First introduced in the middle part of the 1980s in the form of the XJ trim of the Jeep Cherokee, the sport utility vehicle did not waste much time gaining a foothold. Before ten years had elapsed, the SUV had become the standard family vehicle across much of the United States, with the soaring fuel prices that followed only putting a bit of a damper on their popularity.
Over the course of the last ten or so years, though, America’s infatuation with the sport utility vehicle has been waning somewhat. Drivers still appreciate the feeling of safety such bulky vehicles afford their families, as well as their undoubted ability to carry cargo. Many families, though, have found that downsizing can make more sense when all of the relevant factors are taken into consideration.
This shift in outlook has meant that Harrisburg used mini vans are enjoying something of a renaissance. Before the first SUV ever rolled off assembly lines, mini vans were the go-to choice for many families. Taller and often more comfortable than the station wagons they had virtually pushed out of the market, mini vans made great sense for many families in the 1980s.
As the heightened interest in Harrisburg used mini vans today shows, they can also make great sense today. Relatively light and nimble compared to full-fledged SUVs, mini vans are invariably much more fuel efficient, in addition to being easier to pilot through traffic.
At the same time, they offer plenty in the way of the space that often makes an SUV seem so attractive. Many mini vans, for example, are equipped from the factory with three rows of passenger seating, each of which can be removed or adjusted as desired.
That can make it easy for a family to adapt their daily driver to whatever the day’s needs might be. That versatility is a big part of the reason why so many visitors to local dealers like Blue Knob Auto Sales now seek mini vans, instead of the sport utility vehicles that were formerly so popular. While the latter will likely always have a place of honor on American roads, mini vans are probably here to stay, as well.
