Crossovers - The New Vans? Or not?

What do you guys think of some of the new "crossover" vehicles coming out. The manufacturers are trying to split the difference between vans and midsize SUVs. The GMC Acadia is almost as big as some of the minivans out there, but its packaging suggests more of an SUV. Do sliding doors define a van? What about the older Mazda MPVs? They had swing-out side doors. Were they vans?  

my oppinion would be they are NOT vans... once the vannin.com guys get over here ya should see lotssss of oppinions! LOL  

Yeah, I figured this would stir up some controversy. It seems the unofficial determination of what makes a van is a sliding door now, even though a lot of the older vans had swing-out double doors.  

ok... vannin.com dude here and a young one at that so i've got tons of oppinions. and the answer is HELLS NO they aren't vans.
mini vans aren't even vans.... you want to see a real van check out some fullsized. and don't get me wrong when i bash on mini vans because i'm not including Astro/safari's in that catagory.
yea... definately a no no on the van list though.
you guys should be lookin forward to some serious van talk here though!

later

1989 Chevy Beauville  

I have been vanning for 34 years and in my opinion they are not vans at all. There are many opinions on what makes a vehicle a van. They include but are not limited to:
1. Built on a truck frame not a car frame. Note some vans were built with unibodies IE the early Econos.
2. Must be offered in a panel version.
3.Vans are basically cargo haulers not people haulers although many vans do come as conversions.
4. Must have been designed, built, marketed and sold as a van.
5. Contrary to popular belief how side doors open has nothing to do with "is it a van". Some vans had no side doors, some sliding and some barn doors.  
Mike Cook
Vice President
Inland Vans Berdoo
2008 Route 66 Hall of Fame Inductee

A van being a van has nothing to do with its doors. A crossover is not a VAN. The biggest issues on vannin.com were not so much about what a van is, but more of what would be allowed into a vans only run. There are several eVANts throughout the year that only allow Vans and Panels (the predecessor to the van). The main part of the issue is the Mini-van.

We all know what a full size van is. Although there is new concern about the new Sprinters and the like. The Mini-van market is flooded with van, crossover, SUV looking vehicles.

I'm glad it's not up to me to descide what is and what is not a mini-van. They all look similar to me except for some are bigger than others.

The first real issue was over the Scion. I think its called the XB. To me it looks like an Astro (no offense anyone) just smaller. It was never offered as a panel version, so it was not considered a mini-van. The Chevy HHR (mini-Suburban) has now been marketed from the factory in a panel version. Not really a van or a mini-van in my eyes, but it is a Panel (says so right on it).

Bottom line...  Full size vans are a no brainer. Mini-vans, Mini-crossovers, Mini-panels, basically if you want to bring one to a Vans only eVANt, call the host club and see if they will allow you to show.  

The HHR is the only thing out there that even comes close to a VAN and its NOT a van but a new modle sedan delivery.








I can see these getting popular with the West Coast guys due to the gas sipping four cylender.
The black HHR was a fully loaded modle and was on the road for with a price tag in the low twenties.
Thse "gullwing style' rear door and the shaved rear handles with electric door popper mounted in the front dash were nice features.......
Its not a van but it IS a nice little panel........

...........Wookee  


its a "Van Thing" a life style you have to live to understand

Speaking of which, have you guys seen the specs on the new HHR SS? Looks pretty sweet. No word on if it's going to be offered in a panel version or not, but I think that would be pretty sweet. Check out my blog post on it.  

The HHR panel is a very interesting vehicle. There were 2 of them at the Nationals owned by vanners who previously and possible still have vans. I have a feeling we will see a few more next year. They are quite a bit smaller than a van but if gas prices and or reliability are an issue you can do pretty well going on a long journey in one of these.
 
Here is an HHR Panel owned by Teazer Design that parked coincidentaly beside my rental Saturn Relay minivan at the Donut Derelict Cruise in March.  




I think I would have rather been driving the HHR. If GM doesn't offer the SS version in the Panel I am sure the good people at Teazer design will beef it up. After all they managed to stuff a Hemi in a Pt Cruiser panel.  
Vannin.com staff, showtrux.com/paneltruck.com webmaster
Member Van Azur, ACVQ, OFV, National Truck-In Board support staff and occasional contributer to this fine magazine going back to 1982.

Hmmm, cars at the "VAN" nationals. "A few more next year" I think I predicted this bafoonery and was told it would not happen at the nats. Now I am curious as to how many other cars were at the nats like maybe PT Cruisers, ScionXBs, Mazda 5s etc. I know there were a lot of motor homes and trailers too so I now have to ask what percentage of the vehicles there were actually vans? Less than 80% maybe?  
Mike Cook
Vice President
Inland Vans Berdoo
2008 Route 66 Hall of Fame Inductee

NO Mike,there was 2 HHR panels there the "Van Nationals" are open to vans and panels there were also NO RV's inside the gates so you really don't kmow as much as you think you do my freind.
604 through the gates you want to exclude the 2 HHR panels thats still over 90 percent.Vans and Panels........

............Wookee  


its a "Van Thing" a life style you have to live to understand

The pic I saw of motor homes must have been outside the gate then. I stand corrected wookie. I really don't consider HHRs to be panel trucks, more like sedan deliveries. So what happened to the Mazda 5 that was supposed to be there that it's owner made such a stink about on vannin.com a few months ago?  
Mike Cook
Vice President
Inland Vans Berdoo
2008 Route 66 Hall of Fame Inductee

Well its not a van so I guess it did not make the trip.

......Wookee  


its a "Van Thing" a life style you have to live to understand

Yeah but according to him the nats board said a Mazda5 is welcome to the nats as a van. Anyway wookie it is nice chatting with you again. You and Virtual and Ken need to light a fire under more vannin.com members and get them onto these forums.  
Mike Cook
Vice President
Inland Vans Berdoo
2008 Route 66 Hall of Fame Inductee

600 Vans in one place must have been amazing.....Mike did you go to that one and show your van??