Top 10 Reasons to Choose a Minivan over an SUV

1. Less Rollover Risk

Most minivans have a lower center of gravity than mid- and full-size SUVs, giving them a bit more resistance to rolling over in accidents. The advent of electronic stability control (ESC) on SUVs and minivans can help reduce the risk of rollover, but minivans still out-score SUVs (as a class) when it comes to rollover resistance. For example, the 2007 Toyota Sienna minivan received a 4-star rollover rating (and a 15% chance of rollover) while the 2007 Chevy Suburban earned a 3-star rollover rating and a 23% chance of rollover during testing by the NHTSA.

2. More Standard Safety Features

Many modern minivans are equipped with a bevy of standard safety features: anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control (ESC), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and full front, side and side-curtain airbags. Most new SUVs also have an impressive complement of safety features, but you'll find some of those safety features to be listed as optional extras. Many minivan owners use their vehicles to transport their own children, so automakers have learned to make safety and security a priority for those vehicles.

3. Better Fuel Economy

Nearly all minivans sold in North America today rely on 4- or 6-cylinder engines. While the lack of a powerful (and thirsty) V8 engine may give some minivan owners SUV envy, that reliance on smaller powerplants translates into better fuel economy. A Nissan Quest minivan with a V6 engine has EPA mileage ratings of 18 city and 25 highway.

By comparison, a Nissan Armada SUV (with V8 engine) weighs in at 13 city and 18 highway. Full-size SUVs generally are heavier and rely on more powerful (and more thirsty) V8 engines, which combine to give them poorer fuel economy.

• Related: Top 5 Fuel-Saving Minivans

4. Ease of Entry & Exit

If you're ever watched the elderly or young children try to clamber into the second row seat of a 4WD SUV unaided, you'll understand why the lower ride height of a minivan has some benefits. Most minivans feature a lower step-in height than many SUVs, making entry and exit much easier. Parents of small children often have to frequently lift their kids into and out of car seats in the second row, and the increased ride hieight of an SUV makes that more difficult.

5. Sliding Doors

I've already blogged a bit about how useful sliding doors are on most minivans, but I'll restate my admiration for them here. In my opinion, the sliding door makes entry into and exiting the vehicle a snap, can be employed in tight parking spaces that would trap people in vehicle equipped with conventional swing doors, and they help make minivans the vehicle of choice for those who need wheelchair access and other accessibility options. It's simply a superior idea for accessing the second row seats, and it's a feature SUVs don't offer.

• Related: In Praise of the Sliding Door

6. Interior Flexibility

Minivans are fast becoming family rooms on wheels -- just take a look at the swivel chairs and table [photo] of the new 2008 Chrysler and Dodge minivans. Sure, some full-size SUVs have folding third row seats, but how many allow you to remove some (or all) of the seats in the second row? The Stow 'n Go feature in Dodge and Chrysler minivans is the best example yet of the superior seating flexibility of the minivan, and helps underscore how much more flexible minivans are in this department.

• Related: Inside the Stow 'n Go Seating System

7. Less Expensive

Want to save some money? A minivan is significantly less expensive than a full-size SUV with comparable interior volume. For example, a base 2007 Chevrolet Suburban LS1 with a V8 engine and 2WD starts at $37,760. A 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT starts out at $28,575. If you need to pull a trailer or boat and still have room for 6-8 people, a full-size SUV may be your best bet -- and justifies the extra expense. That said, if your primary use of the vehicle is on paved roads, doesn't involve towing heavy loads and involves carrying 4-8 passengers, the minivan is a more economical solution.

8. Cheaper to Insure

The minivan is one of the least expensive vehicle classes to insure, giving a cost conscious consumer yet another reason to consider a minivan over a full-size SUV. Granted, insurance rates can vary widely across the country, but -- on average -- you'll find that a minivan will cost considerably less to insure than a mid- or full-size SUV.

9. Exterior Dimensions

While full-size SUVs and minivans generally have comparable interior volumes, minivans tend to have smaller exterior dimensions. Most full-size SUVs are based on large truck frames and feature lengthy hoods (used to accommodate large V8 engines), which contributes to their overall length. For example, the Chevrolet Suburban features a vehicle length of 222.4 inches, while the Honda Odyssey EX-L is 201.0 inches long. Most minivans aren't small vehicles either, but every little bit can help when trying to parallel park on a crowded street or when driving into a cluttered garage.

10. Better Handling

Nobody would ever accuse a traditional minivan of being sporty, but most feature more car-like handling and performance than full-size SUVs do. Most of that can be attributed to the chassis used for most minivans, which is normally based on large passenger cars. For example, the Toyota Sienna is based on the Toyota Camry platform, while the Nissan Armada is based largely on the Nissan Titan truck frame. If you prefer a more car-like driving experience over a truck-like one, a minivan will generally be a better choice.