Why no true luxury mini van in the US? (auto, convertible, Japanese)

[kapikap]

I'm not talking just leather and sunroof, but a real minivan ,luxury, with a V8, sport tuned, the works.

Japan seems to be the place for it, offering an almost convertible minivan, or offerings that look like they were designed by Infiniti,lexus. Hi class, vip styled, reclining heated massage seats, minibar, etc.

The US offers this, but in the full-size vans, or some corny fiberglass shelled, monstrosity. Why never a basic skinned minivan, done right? A Cadillac or Lincoln minivan? Is there not a need?

[Universe93B]

Most minivans used these days are those with young kids, maybe some retired folks who have only 1 all-around car. Have you seen the kind of abuse toddlers can do to the inside of a vehicle? There’s no reason people want to spend lots of money and have nice things inside. The odyssey Elite already is luxury enough.

I guess I’m the 1970s and 80s it would work when people had custom vans to show off and use.

[North Beach Person]

I know when I think Cadillac or Lincoln I think minivan. No I don't.

[Katana49]

It's been tried... and I think Mercedes sold less than 200 of them, worldwide, LOL. Enthusiasts loved it when they stuffed a 6.2 liter engine in their R class minivan (R63) with over 500hp... but enthusiasts don't buy minivans. Soccer moms do.

I think if you'll ever see a "performance" minivan again, it will be from a company like Tesla and will be electric.

[earthisle]

I don't know if they could fit a V8 in a minivan.


Just buy a Mercedes Metris, it's boxy so it's more practical than a minivan, and it's a Benz

[Ziggy100]

A minivan with a V8 is a full size van.
Minivans today don't offer massaging seats, but they do offer rear seat entertainment screens, heated and vented seats, navigation, heated steering wheels, lots of leg room, pano roofs, surround view cameras, adaptive cruise control, power doors, reclining rear seats, doors that open when you wave your foot under them, remote start, etc.

[jackmccullough]

I'm not exactly sure how you define luxury, but I suspect that in general someone in the minivan market is mainly looking for utility, so the minivan and utility markets may not intersect much.

[Qwh]

Mercedes Metris and Mercedes Splinter are sold in the US are are luxury with power seat leather seats and auto breaking and most other features you expect in a Mercedes

[mikeyyc]

We need the Toyota Alphard. The Mercedes V class is nice kitted out too if you don't want a full size Sprinter.

[kapikap]

A quick search on Google , Japanese luxury minivan, will display what I'm talking about.

I see this vans are somewhere in between mini and full size. Just smaller than what is considered a micro bus.i guess safety standards might be the reason.