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Yeah, I know, minivans are good family-haulers and i'm a snooty elitist driver to even think of criticising them.
But seriously, from a driver's point of view, what is irreplacable about the minivan itself? Minivans are good haulers, but almost every other feature has been lacking for years. Gas mileage falters when compared to wagons and suvs. Drivability, obviously, fails completely when compared to cars or suvs. Power is lacking. Sytle... well, let's just say that minivan style isn't exactly primo property. Even reliability is in question, with many safety scandals concerning minivans. Wouldn't an suv be a better bet? Or, for the more green-minded person, a wagon? Why do minivans still occupy the market  when other classes of vehicle, depending on your needs and taste, offer so much more?  

Wow.  How to answer this.

I drive an Odyssey.  I find the premise of your whole post silly.  I don't think you've ever driven an ody, else you wouldn't make some of the assumptions you did here.

Not even worth writing anything more.  I don't think you'd get it.  

I agree. The Odyssey is by far the best minivan on the market. Styling is just okay, but it is reliable and is built solid. My dad has a '99 version that, admittedly, had transmission issues and electric door problems. However, those were fixed under warranty and the van's engine still runs as if it were new (there's over 110,000 miles on that thing now).

SUVs will be more top-heavy than minivans, and station wagons don't offer as much storage space. Drive an Odyssey with the fold down seats and you'll understand — or go look for one next to the trucks at Home Depot.    

Sorry for generalizing like that. I don't really despise the odyssey. I just mean vans like the Multipla, T&c, and a few others that went through scandal. sorry if i offended you  

We've had a T&C for a long time.  Hadn't had any problems with it at all.  From a technical standpoint, it is a marvelous tool - except for middling mileage (it's only advantage over a comparable SUV).  

It's as useful as a wheelbarrow to a gardener, and your level of pride-in-ownership is at about that 'tool' level.  

No one who grew up in '60s-'70s big wagons wanted one.  Minivans were a way getting the same practicality as Dad's Vista Cruiser in a smarter modern package.  Now minivans are uncool and wagons may swing back into favor?  There are a lot of Subarus wagons on the roads.

I overlook CUVs (compromise utility vehicles, as they do nothing well).  

Wagons imply 'utility' and we have trouble mixing it with 'sport'.  To paraphrase my wife, "are we getting something useful or not?"  
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Graduate, Rodan School of Automotive Design

I am a big fan of minivans. Admittedly, as a longtime staff editor at Automobile Magazine, I have had the luxury of using minivans only when I wanted, and not as everyday transportation. But if I had kids, which I don't, I'd want a minivan. Not an SUV. Not a crossover. And not a wagon. When you need to haul 5 to 7 people and a bunch of gear, nothing works as well as a minivan. The Suburban comes close, but it's not as easy to get into and out of, and I would venture that it's not quite as comfortable. And it's certainly nowhere near as efficient.

As for fuel economy, minivans routinely achieve up to 25 mpg on the freeway. Show me any SUV that can even approach 20 mpg and still carry 5 to 7 people.

I think the Odyssey, the Toyota Sienna, and the Nissan Quest are reasonably handsome. The new Chrysler Town & Country is kinda funky. Not handsome, not ugly, but certainly not pretty. But, really, minivans are not about style; they are all about utility. One hopes that the parents who drive one also have a more stylish sedan or coupe in the garage which they can use for nights out on the town. But it's best to consider minivans for what they are---incredibly efficient, comfortable, and versatile haulers of people and gear---rather than for what they are not: sexy.

I am driving from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Columbia, Missouri in two weeks with four family members, including my 7-year-old niece, for another niece's graduation. We are taking Automobile Magazine's Four Seasons Chrysler Town & Country, and I cannot imagine a better vehicle for the task.
Joe DeMatio
Automobile Magazine  

F430:  What do you mean by " that went through scandal" ?  

I like minivans on paper but I do wish they drove a bit better. My wife used our Four Seasons Town and Country to haul the kids around for a few days and was very impressed with the power sliding doors and how easy it was for loading the kids and all their gear. The problem was that she didn't enjoy driving the family mobile. It was floaty and soft and offered little enjoyment.

I love the idea of a minivan-type vehicle that is fun to drive. I think the Euro Ford S-Max comes closest to this concept. Give me a 5 + 2 seating arrangement combined with some of the family friendly interior features found in the Chrysler minivan but bolt it all to an excellent, fun to drive chassis. VW could do this with a larger GTI-style family mobile. Just don't try to make it look or act like an SUV. I know that Americans like SUVs but hopefully high fuel prices will remind people that they don't need a 3-ton 4x4 if they live in Florida and don't own a boat.  

I love pulling up to Home Depot in my 1992 Toyota Previa  and loading 4x8s into the back while people in SUVs have to bring a trailer. I love being able to throw 4 or 5 bikes in the back for races. I love complaining about getting 20mpg while people in those big dumb SUVs are happy to get 15. I love it that my AWD minivan probably goes off road more than 99% of SUVs, and stays straight at 60mph in the snow. I love that I sold my BMW 323i Baur and kept this car after I got divorced. I love that it's a Toyota and it just won't die. SUV? No thanks. I'm waiting for the new Sienna hybrid.  

But can minivans haul like an SUV? I'm about to load an entire apartment (OK, the stuff movers won't pick up) and boxes of from two storage facilities to a new home using our Four Seasons Chrysler Town & Country.  I'm hoping I have an easy time removing the rear seats and pray the Chrysler has enough power to make it up Pittsburgh's hills!  

Marc,

This is why I asked, in the current issue board, how the GM lamda triplets drive compared to a minivan.  The lamda triplets are essentially minivans with SUV bodies.  The previous GM versions attempted this but were just complete disasters.  

I bought the Ody as my minivan becuase, for a minivan, it drives very well.  Indeed, you guys made it an all star not that long ago.

I do wish though, Honda would sell the JDM Ody here.