Honk Survey Reveals the Love Affair Minivan Owners Have with Their Cars

SEE ALSO: Big Family? Lots of Friends?

SAN FRANCISCO--When you think about minivans, "The best car in the world!" probably isn't the first description that comes to mind. Minivan owners beg to differ, though. This group of dedicated owners considers the minivan an indispensable tool for the fast pace of modern family life.

As millions of parents get ready to load up the family vehicle and head out for summer vacation, Honk has released results from a study on minivans and minivan owners. They know that the same busy parents who shuttle kids to soccer practice, school events, and play dates are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to family vehicles.

The Honk study was comprised of a quantitative and qualitative section, with an online survey being used to identify large themes and follow-up interviews employed to build a deeper understanding of key issues.

An overwhelming majority (86.1%) of respondents in the survey reported that they are in love with their minivans and that the vehicle changed their lives. In follow-up interviews, they waxed poetic about sliding doors, fold-down seats, extra space, and how minivans served as a source of stability and convenience in their frantic family life.

Sliding doors were singled out as a key family feature. Parents explained that sliding doors provided vital peace of mind in parking lots, where children can sometimes swing doors open quickly and risk denting a neighboring car. Sliding doors also make loading and unloading cargo and children easy.

In their own words, respondents explain:

• "I wanted an SUV...then I hit a button, the side door opened and I very easily put the infant carrier into the seat...SOLD!"
• "For traveling more than an hour, minivans are great. My kids don't fight anymore because each gets their own row.â€???
• "I always used to say I would never drive a minivan. Then I had two kids and I needed the extra space. We also have a St. Bernard for our family pet and he's now able to travel with us. I love my minivan and am very proud of it."

Results from the survey indicate that minivan buyers were most impressed by how well suited their minivans were for family life. 87.6% of respondents were amazed at the functionality and felt that minivan made life easier.

In their own words, respondents explain:

• "I decided to get one because it seemed more practical. The space, the ride quality, the gas mileage. I just did not feel beat up like I used to after driving my old SUV."
• "We just actually went back to a van after an SUV and I am amazed at how I functioned without it for 3 years!"
• “No one can convince any one until they see for themselves how minivans are the cars that every parent would like to drive: comfortable, roomy and excellent to drive."

As the consumer's voice in the auto industry, Honk recognizes that the opinions you value the most are ones that come from the people you know and trust. When shopping for a car, expert reviews and opinions are important, but actual experience from the road matters more.

About Honk:

Headquartered in San Francisco, Honk's mission is to put fun back into the car buying process. Honk's innovative social platform makes it easy for car buyers to engage trusted friends and family from their own social networks(as well as thousands of other users on Honk.com) before making a decision on what car to buy.

Honk fielded a study from April to May of 2010 to gauge opinions about minivans and asked owners for feedback on their vehicles. The online survey portion of the study received responses from 204 people and follow-up interviews were conducted with an additional 25 respondents. 75% of respondents either currently owned a minivan or had owned a minivan in the past and 65% of all respondents were female.