A minivan is a boxy people mover with sliding rear doors, a low floor, and seats for six to eight passengers. The shape is not stylish. It is efficient. Sliding doors open in tight parking spaces where hinged doors cannot.

Chrysler invented the modern minivan in 1983 with the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. The formula worked: car-like ride, van-like space, garage-friendly dimensions. Japanese and Korean makers soon followed. Today the segment has shrunk as buyers flock to three-row SUVs, but the minivan still beats any SUV on cargo volume and ease of access.

What defines a minivan

• Sliding doors on both sides in most modern models.
• Three rows of seats, often configurable or removable.
• Low step-in height for children and older passengers.
• Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, rarely off-road capable.

Families with more than two children tend to appreciate what the minivan does. The sliding doors alone prevent a decade of door dings in school parking lots. Stowable seats, rear entertainment systems, and vacuum cleaners built into the cargo area are common features. It is a vehicle designed around a specific job, and it does that job better than anything else on the road.