this information with you,
So now you’re facing another decision, whether it's a minivan or an SUV that's better suited to match your lifestyle. While there isn’t always a right or wrong answer, there are some fairly important differences between the two types of vehicles. To figure out which type would be ideal for your family, we’re providing a quick comparison of the two.
When it comes to the basic needs of a growing family with young kids, the minivan can be very appealing. Sliding doors make most minivans a lot easier to get in and out of – especially for those parents who have the little ones situated in rear-facing car seats. Hinged doors and children don’t mix well, because they’re heavy, usually hard to open, and don’t feature as much space for entering and exiting. In addition, they’re far more likely to ding the side of a vehicle parked next to it – something a minivan containing sliding doors will never encounter.
Sliding doors also create a considerably wider space for parents who are interested in cleaning up things like cookie crumbs, melted crayons and who knows what other kid-messes that can lurk in the dark corners of any family car.
Many full-sized SUVs (the type that usually offers third-row seating) are considerably higher off the ground than your standard minivan. This is ideal for the utility aspect of these vehicles, but not so much for children or grandparents who are trying to get in and out. While they aren’t as high as many big trucks on the market, several do require a step up and can be difficult sometimes to manage with smaller children.
In addition, the lower your vehicle is to the ground, the less lifting you’ll need to do. Things such as double strollers and heavy-duty car seats can be a real pain in order to go travel from point A to point B, and it doesn’t get much easier when you have to lift those items in and out of a bulky SUV.
So, here are a handful of other areas where a minivan will normally win out:
Abundant storage: This may be a mixed blessing with small children who hide things like snacks, school supplies, juice boxes, and assorted chicken nuggets in the most unusual places.
Fuel efficiency: Big SUVs are infamous for being gas guzzlers. Even though minivans aren’t any more efficient than smaller family cars, they're typically more fuel efficient than your average family SUV.
On-board vacuum cleaners: With the little ones, you can’t beat this for comfort and convenience. While surely not standard on all models, it’s definitely something you might want to consider.
Ultimately, SUVs offer a wide range of some added benefits over most minivans, including these following factors:
Greater variety: There are only a few minivan models that are still left on the road today and there are far more SUV options from crossovers to mid-sized SUVs, and full-sized SUVs to consider.
Sportier feel: The overall feel of the vehicle always matters, and some folks simply don’t feel right driving minivans. SUVs are a little bit sportier than most minivans out there, so if you need to zip in and out of traffic, an SUV might be better suited for you and your needs.
Higher off the ground: Just as this can be a deterrent for many people, a vehicle that is higher off the ground is much easier to get into and out of for others. You’ll have to think about the size and age of your family before deciding which is best for you.
Service King Southwest Frwy in Houston, TX 77074
Sources: NADA and AOL
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