A Brief History of the Passenger Minivan

They get reasonably good gas mileage and are not overly expensive vehicles to purchase. They are typically arranged to hold 7 passengers in a 2x2x3 configuration.

Minivans have been made by almost every major auto maker and most sell well, even with such a crowded market. There is a great demand for these vehicles due to their utility and versatility. Many people simply enjoy the higher than normal driving position without the need to operate a truck or SUV. Since it is such a crowded market, makers of minivans must pull out all of the stops when it comes to features and technology to help differentiate their model from the others in this segment.

History Of The 7 Passenger Minivan

There has always been a need to transport a families worth of passengers in comfort. Throughout the history of automobiles, there have been many attempts to do this. The first was the suburban carryall. For decades it was the largest passenger vehicle widely available. In the 60’s, this changed to primarily station wagons. These could transport many people with the addition, in some cases, of a rear facing seat. They were however, terribly large, poor performing vehicles that had an insatiable appetite for fuel.

The 70’s brought what was the first minivan though it was more of a smaller cargo van than what we typically call a minivan today. It wasn’t until the 80’s that the true minivan came into being with the Dodge Caravan. Throughout the 80’s the minivan world was rules by American car makers. In the 90’s however, the 7 passenger minivan market found Japanese imports to be powerful competitors to the domestic brands. By the beginning of the 21st century, almost every major auto manufacturer had a minivan in their lineup. Soon, the American brands had fallen irrevocably behind the models being released by the Japanese and German marquees. The Korean company Kia has since added themselves to the list of top 7 passenger minivans.

Who Makes 7 Passenger Minivans?

All of the major auto brands have a model of minivan in their catalog. Some of those who are making minivans that worth note are listed below.

Honda 7 Passenger Minivans

The Odyssey is currently considered by many to be the pinnacle of 7 passenger minivans. It features a powerful V-6 engine that develops almost 250 horse power. At the same time, the Odyssey is capable of returning class leading EPA fuel economy at 28 miles per gallon highway. This is helped by its 6 speed automatic transmission. Convenience is a key to the Odyssey’s success as well, with its advanced entertainment system that is more like a home theater than a factory stereo. In fact, the rear screen, which can be used as either a single 16.4” widescreen, or two smaller screens within a screen, is the largest and most sophisticated in its class. The sound system can be configured for either music in both the front and rear or as a single surround sound audio system. The driver isn’t left out either, with an advance navigation system and multiple rear cameras to help them see what is behind the vehicle. High intensity headlights help the van to see what is actually out there at night and at the same time use less power than standard lighting systems. A powerful tri-zone automatic climate control helps keep the 7 or even 8 passengers comfortable even on long trips.

Toyota 7 Passenger Minivans

The Sienna by Toyota is the strongest competitor to the Honda minivan at present. It offers an impressive 3.5 liter V-6 engine mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission with all wheel drive available. It features four wheel antilock disc brakes to help keep the stopping distance as short as possible. It’s all wheel drive option provides improved traction when the road has become slippery due to either ice and now, or from rain on the pavement. The Sienna offers no shortage of technology. It has rain sensing windshield wipers that will actually activate when needed. Wheels up to 19” are available as well as hi intensity discharge headlights mated to LED taillights. An optional audio system with ten speakers and navigation is available. As many Americans can’t get enough cup holders, the sienna provides a full dozen in its largest configuration. Remote keyless entry is also available. The Sienna even offers a towing package which is capable of a 3500 lb. load. Options such as rear seat video screens, wireless headphones, Bluetooth connectivity, and even a dedicated IPod interface are available making this one of the most technology and feature packed minivans available.

Where To Find More Information Online

There are many places one can go online to find more information about 7 passenger minivans. Some good places to start looking are listed here.

Cars.com

The website located at http://www.cars.com has information on all brands of minivans along with a list of the available options and specifications for each model of minivan. They have reviews on their site as well, both from people who have actually purchased these vehicles as well as professional reviews.

Honda.com

You can visit http://www.honda.com for the official site for the Honda Odyssey. They have information about what features and options are available as well as the ability to build your own Odyssey online deciding exactly which options you want to include as well as any packages and the color scheme. You can then see how much the MSRP of you personally fitted minivan will be.

Autotrader.com

One of the internet’s largest auto malls is http://www.autotrader.com. They have listing on many thousands of vehicles both used and new. They have an excellent search engine to help you narrow down the list of vehicles to only the ones you will be interested in, given your criteria.