Chrysler is recalling a small number of 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans equipped with powered rear liftgate doors. About 471 of the minivans have faulty sensors that may not prevent the door from closing on a finger or other appendage says the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nissan North America is recalling more than 23,500 of its 2011 and 2012 model year Nissan Quest minivans. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there is a software problem with the recalled minivans' fuel systems that could cause the vehicles to stall, increasing the risk of a collision.

American Honda Motors has issued a recall for 45,747 of its 2008 and 2009 model year Odyssey minivans equipped with the power rear liftgate option. The gas-filled struts used to open and close the rear hatch are flawed and may fail to support the lifted door, said the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Following the introduction of its full-size NV cargo van, Nissan is broadening its van lineup with the compact NV200 unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show.

One electric vehicle on the market that has been frequently overlooked was also the first: the Ford Transit Connect electric van. That was probably because it only came as a cargo van, with only two front seats. Well, that’s about to change.

Ford released a few more details about its upcoming C-Max hybrid and plug-in hybrid vans on a conference call with the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) this week.

Minivans offer the best combination of cargo and people space with usually good fuel economy and abundant convenience features to appease all members of the family. Some shoppers are minivan averse, not wanting to embrace the “soccer mom” and “carpooler” image, and therefore buy SUVs or other vehicles. They are simply missing out. If transporting family and friends is your top priority but you also need interior versatility to carry cargo, there is no better all-purpose vehicle than a minivan.

Ten years ago when an SUV or pickup was involved in a crash with a car or minivan of the same weight, the result was often deadly to occupants of the car or minivan. Now with changes to vehicle structures, SUVs aren’t nearly as dangerous as they were before, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Federal investigators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened a preliminary investigation into possibly faulty car jacks that came with Ford-made minivans. The agency's Office of Defects Investigation and Ford Motor Co. has received six reports of the mechanical jacks collapsing during use.

As a result of Chrysler Corp. divorce from Mercedes-Benz, Ddoge lost the Sprinter commercial van leaving a hole in automaker's portfolio. Enter new partner Fiat with a solution, the Fiat Doblo.

Consumer Reports is on record as loving the right-sized Mazda5. It’s affordable, efficient, comfortable, easy to use, reliable, surprisingly roomy, and unexpectedly fun to drive. Needless to say, it scores very highly in our tests. So it’s no surprise that when friends come asking us what to buy, we often recommend the mini minivan. Looking at the Mazda5’s sales numbers, however, it’s clear that few buyers are heeding our advice. Sometimes it seems like Americans buy cars by the square foot.

Chrysler has recalled just under 300,000 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Grand Voyager, and Chrysler Town & Country minivans because air bags could inadvertently deploy.

With the redesigned Quest, Nissan has created the most luxurious minivan on the market. Our testing is now complete, with a review, ratings, full track report, and video available online. We found that the Quest pampers with a plush and quiet interior, a smooth compliant ride, and a powerful drivetrain.

Minivans make a lot of sense. This is not news, I know, but it is worth a reminder as cultural trends have removed the “man” from minivan, along with the “cool,” a long time ago.

Headed out on a road trip this summer? If you are looking to ditch your old car before that big trip, check out our list of the top 10 vehicles for family travel. The list includes models that have done well in safety tests, in our reliability ratings and covers a variety of cars, from small SUVs to luxury sedans, at a range of prices. We've focused on cars that are comfortable, quiet, ride well, and have plenty of space for both people and luggage, yet attain reasonable fuel economy.