What is a Minivan

Family vans include both large-capacity models and so-called minivans. A variable interior is one of the main features of minivans and determines the purchase of these cars crucial. A minivan usually has five to seven seats, some cars are even equipped with nine seats.

The advantages of the minivan are obvious: better visibility due to the increased seating space and additional passenger space through, usually optionally, the third row of seats.

What are these vehicles now offering what others do not offer. It is the combination of possibilities to be prepared for every situation in everyday life.
Minivan can thus whole room facilities (not yet built) transport  or even half the youth team of the local volleyball club. In between, pretty much every variant is possible. The way in which manufacturers put this variability on the wheels is quite different and takes place mainly inside the vehicle.

The limits for the compact minivans set their external dimensions, up to 4.5 meters in length and rarely under 1.60 meters in height and a maximum payload of about 500-600 kilograms.

Minivan - main description. Seats expandable or retractable

One thing is clear: if cargo qualities are required from a minivan, the seats should be unfolded. If the seats can be removed, this is usually associated with a show of strength (one seat weighs about 15-16 kg), but then there is also a higher load space and more payload ready. In addition, seats must also be stored somewhere.
However, if the seats are retractable in the load compartment floor, nothing speaks against a spontaneous shopping trip in the hardware store.

Second row of seats: individual seats or bench

Anyone who often transports 3 people in the backseat will do them the favor with a seat. Because with a vehicle width of 1.7 to 1.8 meters compromises have to be made in three individual seats and these usually affect the middle.
The advantage of individual seating: the middle seat can almost always be folded backwards and the 2 outer seats pushed inwards and backwards. This creates а comfortable "living landscape" in a minivan with a low noise level.

Third row of minivan seats

Without much to talk about: the third row of minivan seats is the stepchild.
Although the individual seats can effortlessly and just sink into the ground, but they are only thinly padded and have more of the character of emergency seats.

Adults do not want to expect this seat opportunity actually. Because they are accessible only by means of dislocations and for the legs is as good as no space available. Even children should be treated to something better on a longer trip.
In addition: if you are traveling in a minivan with a large number of people, the trunk volume shrinks to zero.

How to load your minivan correctly

The cargo must never protrude above the top edge of the rear seat backrests of minivan. The absence of protective nets or separation gratings must not be allowed. For many minivans, grids or mounting eyelets are already provided or retrofitted as standard.
The advice of technicians: "Absolutely prevent parts of the load from being thrown forward during an abrupt braking operation. In addition, use all available options to protect the entire family in the your car."

Conclusion

Virtually every manufacturer now also sells minivan models in its range in order to score points in the lucrative market for young families.
Vans and minivans: better overview and up to nine seats with ample storage space are strong arguments that many manufacturers take into account in their combi models in different ways.