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SUVs, Cars and Vans – Oh My!
Choosing the Perfect Family Vehicle
By Jessica Woods
"I like the ride of a minivan," says Charzet Wright, a mom of six living in Nashville, Tenn. With the recent birth of her sixth child, however, she needs a new ride. "The minivan only seats seven, so if anyone else wants to ride with us, they are out of luck," she says.
Sanchez explains that many of today's minivans are built on passenger car frames, so they truly do drive "like a car." Minivans come with a lot of other options that may be attractive to larger families such as sliding doors on each side (some open remotely), factory installed DVD/VCR players and adjustable seating arrangements, allowing for more diverse use.
"Once I open up those sliding doors, everyone can file in or file out on their own," says Wright, who appreciates the ease of use and easy access to all the seats.
What's the bottom line? "It's not just a kiddie-mobile; it's a good drive, too," says Wright. Minivans provide room for the whole family and in some cases, friends and neighbors, too, and they aren't too bad on gas mileage, either.
Gabrielle Johnson, a mom of four who lives in Santa Cruz County and commutes to her job as a special education teacher in Santa Clara County, traded in her minivan for a large SUV. "I just feel a whole lot safer in a bigger vehicle with four-wheel drive with all the different weather conditions we have," she says.
