Vans and minivans do everything trucks and SUVs do, and they do it better. Every time. No exception. SUVs and crossovers are just worse minivans for people who think they’re too cool to drive a minivan.
And those outside of North America largely need not apply. I wish we could just have a robust public transit system here, but apparently, public transit is antithetical to muh freedum or something. Or so they tell me.
And that’s not even getting into the point the post makes, which is that these monstrosities are getting bigger and more dangerous to pedestrians, yet our governments do nothing to stop it.
You can fit at least a twin, probably a full size inside most minivans (I did have to take one out of a grand caravan recently), and a queen or king would go on the roof fine if you spec one with crossbars. Most minivans also have reasonable towing capacity, so renting a U-Haul utility or cargo trailer is less than the difference in one monthly payment between a van and a bigger truck or SUV. I’ve put thousands of miles on my 2nd gen highlander hybrid just towing either my utility trailer (5x8) or a U-Haul cargo (4x6, 5x8, and 6x12), moved twice, helped friends and family move, done dump runs etc… I’ve only rented a moving truck once, for my first move, and that was only due to limited time for a full apartment move.
The Highlander is an SUV and is thus unsafe to pedestrians and worse than a minivan according to this post.
I mean, it’s a hybrid vehicle that seats 7 people that is smaller in length and width than a new sienna, the same weight and the same towing capacity. It might be an inch or 2 taller than the sienna overall because I needed to add a 1.5" lift when I replaced my suspension at 195000 miles to give me the ground clearance to clear the rocks where I go camping when it’s fully loaded, but I still manage to get the 28mpg it was rated for 13 years ago. My previous 2006 highlander hybrid had almost 170K on it when I upgraded to the 2012. Hate on a Tahoe or Expedition or Wagoneer all you want because they are fucking absurd vehicles, but I bought literally the only used AWD, hybrid people mover/working vehicle I could buy, and when my 2006 hihy came out it was the only option at all 15 years before the Sienna went hybrid.