MINIVAN: THE ROLLING FAMILY ROOM

"Our customers consistently tell us how they are delighted with clever, thoughtful interior features wrapped in a clean, refined, slick exterior package," said Chrysler's Ralph A. Sarotte, general product manager for the minivan platform. "Interior features include removable fold-down seats, back seat-mounted grocery bag hooks, rear-mounted front seat umbrella holders, integrated child safety seats and, of course, numerous strategically placed cup holders and hidden storage bins."

Ah, the cup holder. A gift to hurried commuters and harried mothers alike. It is one of the many interior amenities - and selling points - that makes the minivan so attractive to consumers. Here is a vehicle that is as adept at hauling 4-by-8-foot sheets of plywood as ferrying a batch of Brownies to a scout meeting. There is room to move about on long vacation trips, whether it's to stretch out for a nap or give the kids their own space.

It is the space and versatility of a minivan that make it so compelling, according to Dave Bostwick, Chrysler's director of corporate market research.

"It's very practical, yet people get very emotional about it. They get emotional about the practicality," he said. "It's as essential as your kitchen in your house."

Add to that the contact moms and dads can have with their kids while on the road, he said. "All the things that go on in there &mdash it's not possible to do in any other car."

Yet the minivan exceeds the stereotype of a family vehicle. In fact, 40 percent of people who buy Chrysler minivans do not have children. Rather, it fits the active lifestyle of campers and skiers, easily accommodating gear and equipment. It's comfortable for older drivers, offering a strong command and view of the road. And consumers have their choices when it comes to the price tag: there is the entry-level Plymouth Voyager, the lowest priced minivan; the Dodge Caravan, bought by more people than any other minivan; and the Town & Country, icon of the luxury minivan market.