Newest Minivans for 2009

New minivans from Volkswagen©, Ford©, and Chevrolet© characterize the automotive class of 2009.  Every consumer interested in the newest minivans on the market should look at price, fuel mileage, and safety features when choosing a family vehicle. 

Target Markets For New Minivans

The primary target for automakers with new minivans is a parent in need of a safe family vehicle.  Parents with sedans, trucks, and SUVs flock to minivans in order to accommodate trips with large groups.  New minivans offer features like DVD players, movable seats, and abundant cup holders to keep kids happy on long trips.  The varying price points for new minivans help budget-conscious parents find vehicles that will fit their family budgets. 

City, county, and state agencies will often purchase new minivans as part of their vehicle fleets.  These minivans may be used for activities ranging from pet control and law enforcement to transportation for seniors and disabled residents.  The versatility of a minivan’s interior allows a city agency to install additional seats, bulletproof panels, and storage units without sacrificing performance.  The per-vehicle cost for a new minivan as part of a fleet purchase is attractive for agency administrators trying to keep their budgets down. 

Colleges and universities also use new minivans to facilitate on-campus activities.  The most common use of a college-owned minivan is transportation from building to building for students nervous to walk in dark areas.  Minivans can be found carrying surplus furniture, heading to repair calls at student apartments, and carrying students to off-campus activities.  In addition to the attractive price point for new minivans, universities love new minivans because they are often safer than sedans and pickup trucks.


Attractive Features Of New Minivans

New minivan buyers often cite vehicle safety when they choose these models over cars and trucks.  A minivan has a more sizable body than a sedan without the bulky exterior of a truck or SUV.  As automakers have honed their designs to families and businesses, new minivans have been packed with safety features to keep passengers safe.  Minivans have traditionally been ahead of the curve on optional features like side-curtain airbags and rearview cameras that reduce accidents.  While automakers have brought these safety features to trucks and SUVs, new minivans remain popular because of their traditional role as safe and family-friendly vehicles. 

Another reason why drivers choose new minivans over other vehicles is the seating capacity and cargo space available in most models.  The long body of a Chrysler or Toyota minivan may feature two rows of bench seats along with two front seats.  Automakers often allow minivan owners to fold down bench seats to facilitate transportation of tables, chairs, and other oversized objects.  The newest minivans on the market feature tracks on the seating surface that allow adjustment and removal of seats for greater storage space.  A driver can bring his kids and their friends to movies, baseball games, and school without needing a second car.  The convenience of a new minivan is not only a time saver for busy parents, but saves gas and maintenance on the second family car. 

Volkswagen Routan®

The Volkswagen Routan® (http://www.vw.com/routan/highlights/en/us/#/safety_alarm-system) is the hottest new minivan to hit the market in 2009.  The Routan® starts at $25,200, but owners get Volkswagen’s renowned durability and service.  Routan® drivers can expect to get 16 MPG on the city and 25 MPG highway, solid statistics for a new minivan.  The Volkswagen Routan® is defined more by its standard features than the price and MPG numbers on the sales sticker. 

Volkswagen’s© minivan brings the power to its customers with power windows and dual sliding doors.  Routan® drivers have access to anti-lock brakes and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System that sounds warnings when tires are losing air.  The standard roof rack on this new minivan is aimed at the surfers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who love Volkswagen©.  Small touches like 12-volt outlets in the back seating area help passengers stay connected to their laptops, DVD players, and other devices. 

Ford Transit Connect®

Ford Motor Company© is marketing its Transit Connect® (http://www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect/) minivan to commercial customers in the 2010 model year.  The Ford Transit Connect® may look unusual with its high-rising profile, but this minivan’s goal is cargo capacity for delivery companies, couriers and other businesses.  The Transit Connect® offers 135 cubic feet of cargo space with passenger seats folded down.  Drivers can use the dual power sliding doors to ease packages, suitcases, and materials into the Transit Connect’s® cargo area. 

The Ford Transit Connect® is miserly in terms of fuel consumption with an EPA-rated 22 MPG in the city and 25 MPG highway.  Ford’s© Roll Stability Control™ keeps the uniquely designer Transit Connect® on stable ground by controlling pressure applied to all four wheels.  Ford© plans on protecting its customers with side-impact airbags and a collapsing steering wheel to prevent driver injuries in accidents. 

Chevrolet Express®

The Chevrolet Express ® (http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/mds/vehicles/allVehicles.do) is the automaker’s only van because of its ability to serve as a cargo or passenger van.  Chevrolet© touts this van’s ability to hold up to 15 passengers with the help of four bench seats.  The van’s two-wheel drive is ideal for drivers who want to get out of the mud and ice when stuck in bad weather.  While the Chevrolet Express® offers plenty of passenger and cargo space, the EPA has rated the Express® at 20 MPG on highway drives.  Chevrolet© prices the Express® at $25,345 to start, with additional seating and cargo trim available at higher prices. 

Chrysler Town and Country®

Chrysler© celebrates its Town and Country® (http://www.chrysler.com/en/2009/town_country/) minivan as the continuation of its proud minivan tradition.  While the Chrysler Town and Country® is not new in 2009, the automaker has added new features to this popular minivan.  The 2009 Chrysler Town and Country® features a blind-spot alarm system that signals oncoming traffic during turns and reverses.  The Stow and Go® seating system gives drivers the option to fold their passenger seats into the floor for increased cargo space.  The Chrysler Town and Country® has a base price of $27,160 that can balloon past $30,000 with features like heated seats and leather trim. 

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