A decade ago, it seemed as though minivans were challenged by three-row SUVs. Half-a-decade, ago it appeared as though enough minivans had disappeared in order for remaining candidates to persevere. Now, the segment appears to be in mortal danger.
The issue for this vehicle, nearly 40 years after its birth, is not the quality of the vehicles themselves. It’s not a lack of innovation, nor could anyone cite a dearth of actual capability. The problem for vans, as we all know, is the ready availability of in-demand three-row utility vehicles. Chrysler Pacifica: 3,731, down 38 percentThe Pacifica took over from the Town & Country in 2016 by using an extinguished Chrysler crossover nameplate. Although stylish, modern and luxurious, the Pacifica hasn’t captivated the Canadian market. Fewer than 20,000 have been sold to date.
Why eliminate the current van? It may be the number-one seller on the sales charts, but the Grand Caravan is a heavy fleet-favourite. It’s also nowhere near as popular as it was. Over 51,000 Grand Caravans were sold in Canada as recently as 2016. Honda Odyssey: 9,257, down 20 percentThe fifth-generation Odyssey debuted for the 2018 model year. Initially, the new Odyssey’s success suggested there could be stability in Canada’s minivan market. The Odyssey produced five-digit sales volume for a sixth consecutive year. Canadian volume tumbled by a fifth in 2019, however. Honda slotted the top-spec Odyssey Touring’s 10-speed automatic into all Odysseys for the 2020 model year and is facelifting the van for 2021.
Kia Sorento: 16,054, up 3 percentCanadian minivan buyers don’t tend to turn to Kia. Perhaps more accurately, Kia’s Canadian family vehicle buyers don’t very often turn to the Sedona. Sorento sales climbed to a new high in 2019, topping 16,000 units for the first time. With the Sorento nearing the end of its current iteration, it wasn’t the expectation, particularly since Kia added another three-row utility vehicle to the fleet last year.