Why Buy a Minivan? Minivans can save excruciating back pain from loading kids into and out of the car, sure, but generally they’re also the safest modes of transportation on the road. Granted, when it comes to crashworthiness, something heavier like a Chevrolet Suburban or a Hummer H2 might fare better in an accident with another vehicle of similar size and weight, but either of those vehicles is more prone to rolling over in that accident, and if the bambinos aren’t strapped down properly, they could be ejected from the vehicle.

Add to a minivan’s greater stability the benefits of better acceleration, superior steering response, shorter braking distances, and more agile handling, and it’s clear that minivans are not only more fun to drive but make it easier to avoid a wreck in the first place. Plus, if you’re conscious of the welfare of anyone but yourself, a minivan is more compatible with regular passenger cars in a crash, making them safer not only for your family, but also your neighbor’s.

Benefits of minivan ownership go beyond saving back pain and increasing your odds that you’ll prove Darwin’s theory of evolution. Costs associated with minivan ownership are less than what they are for SUV ownership. Minvans are priced lower, they are cheaper to insure, and they get better gas mileage. With fuel rising to almost $3 per gallon in some parts of the country, more miles per tankful can add up over time. And with the savings on purchase price and insurance, think how easy it will be to invest for Junior’s eventually crippling college tuition bills.

Comfort is also a big factor when it comes to minivans. Depending on which model you pick, they can easily seat six people (up to eight if you squeeze in tight) and carry a healthy load of cargo. They’re easy to get into and out of, they’re easy to drive, and they’re relatively easy to park. Plus, when you’re loading strollers and diaper bags and the dog for a family outing, the rear liftover height is low and the cargo space with the third-row seat out of the way is huge. And when out-of-town relatives visit, you won’t have to yank the child seats out of a minivan to get people into the third-row seat.

Minivans might not be cool, but the wisdom, intelligence, self-confidence, and selflessness that minivan ownership projects is sexier than any chrome-dipped Cadillac Escalade.