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by Martha Hindes
Despite
being a longtime butt of jokes by late night comics and some testosterone-challenged
lead-footers, minivans for the sensibly savvy still have a rock
solid following. They do for a very good reason. They work. Sure,
they won't clamber up a rock pile as nimbly as some hardier sport
utilities -- if at all -- and they won't take a corner at breathtaking
speed, but so what. The true minivan lover knows (with a secret
smile, perhaps) that the assets of this treasured find make those
claims to fame pale by comparison.
Consider
how a minivan or its close derivatives can be used. What else
can stow a dozen bags of groceries, or cases of wine for a major
party, with little effort needed to hoist them inside. Same for
climbing in or out of the sliding side doors. (Minivan makers
have learned to put the deck at a truly practical height.) They're
a natural for those with narrow garages or driveways that don't
want to ding a door every time they unload the rear seats. And
for folks such as moms juggling groceries and preschoolers and
puppies all at once, or a family on a multi-state driving trip,
few vehicles can match the minivan's comfort, versatility and
just plain practicality -- especially with progeny in the rear
occupied by some eye-popping DVD cartoons via wireless earphones.
(Guess who's laughing now.)
As
minivan jokes have grown stale and the segment has matured as
a group, some automakers are looking for new ways to identify
and to dress them. (GM's "crossover sports van" for
its upcoming four-pack of models comes to mind.) And they're adding
even more refinements and delightful little surprises that can
make having one a pleasure -- disappearing rear seats; a flip-over
perch for tailgating; a second row seat that slides sideways to
separate two battling siblings who moments before were poring
over cartoons with seats pushed together; tons of entertainment
options for the long, long trip. With growing interest, ROAD &
TRAVEL Magazine offers the following perspectives about a vehicle
where, presumably, the best is yet to come.
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