Minivan

A minivan is a vehicle designed primarily for passenger safety and comfort, with three rows of adult-size seats, access through large sliding doors, and car-like handling and fuel economy. Minivans are purchased for their versatility and can often transport more people than a three-row sport utility vehicle, and also with better comfort, access, and fuel economy. Like most modern vehicles, minivans are typically of unibody construction with front-wheel drive. They also feature a short, sloping aerodynamic hood. They are usually taller than sedans or station wagons, affording a good view of the road. Minivans usually have removable seats to allow hauling of cargo on a flat floor.

The name minivan derives from the fact that when they were introduced in North America they were smaller and more car-like than the traditional full-sized vans like the Ford E-Series, Dodge Ram Van, and the Chevrolet Van, which were variants of pickup trucks, with truck-like driving and poor fuel economy. In the British Isles they are sometimes called Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) or people carriers. The Mini Van, a van version of the Mini was produced from 1960 to 1978, after which it was renamed the Mini 95.