Minivan Market Slumps But Consumer Interest Grows, Exceeds Interest in CUVs

NADAguides.com Analysis Finds That Consumers Are Still Considering Minivans

COSTA MESA, Calif., June 9 -- Though minivan sales are down substantially this year over last, the segment is still key on the radar screens of new car shoppers and now slightly exceeds interest in crossover utility vehicles (CUVs), according to a new study by NADAguides.com. The company says interest in minivans increased 74.3 percent at its website from January to May this year, while interest in CUVs over the same time period increased 73.5 percent. Further, the most dramatic shift occurred over the last month, where consumer interest in minivans increased 1.6 percent from April to May, while CUV interest declined 5.3 percent in the same time frame. The company attributes this increase to minivans' good gas mileage, high safety ratings and family-friendly features.

The company defines "consumer interest" as the number of in-market vehicle shoppers at its website, http://www.nadaguides.com/, who accessed pricing information for a specific vehicle. Crossover utility vehicles are defined as vehicles that have characteristics of both SUVs and cars.

"We believe this is another indicator the tide has shifted and the minivan market will stabilize this year," said Tara Baukus Mello, senior writer and lead market analyst at NADAguides.com. Minivan sales in the U.S. hit a high in 2000 at 1.37 million units, just as crossover vehicles began to arrive on the market. Minivan sales have declined steadily, while crossover sales have increased dramatically, as the number of models in the CUV segment increased. At the same time, several automakers opted to get out of the minivan market. Ford stopped producing its Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans for the 2007 model year and General Motors has said it will stop making minivans at the end of this year.

"Though the minivan segment has gotten smaller, the models available have high safety ratings and are full of family-friendly features in a package that has similar gas mileage to crossovers," said Baukus Mello. "Minivans have two features -- sliding doors and a lower step-in height -- that aren't seen on crossovers and are often strong selling points with families. As CUVs have become commonplace, many minivans have been redesigned, making them cool once again," she added.

The top three minivans consumers researched pricing information for in May were the 2008 Toyota Sienna, followed by the 2008 Honda Odyssey and finally the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, which narrowly beat out its sibling, the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. "This is not a surprise, since not only are these the best-selling minivans today, they are the most established brands in the segment," said Baukus Mello.

The 2008 Mazda MAZDA5 minivan had the greatest increase in interest at 122.4 percent from January to May, which points to consumers shifting interest in automobiles, according to Baukus Mello. "The MAZDA5 is the most fuel efficient minivan today with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and a base price with destination fees of $18,645, which makes it very appealing to consumers who are faced with a struggling economy and rising gas prices," she said. "Though it is more compact than most of its competitors, it still seats six, has sporty handling and sleek styling," she added.

Baukus Mello also commented that the slight decline in interest over the last month in the CUV segment is not likely to indicate an overall decline in crossover sales for the year. She said, "Crossovers are definitely here to stay and will still be the vehicle of choice for many consumers at least in the near term. What we believe it does indicate is that while the minivan market may be smaller, it isn't going away anytime soon."