Since Renault introduced the concept if the minivan the vehicle has earned a large market because of its practicality and economy. However that isn’t how it started.When Renault launched the first minivan, only two were sold. No not two thousand. Just two! Yup.But then other auto-companies picked up the idea and things changed. Don’t get me wrong, Renault did make a few good minivans. Good but boring. Not something people would be motivated to buy.

The eastern westerners, I mean the Japanese, did however crack it. Today the top 8 passenger minivans are mostly from the Japanese motor industry. From looks to interior design to ride comfort, they have given attention to each detail.

Honda brings us the best 8-passenger minivan called the Honda Odyssey. Debuted in 1995, the Odyssey had humble beginnings but quickly gained popularity in 2000 when the new generation was launched. It featured a V6 instead of the 4 cylinder engine, and a sliding side door. These additions made the Odyssey much more practical than its competitors. The fuel economy was remarkable, the cabin was spacious and well built, and the price was affordable.

 

Ideas from the Odyssey were used by other companies in their minivans as well. In fact Isuzu bought and used the Odyssey for its minivans and renamed it Oasis.

Picture	Name	MSRP	MPG City	MPG HWY	Seats
	2011 Honda Odyssey	27,800	18	27	8
	2011 Kia Sedona	24,595	18	25	7
	2011 Chrysler Town & Country	30,160	17	25	7
	2010 Dodge Grand Caravan	23,660	17	24	7
	2011 Nissan Quest	27,700	19	24	7
	2011 Toyota Sienna	25,000	19	24	8
	2011 GMC Savana 1500	28,000	13	17	8
	2011 GMC Savana 2500	29,000	11	17	12
	2011 Chevrolet Express 3500	32,000	11	16	12
	2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class	60,950	17	21	7

Another great minivan comes from the motor giant Toyota. The Toyota Sienna was introduced in 1998 and quickly became a top choice for many buyers. In the US it is manufactured at Toyota’s Indiana Plant. The Sienna was developed as a replacement for the earlier Toyota Previa. By improving a lot of lacking areas in the Previa, the Sienna quickly gained popularity. In 2004 it was redesigned and made more spacious, safe and powerful. At the moment the Sienna is the only minivan with all-wheel drive.

 

 

The third generation Sienna went on sale in 2010 and received the “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

A third excellent minivan comes from North America itself, the Pontiac Montana. Until 1997, it was known as the Pontiac Trans Sport. Originally the Montana was a trim package for the Trans Sport. In subsequent years it sold so successfully that Pontiac decided to rename the Trans Sport.

However, a sale fell in 2006 and by 2008 production was discontinued. The Montana is still available in second-hand markets and is a better deal even when compared to many new minivans in the market.

But obviously buying a new Sienna or Odyssey still is the best option. Why not spend a bit more on a vehicle that will make you smile and proud – the Odyssey is very good at that.

And on top of that the new mini vans are supporting the style of split screen video monitor to allow the third row to watch what they would like. All of these upgrades help keep the Sienna ahead of its competition as a great family van. Now it is possible to travel with the family and still get a taste of class in the van. As being well known as a family car the Sienna minivan continues to do well against SUV’s that are on the market as families want to have that extra space when they travel.The new Sienna will replace the older models however still support seven to eight passengers just like the older ones. Also with the new edition of the Sienna minivans it is possible to find a limited edition which will be provide the best gas miles on the open highways. However if traveling in style is more important than take a look at the new Sports edition as this will meet the needs of the sporty traveler.
The new Sienna minivans continue to follow suit of the older vans and that is providing a great smooth quite ride and also providing a great family touch to the car still. The Honda Odyssey has been the front running minivan of the time however the addition of the Sienna sports edition should put the Honda into check and allow Sienna to vibe for that number on family spot.

The 2011 Sienna is also found to be ahead of its rival Dodge and their makes of minivans the biggest reason for this is the comfort that Sienna offers it providing the greatest manufactured car. As noted Dodge minivans are known for having troubles, while Sienna represents a better running record.

The Sienna comes in 5 styles anything from the limited edition up to the sports edition. Most of the styles come with the option of seven or eight seats while the sports edition comes only in eight seats. Some features of the inside of this van include the split air flow which allows for each section of the car to adjust the temperature to fit their needs. The limited edition also comes with I-pad, Bluetooth and USB Jacks which are handy on the longer drives especially for the kids now growing up with all the high tech gadgets.

The Sienna also brings plenty of safety in a car. Some features include the anti-lock brakes along with air bags for all passengers. Another great feature for the Sienna is if in a colder climate they offer the windshield deicer option. All makes and models of the 2011 Sienna bring great things to the table along with a smooth ride for the family to enjoy

Some popular models of 8 passenger crossovers for 2011 are the Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, and the GMC Acadia. These models all average 20 miles per gallon. The difference between mini-vans and these models of cars is that the 8 passenger crossovers are built more like an SUV with high clearance, their frame is further off the ground. This can be a huge benefit in regions of the country that deal with snow, or uneven roads.

 

It goes without saying that mini-vans have a bad reputation among parents who still consider themselves young and “cool”. Teenagers dread driving the family minivan and these teenagers have now grown up to be parents in their own right. Thus, the 8 passenger crossover came about. An SUV with an extra seat, the capacity for transporting more passengers without the stigmatism of driving 40 mph in the left lane.

Transforming the storage space in the back of an 8 passenger crossover into a third seat is virtually effortless, and does not require the addition of any extra pieces that is not already part of the vehicle. It can be done on the fly as needed. This is very practical since there is no need for the seats which were left in the garage at home. No planning is needed.

Whether you need more storage space or the occasional extra seats for up to 3 passengers, the 8 passenger crossover gives you the best of both worlds. Most importantly, you can be ready for both situations as they come about, giving you the flexibility to be ready for whatever comes your way. Isn’t this the definition of today’s modern American family? Ready for just about anything.

 

With a couple dozen models of 8 passenger SUVs on the market today, there is a lot to choose from. The SUV is a mature design, having been around for awhile, many of them have very similar features. The biggest difference to be found is between crossover models and traditional SUVs. 

Crossover models, built on a lighter car-frame, require a smaller engine and get better fuel performance, while also having more car-like handling and ride quality. Traditional SUVs built on a truck-frame have a more robust frame and suspension, and larger engine, giving them the edge when it comes to hauling cargo or towing trailers.

The main choice for a consumer comes down to what they want to do. For hauling people around town and light cargo duties a crossover might be the better option as its car-like qualities will be appreciated while navigating the congestion of city traffic. Popular models of crossovers include the Buick Enclave, Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Highlander.

If hauling cargo or towing heavy loads is important than a traditional truck–framed SUV might be the better option. A vehicle with easy to fold down second and third row seats is a nice option. Popular full-size SUVs include the Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia.

 

No car class would be complete without luxury models; the SUV is no exception, and has a number of luxury models to choose from. Available in both crossover and traditional platforms they have similar, but generally better, features to their more mundane brethren. Their main difference is bold and distinctive styling, and more sophisticated materiality and design. Popular models include the Cadillac Escalade, Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Infiniti QX56, Lexus LX570, Lincoln Navigator, and Toyota Land Cruiser.

Many SUVs now come standard with a number of safety features which include Antilock brake systems, traction and stability control, and front and side impact airbags. Additional safety features to look for include rear mounted cameras, all-wheel drive, collision alarms, and blind spot warning systems. For some SUVs these additional features may only be available on higher trim packages.

For the environmentally conscious or those especially concerned about fuel performance, there are a number of SUV models now available in hybrid versions. Also, the lighter crossover models are often powered with efficient V6 engines that can provide reasonable fuel economy. Another option is a diesel engine that is offered in some SUVs.

With all of the 8 passenger SUVs to choose from, there should be one with the perfect combination of style and function to satisfy any consumer.