Is it a mistake to seek "driving pleasure" in a minivan? Don't give up just because it's a "family car."

Minivan = Driver's sacrifice?

"It's a mistake to seek driving pleasure in a minivan."
"It's a car for carrying family, so as long as it's spacious and quiet, that's enough."
I have heard these words many times before.

Certainly, a minivan is a car for the family.
I do not deny that. In fact, it is the primary premise.

However, at the same time, I cannot help but feel uncomfortable with the general sentiment that "therefore, the driver's satisfaction can be put on the back burner."

Is that really the case?

The misconception that "driving pleasure = speed"

When I say I seek driving pleasure in a minivan, the conversation is almost always steered toward "speed."
Sharp acceleration like a sports car. Cornering at the limit where tires squeal.
But that is not what I am looking for.

What I am looking for is "response and a sense of control."

• The car turns obediently just as much as I steer.
• It accelerates smoothly just as much as I press the accelerator.
• It decelerates exactly as intended when I press the brake.
• It doesn't sway unnecessarily, doesn't lag, and glides through the intended line.

Just having this "honesty" in a car dramatically changes the driver's fatigue level. And ultimately, that directly leads to the safety and comfort of the passengers as well.

A peaceful backseat and the joy of the driver's seat

I am currently embodying that ideal in a minivan.
My car is a Step WGN e:HEV AIR EX.
I drive about half in the city and half on mountain roads. I often drive on single-lane winding roads, cruising at an average of 60 km/h.

My wife is in the passenger seat, and my children are in the back.
In the back, videos are playing on a tablet, and lively conversations continue. The usual peaceful family time is flowing.

Beside that, I, the one holding the steering wheel, am the only one secretly feeling it.

"That corner just now felt good."

The roll stays within a predictable range, and steering corrections are minimal. Lane changes are also executed precisely with small inputs.
The family is comfortable, and the driver is satisfied with the driving.
This balance is by no means an ideal theory; it is reality.

Don't stop thinking by saying "it can't be helped"

Of course, the Step WGN has a high level of perfection even in its stock state.
However, I installed "Mugen Performance Dampers" to further enhance my own "sense of control."

It is by no means a cheap part.
However, the roll is reduced by about 60% in terms of feel. The steering input range has narrowed, and the sense of security in corners has clearly increased.

"Because it's tall"
"Because it's heavy"
"It can't be helped because it's a minivan"
Giving up on the quality of driving like that might not be accepting reality, but simply stopping thinking.

You cannot change the laws of physics, and it is impossible to ask for the same cornering performance as a low-profile coupe.
However, "understanding the limits" and "giving up from the start" are completely different things.

Conclusion: It is not selfish

A minivan is an important space for carrying family.
But at the same time, it is also a "machine" that the driver operates every day.

Adjusting the car's behavior as much as possible to create a state where it reacts honestly to operations.

The family is relaxed, and the driver is having fun.
Aiming for that balance is by no means selfish.

Is it a mistake to seek driving pleasure in a minivan?
At least I don't think it's a mistake.

No, as long as the person holding the steering wheel is a car enthusiast, that answer might have been decided from the start.