This post may contain affiliate links. I get commissions for purchases made through these links.

I never wanted to drive a van. In fact, I was so entirely sure I wouldn’t that I just laughed when my then fiancé told me I wasn’t allowed to ever have a van. (To be fair, I had just told him he wasn’t allowed to have a motorcycle. It was our deal.)

For years my dream car was a Jeep Commander. They look so awesome! As we approached our second summer with a baby in my run-down station wagon with no air conditioning, we decided to start looking for a Commander. We found a really good deal, and I absolutely loved driving it.

Fast forward two years and I am even more excited to drive my van. Yeah, I never saw myself here. There were a few things that pushed me over the edge (and convinced my husband) to get a van. I know, I know, they don’t look very stylish. They are also kind of a cliché for moms. If you’re debating, or trying to convince yourself you could never drive a van, here are a few things to consider:

Price

While there are some relatively expensive vans out there, overall they are pretty cheap. Switching from a Jeep to a van significantly lowered our debt. My van also takes lower-grade fuel and gets better gas mileage.

Sliding Doors

Seriously. This is probably the biggest perk of having a van, especially with an infant car seat. I don’t have to worry about whether someone is going to park too close for me to open the door and fit the car seat in. I also don’t have to worry that I have the door open too far for too long while I buckle kids, get snacks, wipe noses, or transfer my baby to my Tula. My toddler was just tall enough to hit his head on the door of the Jeep and, in true toddler fashion, would not get out of the way for me to open the door. Sliding doors are amazing!

Space

So much space! Car seats take up a lot of room. Both of my boys are rear facing and in the Jeep the front passenger seat had to be moved forward a lot to fit a car seat behind it. Not a problem in the van. There is so much floor space that I can organize all the kid stuff from diaper bags and baby carriers to strollers and groceries.

Convenience

With two kids, I have to have a system. When I wear or just carry the baby, I get my toddler out first and put him in last. He loves to climb into the back seat while I take care of the baby. He is safe, out of the sun or rain or snow, and he can easily get back out of the van himself. The van is a great height for changing diapers in the trunk or even the front seat.

Geared Toward Kids

This may seem obvious, but there are so many pluses here. Not only can my toddler climb in himself and all our gear fit in the back, but the A/C vents are perfect for my rear-facing boys. There are vents right above the second row facing forward. I feel so much better about the 100-degree heat in the van.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Forever

This is my biggest comfort. As much as I love my van for this stage of my life, I don’t want to drive it forever. Someday I won’t have to take so much stuff everywhere I go. Someday I won’t be buckling several children into five-point harnesses over and over again. Someday my kids will be able to climb in and buckle themselves. And then maybe we’ll want something that looks a little (okay, a lot) better that carries the things we will need for teenagers.

So, there’s my two cents. I remember reading pros and cons of vans months before we got one. It all sounded forced. It was so obvious to me that no one would really want a van. I was so sure it was just that people wanted to feel better about their purchase. For me, I just want to say that I love my van. I actually want other people to experience how awesome it is to have a van. How much more convenient vans are. I wish I’d gotten mine sooner.

Are you considering a van? Or maybe just trying to see if a van is really worth it? What’s holding you back?