Minivans vs. SUVs: Which One is More Suitable for UAE Family Adventures?

There’s nothing better than packing the family into a car, loading up all the luggage and heading off for a family adventure. Whether you’re making tracks in the mountains, exploring the vast beauty of the Empty Quarter, or splashing out with a trip to the beach, you need a car that can keep you and your family on the road. But which is better for UAE family adventures – a minivan or an SUV? In this guide, we’re going to take a look at both and see which suits adventures in the Great Outdoors better.

Minivans – all the space you could ever need

Let’s start with minivans. These are often LCVs or light commercial vehicles that have been retrofitted or designed to take passengers rather than cargo. One of the most common LCVs in the UAE is the Toyota Hiace GL. This versatile van can be fitted with up to 12 seats, although it’s more common to find them with either six or eight seats. The big advantage of LCVs is the amount of luggage space available, and the fact that they are ideally suited for big families making those long road trips.

Where the minivan might let you down, though, is on rough terrain. LCVs and minivans are primarily designed to stay on the tarmac and well away from off-road tracks and trails. So if you’re heading into the wilderness a minivan may not be able to cope with the demands of more rugged terrain. If you’re planning to get to your destination on highways rather than byways, a minivan or LCV may be the ideal choice, especially if you have a very big family.

SUVs – go anywhere, do anything

SUVs are a very different type of vehicle from the minivan or LCV. Let’s start with the obvious – SUVs are designed to go anywhere and do anything, including scaling towering dunes or bumping their way along dried-out wadis. With four-wheel-drive and, on some of the larger SUVs, technical features such as a split differential drive-shaft and crawler gears, they can tackle almost any kind of terrain you can throw them at.

On average, SUVs have enough cabin space for five people, with the bigger versions such as the Toyota Land Cruiser having three rows of seats for up to seven people. The added advantage of the big SUVs is that the back row of seats has a flexible configuration, so you can drop one or both seats down to expand your luggage area if necessary.

How do you pick the right vehicle?

If you’re looking to buy an SUV in the UAE or you think that a minivan may be more suitable for your needs, you can ‘try before you buy’ with a test drive. This will give you a chance to get to know the vehicle before you commit to buying it and to make sure it suits your needs exactly. At Al-Futtaim Automall, we’re happy to help you choose a pre-owned SUV or minivan and you can arrange a test drive online from the comfort of your sofa.

Why buy pre-owned?

A pre-owned LCV, SUV or minivan is a more economical choice. With so many different models on offer, there is bound to be something that fits not just your needs but your budget too. Buy from Al-Futtaim Automall and you also get the peace of mind of a year’s warranty on all pre-owned vehicles in the UAE, with the option to extend that to two or even three years for an additional fee.

With Al-Futtaim Automall, you’re also safe in the knowledge that every car we sell has been rigorously checked from top to bottom to ensure it’s completely safe, roadworthy, and reliable.

And if you want to sell your car to put the money towards a newer model, we’ll happily buy your car too. Our online valuation tool takes just seconds to give you a full market valuation based on age, condition, mileage and model. If you accept our offer, you can put your money towards that upscale Toyota FJ Cruiser, or a sleek Toyota Prado.

To find out more, browse our selection of MPVs, SUVs and minivans. Or book a test drive today with Al-Futtaim Automall.