Out of the twelve small SUVs evaluated in the new roof-strength test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, only four of these got “good” safety test ratings. These include the Volkswagen Tiguan, followed by the Subaru Forester (in descending order), the Honda element, and the Jeep Patriot. While the rest were given acceptable, marginal, and poor ratings.

If you happen to own any of these four SUVs, you’ll feel more secured about its strong roofs. However, some safety researchers debated whether a stronger roof really means a safer SUV. That is why IIHS made sure that the standards set on this test are far more demanding than the minimum standard set by the federal government.

Here are the SUVs that receive only acceptable ratings: Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Toyota Rav4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander. And those which got really poor ratings were Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.

Having a hard time deciding which one to buy for the family - SUV or minivan? Well, it doesn’t have to be if you just know exactly what you want from your vehicle. Consider these: capacity, safety, fuel economy, look/style, price, and versatility.

Let’s begin with capacity. Basically, when you think about accommodating your family during road trips or family vacations, the first thing that will come to your mind is to get either an SUV or minivan, right? And you are actually thinking the right thing because when it comes to capacity, both types of vehicle are reliable. SUVs and minivans can fit the family in, allow storage, and even have room for pets and other cargos.

But how about safety? As far as safety is concerned, an SUV has a higher risk of turning over than minivan. If you read on the news, almost everyday there’s an SUV-related accident. Although it is equipped with airbags and other safety features, you must look into it thoroughly before deciding to purchase.

In terms of fuel economy, well you can always look into the different models which are created as hybrid. SUVs are known to be gas-guzzlers so you better choose the hybrid one to help you reduce money spent on fueling it up.

As for the look and style, both are attractive and sleek; so it just depends now on your taste. For decades, a lot of moms have been seen driving their minivans, especially those driving their children to and fro the school; SUV offers the same capability, it’s just that moms look more hip, cool, and modern with the SUV’s sleek lines.

Considering the price, SUVs often come at a higher price than the traditional minivan. But if you’ll consider SUV deals like no downpayments and 0% financing, you can always have the SUV of your choice without ripping your wallet.

And as for reliability, first you have to think about where you’ll often drive your vehicle. If you are the outdoor type and you love camping or trekking, then an SUV is a better choice. SUVs are higher off the ground and come equipped with 4-wheel drive system which can help accommodate really rugged terrains. But if you think you’re not up to such outdoor activities, then you can always settle on a minivan.

So there. Now, it’s up to you to decide which one to get - SUV or minivan? Simply choose the vehicle based on your requirements and the choice will sure be easy.