Minivans get so much hate. I used to be one of those haters, but I have since come to the light. I learned how to drive in the family Honda Odyssey and I could not wait until I could drive something else. Since coming to college I got my grandparents’ old green Dodge Caravan and oh boy is he a treat. These are the reasons why I think the minivan is a seriously underrated car.

1. You can haul like a million people

There is so much space! I can (legally) bring six of my friends with me anywhere I go. It sucks because I get picked to chauffer everywhere, but if you don’t mind driving it’s actually really nice. And when seven people can be in one car as opposed to in two sedans, it really helps making plans to go places. Or, if your family's the size of my family, it's enough space so everyone can fit.

2. You can haul a poop ton of stuff

I was able to move my entire life up to Washington from Colorado with my parents and I and our Odyssey. Then, it was one trip to move all my stuff out and back in again for sophomore year and one trip again for out and back in for junior year! Anyone who’s experienced moving your crap out of a dorm room knows that taking multiple trips sucks.

3. Passing people is so much better

When you’re driving your little Corolla on the freeway, there are two cars you don’t want to be passed by: semi-trucks (because they’re terrifying as hell) and minivans (because they’re embarrassing as hell). Even in the Disney movie “Cars” Lightning McQueen is shocked that his truck is being passed by a minivan. When you’re the minivan though, it’s like you’re saying “Haha, suck it” to everyone you fly past.

4. Blasting music is 500x funnier

Especially if it’s rap. And I listen to a lot of rap.

5. Two words: cup holders.

I had 12 cup holders in my minivan growing up. Twelve. It’s hilariously unnecessary and also really handy at the same time.

6. You can fit an actual garbage can in your car.

This is such a blessing, people. You don’t know how great it is until you’re stuck with the Safeway bag you just kind of pile trash on top of in the back seat.

7. You can Force close your automatic sliding doors

Not all minivans have them, but our Odyssey did and for my mom hauling around 4 kids, this was a godsend. Halfway through the parking lot and realize the door’s still open? Just hit the button on the keys. Unloading armfuls of groceries and don’t have a spare hand? Hit the button from inside the house.

8. Seriously though, you can fit so many people.

We once put my uncle on a lawn chair in the middle section on a road trip from Spokane to Seattle. I mean, my cousin's face here says it all about the safety of the situation, but eh, what the hell. And I was able to pile in like 13 people from my dorm to drive across the road for pizza. You have so much more space to illegally drive people around.

9. Add a box on top and you’ve got hella cargo space.

All our road trips we put this box on top and put things like my dad’s golf clubs and sleeping bags in to save space in the trunk for suitcases.

10. Road trips are so much more comfortable

You’ve got leg room in a minivan. My family of six was able to make the 16-hour drive from Boulder to Spokane with our two dogs every year growing up with very minimal fighting related to elbows in your zone. Plus look at how stoked we all look here.

11. You can’t be less cool.

If you get out of a minivan to go into Walmart in your all-gray sweatsuit and messy bun, no one’s going to judge you. They’ll look at you and say “well yeah, they drive a minivan” and think nothing of it. At the same time, if you get out dressed to the nines, people will stop and stare and say “wow, they’re really impressive coming from that minivan.” You pretty much have free reign to do whatever you want when you're driving a minivan.