Vans and mini-vans

DO YOU DRIVE a mini-van? Know someone who owns an RV? Ever notice the delivery and service vans in your community? Vans come in many different sizes and models -- some built for people, some for cargo, some for both -- and they're increasingly popular on American highways, accounting for 1 in 10 of new vehicles sold.

Vans are a category of trucks. They're often built on a truck chassis, with heavy-duty construction and suspension. Passenger vans can seat six to 15 people, while cargo vans have lots of open room for hauling goods or work materials. The extra size of a van can mean increased efficiency in moving people and cargo. That's why many transportation agencies encourage commuters to use "van-pools".

Mini-vans: Introduced in the mid-1980's, these vehicles have become standard features on the American highway. Consumers buy more than 1.1 million mini-vans each year. A "mini-van" is just that -- a smaller version of the traditional van. Mini-vans have become a popular choice for many motorists, replacing the station wagon for many families, and also used by many small businesses and other groups.

Mini-vans come in both cargo and passenger configurations (usually 6-7 people), and often have removable seats for mixed use. The driver sits high (as in a pickup) and the vehicle is of moderate length, which makes mini-vans relatively easy to drive. Mini-vans have excellent safety records, too, due in part to their size and weight. New models offer enhanced safety features, including air bags, anti-lock brakes and side-impact protection, which provide even greater safety. Most mini-vans have FWD, for improved fuel economy, while others offer RWD or 4WD for greater hauling power. Fuel economy ratings are slightly lower than cars, but these vehicles often save fuel by carrying more people.

Compact & mini-van models include: Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, and Plymouth Voyager; Chevrolet Astro, Chevy Venture, GMC Safari, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Pontiac TransSport; Ford Aerostar, Ford Windstar and Mercury Villager; Nissan Quest; Toyota Sienna; Honda Odyssey; Isuzu Oasis; Mazda MPV.

Standard vans: The "traditional" vans are built for larger loads (people or cargo), and they continue to grow in popularity. Full-size passenger vans usually seat 8-15 people, and are used in commuter "van-pools" and as para-transit or shuttle vehicles. Full-size cargo vans provide up to 160 cu. ft. of space, useful for service and delivery vehicles; and many models are available with stronger engines and suspension, for hauling heavier equipment. Vans are built with RWD, to permit hauling and towing of heavy loads. Vans and van chassis are also used to develop a variety of special custom vehicles (such as campers, ambulances) with larger frames and bodies.

Regular vans may not provide as much interior comfort as mini-vans or cars, but they're capable of moving greater loads. They provide good safety protection, because of their size and weight. Fuel economy ratings are somewhat lower (especially on heavy-duty lines), as with full-size trucks, but they're doing more work. Passenger vans can take the place of several car trips, thus saving fuel, cutting emissions and reducing congestion.

Standard van models include: Dodge Ram Van and Ram Wagon; Ford Club Wagon & Econoline; Chevy Express & G Van, GMC Savana & G Van.

Conversion vans: One of the most popular form of recreational vehicles (RV's), these are vans (usually standard-sized) specially modified for use by travelers and vacationers. Many offer built-in cooking and sleeping facilities, as well as comfortable chairs and other amenities. RV's have made long-distance travel more affordable for millions of Americans!

Federal standards: Here's what the government requires on vans, mini-vans and other light trucks:

• Safety -- Vans and other light trucks provide some natural safety advantages for occupants, because of their size and weight. In addition, Federal safety standards for new light trucks have been strengthened in recent years, and are now similar to those for cars. Dual air bags and improved side-impact protection were phased in during the mid-90's and are now standard equipment.

• Emissions -- The Federal government sets tough limits on harmful tailpipe emissions from light trucks, as well as for cars. Those standards were tightened in the 1980's, further tightened during 1994-96, and many new trucks meet the even stricter voluntary "NLEV" standards (see emissions info). Emission limits for smaller light trucks (under 6000 lbs. GVWR) are now similar to cars. There are separate standards for larger vehicles (6000-8500 lbs. GVWR) with bigger engines, because of the extra work those truck engines must do, but emissions are still quite low.

• Fuel economy -- Light trucks incorporate many modern fuel-saving technologies, although basic truck functions limit the use of some techniques used in passenger cars (such as FWD, smaller engines and extreme aerodynamic styling). Gas mileage varies among vans, depending largely on vehicle size, weight and engine, with higher ratings for mini-vans (see consumer guides). Mini-vans and those vans under 8500 lbs. GVWR are subject to the Federal "light truck" average fuel economy standard, 20.7 mpg for MY1997-2001.