Leisure activity vehicle

Škoda Roomster, a modern leisure activity vehicle
Fiat Qubo, a modern small LAV

A leisure activity vehicle (abbreviated LAV) is a small van, generally related to a supermini or subcompact car, with two or three seat rows, and a large, tall car boot and tailgate. An early example of the category was the Matra Rancho introduced in 1977. They have become popular in Europe in the 1990s as a cheaper and roomier alternative to small family cars.

Leisure activity vehicles are different from mini MPVs in that the former are taller and have a longer and more horizontal bonnet and a more vertical windshield. Mini MPVs have higher, more vertical seats than LAVs, while these have seats similarly placed as to hatchbacks, sedans and station wagons.

As leisure activity vehicles sometimes have an extended wheelbase over other superminis, they are longer than the station wagons and mini MPVs they are based on. For example, the Fiat Doblò is one of the longest LAVs with a total length of 4,255 mm (167.5 in), versus the 4,050 mm (159.4 in) of the Opel Meriva (a mini MPV) and the 4,030 mm (158.7 in) of the Peugeot 206 SW (a supermini).

List of leisure activity vehicles (similar vehicles are grouped together):

Model(s) Production years Platform
Citroën Berlingo/Peugeot Partner (Ranch) 1996-2008 Citroën Xsara/Peugeot 306 platform
Citroën Berlingo/Peugeot Partner (Ranch) II 2008-present PSA PF2 platform
Renault Kangoo I/Nissan Kubistar 1997-2007 Renault Clio I platform
Renault Kangoo II/Mercedes-Benz Citan 2007-present Nissan C platform
Toyota Fun Cargo/Yaris Verso Toyota XP platform (XP20)
Fiat Doblò Mk1 2000-2009 Fiat Punto II platform
Fiat Doblò Mk2/Opel/Vauxhall Combo Tour D 2009-present Fiat-GM SCCS
Sevel LAV Fiat-GM SCCS
Ford Tourneo Connect 2003–2013 Ford C170 platform
Ford Tourneo Connect 2012-present Ford Global C platform
Vokswagen Caddy Life 2003-present Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform (Volkswagen Touran)
Škoda Roomster/Praktik 2006-2015 Volkswagen Group A4 (PQ34) platform/Volkswagen Group A04 (PQ24) platform
Dacia Dokker 2013-present Dacia Lodgy

See also

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