Chart Of The Day: U.S. Minivan Market Share In 2014

by Timothy Cain

September 13th, 2014 9:29 AM

chart of the day u s minivan market share in 2014

Minivan sales in America have grown 6% this year even as last year’s top seller, the Honda Odyssey, has suffered a 4.5% year-over-year volume decline. A slight uptick in Toyota Sienna volume has helped, but decreased sales from the Nissan Quest and now-cancelled Mazda 5 haven’t helped.

Minivan volume from Chrysler and Dodge, however, has grown by 27,414 units, or 17.1%. Chrysler is on pace for its best Town & Country sales year since 2006; Dodge is on track to post its best Grand Caravan sales year since 2007.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures.

#August2013Sales #ChartOfTheDay #ChryslerMinivans #Minivans #U.S.AutoSales

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Big Al from Oz on Sep 13, 2014

My previous experience with the Chrysler minivans has left me thinking they are an uninspiring drive. The Kia Carnival is in the same league. If I ever grew young again and required a family van I would have to choose the Mercedes Benz Grand Viano V6 diesel. It gets around 30mpg average with six on board. This should maybe be the benchmark for family vans. http://www.carshowroom.com.au/newcars/reviews/3926/2013_Mercedes_Benz_Viano_Review_and_Road_Test

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- Stuki on Sep 13, 2014
  
  Compared to (barely) converted diesel cargovans, the new Chryslers may as well be Rolls Royces.
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Sep 14, 2014
  
  @stuki You are correct. It's more or less a pimped cargo van, but re-engine with a 420ftlb diesel. As for those Chrysler/Dodge vans, no thanks, I had one for a hire vehicle when in the US for a while. The Mercedes work vans actually do drive better. It's pretty bad when a cargo van is better than a purpose built people mover like these Chrysler/Dodge vans.
  
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- Stuki on Sep 14, 2014
  
  @Big Al from Oz My experience with those kinds of vans are probably more limited than yours, but driving a US spec sprinter vans on beat up US highways at 85, made me really pine for the comfort, quietness and ride quality of the Honda Element. And Lotus Elise. And that's not even considering crosswinds.... US Minivans are pretty darned impressive vehicles for what they are. The Sienna rides like a mid lux SUV. The Chryslers start out a bit worse, and gets rattier quicker, but they still seem like they have been designed with some though to going faster than 40mph, which I guess is the "target speed" for urban delivery vans in Europe.
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Sep 14, 2014
  
  @stuki, I do think your view of Europe is rather backwards. Their highway system will almost rival that of the US. In some case it will make the US system not look that good at all. I would think the EU overall has higher speed limits on these highways as well. As for the vans and their performance. The Mercedes Benz Viano we have will easily sit on 85mph day and night up hill, through dale. Maybe you should actually go over to the EU and look around. It's actually quite pleasant. Your 85mph comment will surely reduce your FE significantly as well. We had the Plymouth, and Dodge vans for several weeks or so at work. Their ability to work and carry 5-6 people really displayed their shortcomings. Once we had 7 in the vans, not only was it uncomfortable, but the vans became near on dangerous through overloading. The suspension tuning is not able to manage those loads effectively. The vans might do okay with mom, dad and the kids.
  
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- Stuki on Sep 15, 2014
  
  @stuki I've driven and ridden in almost every country in Europe. Spend quite a bit of time there. Speed limits are higher, but few people do the long freeway drives that are common in the Western US. In Germany, some do have fairly longish commutes, and consequently buy cars much closer to what Americans buy, aside from the Diesel engine. The stereotypical "euro" car; small, underpowered, as tall as it's long, and often diesel as well, just isn't well suited for US driving. Nor for many Germans. Works great in Italy, where people spend more time parking than sitting at 85 in 40mph crosswinds. In the US, work crews of 7 burly dudes don't buy minivans, either. Heck, it seems the most common way to transport 7 workers over here, is 7 separate pickup trucks.... Often the HD variants, to make sure the suspension can handle the consumed donuts....
  
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Cabriolet on Sep 13, 2014

The family that lives across the street from me own a Honda Odyssey approx 6 years old. When they moved in the kids were small and they had an old Honda Accord. Kind of beat up and a lot of rust. Always started and they finally bought the new Honda Odyssey on the record of the old Honda. The Odyssey has been towed from their driveway at least 5 times for a no start over the last few years. A week ago it they had it towed again and Thursday it was back in their driveway. They used the car Friday and today i looked out the window and they made it half way down the block and it died. It was raining and the whole family was pushing the car back to their driveway. I went out to help them and asked what is going on. The owner is ready to set this van on fire. The dealer told them earlier in the week that they finally found the problem but had to get a back ordered part. It came in Thursday and the car started right up. Now it's back to the dealer. The transmission was also replaced a few years ago but they told me it was on Honda;s dime. I think this family spend their money on the basis of how well the old Honda was. I know a number of people that have brought new Asian cars after having older ones for years and now not being to happy with the new wheels. Just some food for thought.

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- Thatkat09 on Sep 14, 2014
  
  Out of all the minivans, the only one that ive heard good things about reliability wise is the Sienna. My aunts Mazda 5 isn't even holding up well. I know people don't like the idea of owning minivans anymore, but some of that may be because of prior history and not style.
  
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Koshchei on Sep 14, 2014

Up here, the Dodge Grand Caravan is thick on the ground. Looking down our street, I can see at least 10 of the 2008+ variety, excluding our 2013 T&C.

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Ry6puwh7vybo8ghot8nowo9ly4ne4deth5ca7ghe6bo7he7gyc on Sep 14, 2014

Dodge Grand Caravan AVP can be found on Autotrader for $16,000. I think that is one of the best bargains out there. USED Toyota Camrys and Accords with 100,000 miles can be found at that price. New, seven passenger V6 auto for that price is amazing, imo.

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