In Pictures: A history of the once-popular minivan
Love them or hate them, the minivan is a useful vehicle. After hitting their sales peak in 2000, they were replaced by SUVs by many families, despite being less practical than the boxy van
Lee Iacocca introduces the first minivan: The company's new breed of 'garageable' 1984 front-wheel drive family wagons and vans - the Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan and Dodge Mini Ram Van. He predicted that the Voyager and the Caravan would be to the 80s what the Mustang was to the 60s - vehicles that force other manufacturers to come up with copycat versions.
1984 Dodge Caravan
1984 Dodge Caravan - the first generation minivan joined the Smithsonian Collection "America on the Move."
1985 Dodge Mini Ram Van
The Chevrolet Venture was one of five new minvans introduced by General Moters to compete with Chrysler and Ford's models.Reuters
Toyota introduced the 1991 Previa in North America, winning a 'best new van/wagon' award from the Automotive Journalists of Canada
1991 Volkswagen Vanagon Multiwagon
1995 Honda Odyssey EX - the first generation of Honda's full-size minivan in North America.
Exterior view of the Chrysler Pacifica Minivan concept vehicle unveiled on Thursday, October 29, 1998, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Minivan.
Minivan king takes another giant leap for vankind, reads the company’s caption for this photo of its 2001 minivan launch in Detroit. James P. Holden, then-President of DaimlerChrysler, is flanked by all-new versions of the minivans during their world debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Pictured: 2001 Dodge Caravan (left) and 2001 Chrysler Town & Country.
2001 Chrysler Minivan with a power liftgate. (Note subtle message on the package in the grocery bag)
2010 Chrysler minivans came with optional tables and storage bins...
...and tent kits.
2007 Chrysler Grand Voyager with the first-generation minivan (outside North America)
Four generations of the Volkswagen bus
Workers install speakers in a Chrysler minivan in 2011 at the company's Windsor, ON factory.
2012 Toyota Sienna LE V6
2013 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
2014 Dodge Grand Caravan. Chrysler announced today it will cancel this vehicle in the U.S.