in the US they're minivans all right.....
they may not be 'mini' .........but they have only 'car' ground
clearance.......
plush interiors.....just big stretched out cars really, like overgrown
station wagon with front engine and front wheel drive.
they could be called 'car-vans' even.
I wouldn't say they are very 'multi-purpose' myself.
They are primarily intended for 'soccer moms' ......
familiar with the term  ?
in any case, a most generic, even boring people hauler .......like for in
town mainly too.
not too 'multi' actually.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 9:58 PM
Subject: Re: Friday - NVanagonC - Routan

>> "This could have been the Volkswagen of minivans; instead it's the
>> Chrysler
>> of VWs."
>
> Why, oh why do they persist in calling MPVs "minivans" in NA? They're
> not vans at all.
>
>
>> And VW wasn't about to mess with the most successful people
>> carrier of all time.
>
> Say what? On what planet?