Doesn't the Odyssey have the 3rd row seat that can be removed?
Seems like that'd be what you're looking for.
I mean there's the Chrysler van but who really wants a Chrysler?
minivans can never get that small because doors have a defacto practical minimum size, so if you want a sliding mechanism, the rear has to be a certain length to accommodate the sliding door.
I'm sure there's not a hard definition of what an MPV is in regards to size. But generally speaking, the MPV's that were sold in America years ago tended to be smaller than minivans. At least, that's what I noticed.
>minivans can never get that small
That's not necessarily true. The [1st gen short-wheelbase Caravan was just 177" long](https://www.allpar.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.allpar.com/attachments/1984-plymouth-voyager-jpg.47995/), or about the same length as the [3rd gen Honda CR-V,](https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2008/05/112_0806_15z-2008_honda_CRV-side_view.jpg) and the [8th gen Civic sedan.](https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2011_honda_civic_1575579678739f78aIMG_0051.jpg?fit=1000%2C667)
>Also, why hasn’t any manufacturer built a place in America to build minivans?
WDYM? The Sienna and Odyssey are both built in the US. The Pacifica is just over the border in Ontario.
Sorry I should’ve a little more precise. Like the ones Europe or other countries get. For example, ford transit connect has a 5 seater compact van. But they’re not available here because of import fees and the likes. But yes you are correct those plants do exist here.
Mazda has offered mini minivans in the past. Uptake was not nearly as good as the full sized. In a shrinking market (minivans in general), you go with what people buy or you stop making them altogether.
I grew up in two Mazda 5s (2006 and then 2010) and they are loud and uncomfortable - the second row captain's seats in particular hurt my ass after more than 30 minutes in the seat. I thought I hated road trips and long drives, but then when I finally got a car, I realized that I just hated sitting in the second row of a Mazda 5.
It was very practical, I just wish they came with better seats... I was much more comfortable in an equivalent model year Sienna or Odyssey, not even in terms of interior space, the seat material was just a lot better. I was comfier sitting in the middle seat of the 3rd row of an Odyssey than in the passenger seat of my Mom's Mazda 5.
The Kia Rondo kind of fit in that category too but they didn’t sell very well. Going back a little further there was the Nissan Axxess and Mitsubishi Expo, which didn’t sell well either.
A contributing factor may be that child seats have gotten so bulky. A sizable portion of buyers who are choosing a minivan, do so because they need to fit multiple child seats. Smaller vans might only be able to fit 2 of these seats abreast, which defeats the purpose.
Minivans are mini. Vans are pickup trucks with a closed back that maximize enclosed space.
I guess I would ask what is the difference in your mind between this hypothetical minivan and a compact crossover?
just a guess, but my theory is that minivans are mostly popular with people for whom an SUV large enough for their needs is too outwardly big to be practical (or fit in their garage). so for those who don’t need as big a car, a similarly (outwardly) sized SUV or smaller ends up far more popular.
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