As the technology and style of other vehicles surge forward, the basic minivan has retained its general look and function for decades. But, more and more moms are trading their cute crossovers and sparkly SUV’s for the ultimate family car: a minivan. There were, at a time, so many moms who felt frumpy or old in their minivans.

So many vows made that, no matter what, they would NEVER drive a minivan. These days minivans keep getting cooler and cooler. A lot of them have stylish upgrade options like black rims on the Chrysler Pacifica. The state-of-the-art entertainment systems and luxurious interiors of minivans on the market today are causing families to look twice. The stigma seems to be fading.

Moms can be seen stepping out of their cool new minivans in designer gear with an all-new minivan mom swag. Having a minivan doesn’t have to mean you sold your soul. Those big SUVs, compact crossovers, and hatchbacks all may have families in tow. That means cheerios, toys, and a sippy cup half-full of some unidentified liquid shoved way under the seat.

No matter what car you drive, there will still be back seat fights in the third row that arms are not long enough to break up. There will still be mornings when you are running late and get in the driver’s seat to find that your fuel tank is almost empty. There are still stinky socks in the back of that Escalade.

The coolest features

The minivan boasts features like sun shades, optional captain seats, and cup holders galore. Details like these make the minivan uniquely family friendly. Just because you decide to have a family, doesn’t mean you can’t be cool too. Therein lies the stigma. Family life is sometimes viewed as giving up your life, or losing your right to be fashionable and fun.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. The new minivans are embracing a more fun and free era of parenthood with their design and innovation. As society progresses into a new view of a less limited family life, parents and their children are loading up in their minivans and taking back their freedom.

Parenthood is not glamorous. Its real, and so are minivans. That’s what makes them so cool. They have roomy interiors, built in vacuums, and sliding doors. Families seriously don’t know what they are missing without sliding doors. The minivan is one of the most user-friendly, versatile vehicles on the road. The stigma is not well earned. Optimal functionality is one of the coolest things on Earth. And function is the core integrity that minivans maintain.

Lately, however, they look a little more sleek and fashionable than they once were. They aren’t trying to be something they are not. Each model is still unmistakably a minivan. But, merging more fashion with the existing function of the minivan is a strategy that is already working to convert families across the nation to get behind the wheel of this classic family car.

Minivans can do it all. They can tow passengers, they have TVs, a few of them even have all-wheel drive capabilities. They have all you need to do just about anything. Minivans are making a new name for themselves. There is a shift happening, slowly but surely, into a future where moms and dads are not ashamed of their minivans. They will toss the minivan stigma to the wind and drive their black on black AWD vans with a sense of pride.

Cool or not?

So are minivans cool? Many opinions are moving toward YES. As minivans continue to match their versatility with new, more fashionable designs, they may begin to dominate the scene when it comes to the cool family car. Although some may disagree, minivans just might be the coolest mom car out there.