Minivans remain one of the best ways to carry an entire family, and remain a somewhat popular niche long after the crossover takeover. But let’s picture a world where the crossover couldn’t beat the minivan, and all of the world’s automakers raced each other to build the best minivan. Which car or SUV would make a great minivan?
This question popped into my mind shortly after Thomas informed the Autopian Slack about some sweet Porsche Cayenne event that he went to. I’m sure he’s going to write about that, but seeing all of those Cayennes made me think. What if Porsche had created a super minivan instead of a super SUV?
As I have written in the past, when Porsche charted a course in the 1990s to secure its future, it examined trends and, at the time, minivans were still sizzling hot. Porsche ended up whittling down possible future vehicles to a sport minivan or a super SUV. Of course, Porsche ended up going with the SUV. Hindsight vision being perfect, we know that the Cayenne was the correct choice as SUVs only became more popular as minivans lost ground.
But I still like to think “what if?” What would have happened if some of the cars or crossovers that have been built had been minivans instead?
I think it would have been interesting to see something like the original BMW X5 be a minivan. Imagine a minivan with a silky-smooth straight-six or a healthy V8, miles of leather, and parts robbed from the BMW E39. Of course, this was back when BMW really cared about driving feel, too, so like the X5, a BMW minivan could have had surprisingly good handling and competent rear-biased all-wheel-drive. The early BMW X5 was also available with a five- or six-speed manual, too, so I’m picturing this alternate reality minivan going the same way.
Now, let’s go a really crazy direction and talk about Ford Broncos. Now, the current Ford Bronco is an absolute tank. There’s video out there of me absolutely getting massive airtime in a stock Bronco in Michigan. It’s wildly capable for sure. But let’s think of a weird alternate reality here where minivans had become so popular that, when reviving the Bronco, Ford had to make it a minivan in order for it to sell.
As silly as it sounds, I love the thought of a minivan with lockers, high ground clearance, actual off-roading chops, and oh yes, a removable roof.
So, I think you have an idea of what I’m talking about here. An alternate reality where minivans reign supreme. What cars, trucks, or SUVs today would have actually made for great minivans?
I yield in the presence of an elite MS-Paint superuser, though would like to see an Aztec minivan rendering.
I can’t believe nobody has commented on whatever abomination appears in the topshot. That thing is so boss. I don’t usually go for trucks but holy crap that thing rules.
Mazda needs to overinflate a 3 and make a new Mazda5.
Then they need to REALLY get nuts.
Take the Miata and stretch it every which way, slap a tall body on it with sliding doors to make a new version og the OG MPV. The rear wheel drive one. But with Miata underpinnings, make it handle well!
I was about to say “Ford C-Max” but apparently there was a minivan version called the Grand C-Max that was within an inch or two of the dimensions of the first generation Dodge Caravan. Naturally, it wasn’t offered here in ‘Merica.
I’ve always been fascinated by the B-max, with its pillarless sliding doors. I’d have loved one, but obviously it wasn’t available in the states and I don’t think it sold well in England either.
Every single crossover.
The minivan is superior in every way unless you’re trying to build a soft-roader, and that’s less than 1% of the market.
I keep waiting for Subaru to re-enter the minivan space.
A Subaru Accent Minivan would be nice.
The Scout III! Seriously when IH was trying to figure out what to do with the next Scout was to include a Mini-Van version. It even included sliding doors on both sides and would have been available in a 7 passenger version. Alas the upper brass said sell off/shut down the Scout Business Unit. One of the companies they tried to get interested in purchasing the SBU as an ongoing concern was Chrysler. They of course didn’t follow through after some investigation.
Once the unit was shut down, many of those now out of work engineers and designers went knocking on Chrysler’s door looking for a job. A number of them did get hired, the concepts they had drawn for the Scout III, still in their heads, including of one of the full size styling clays of a standard 2dr version.
Jason even posted an article about that styling clay at the “old site”, unfortunately the photos are now long gone but in the article he does mention the design details they recycled for the Town and Country front end and the sidelight design recycled for the Cherokee. https://www.jalopnik.com/have-a-look-at-the-1980s-international-scout-that-never-1758491270/
Also the Citation, which got to full pushmobile status, was mentioned in several era publications and was touted as “coming next year” as a late addition to the Citation line. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/concept-car/concept-outtake-1979-chevrolet-nomad-ii-gm-shoulda-woulda-coulda-been-the-fwd-minivan-pioneer/
There was a time where some Japanese manufactures got really close. Mitsubishi colt vista wagon, Nissan Stanza Wagon, and others. Heck the Stanza had 3rd row folding jump seats.
Counter argument:
They would all make better station wagons, which are superior to Minivans. Seeing how Mivivan’s are simply station wagons with a higher center of gravity.
Station Wagon All The Things!!!
Counter counter argument: The minivan’s significantly higher roofline makes a strong argument for its existence alongside of instead of in place of the station wagon. I’m a big fan of both vehicle configurations and think both were superior to what replaced them.
Ford Excursion or Suburban, same seating as a minivan but with towing capacity of a SUV. Like a modern day Chevy Astro.
Here’s one for the Bishop, What if they made a new Astro for 2025,?
Most of these new 3-row electric SUV/ CUV’s mostly look like minivans to me. The Lucid Gravity and Hyundai Ionic 9 basically are minivan shaped already and would be better with sliding doors imo
A car based fwd biased CUV with limited ground clearance IS a minivan. Just without sliding doors.
And the useful rear storage. (backs are too sloped)
Suburban/Yukon/Escalade, same end customer but lower clearance, sliding doors, stow and go seats, V8 options already exist.
I think the Escalade EV is very close to minivan form, similar to the Lucid Gravity.
The Express is still for sale! The BOF construction makes lower clearance and in-floor storage for seating almost impossible.
The Ford Flex was basically a boxy minivan and has Autopian acclaim. If they had made the rear doors sliders, that would have been a great rugged alternative to today’s curvy minivans.
I rented one once and liked it a lot
The Subaru Ascent.
The Ascent itself is about the blandest product that currently exists. A boring-as-hell 3-row SUV with hardly any character. But you know what would be sweet? Take the Ascent, tweak the design, add sliding doors and BOOM! Sweet AWD mini-van. Add an (admittedly hideous I’m sure) Wilderness trim, and now we’ve got a sweet off-road(ish) mini-van that does everything the 3-rows SUVs do, but with better packaging for people and cargo.
I know Subaru doesn’t take risks of any kind anymore, but I would be stoked to see (and would probably buy) a Subaru van.
I was also thinking Subaru. All wheel drive vans are frequently in demand, and for a long time Subaru was known as the safety brand. I’d try for some better packaging, but I’m sure it would end up being a nice and functional van.
It lines up with basically every demographic that they want to sell large vehicles to. The safety marketing is a great point. This is also the dog owner brand, and it seems to me that a minivan is a great option for people with large dogs.
Basically, all CUVs would be better as minivans. Akin to the old Nissan Staza Wagon at the small end, the Mazda 5 in the middle, and the standard Sienna at the larger end.
The Ford Mondeo/Fusion would have made a great, fun to drive minivan w fold-away seats in the 2nd and 3rd rows.
Oh – Wait – it was actually done for the 2nd and 3rd Gen Ford Galaxy.
(North America just wasn’t good enough for it.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Galaxy
Honda Element. It was already a pretty cool looking box with an adaptable interior. Keep the features like fold up seats, ability to spray it out. Stretch just enough for a third row. Upgrade to the V6. Active lifestyle van.
Imagine if Ford came out with the 2027 Country Squire. But instead of standard rear doors, it had sliding doors like a typical minivan. I feel like this could also be a great assignment for the Bishop to draw up.
Many gen-Xers had the opportunity to ride in these growing up and have fond memories.
Nissan Pulsar NX…. it already had toppers to change the shape of the car, why not a minivan topper?
The UAZ-452 works for my minivan needs https://www.uaz.ru/en/cars/classic
Buhanka!
A truly Mini Van, not just a high roof unibody wagon with sliding doors.
The Porsche Cayenne.
The cybertruck would’ve been an awesome minivan.