Leisure activity vehicle

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 4255 mm, versus the 4050 mm of the Opel Meriva (a mini MPV) and the 4030 mm of the Peugeot 206 SW (a supermini).

ee also

*List of current leisure activity vehicles
*Mini SUV
*Multi-purpose vehicle
*Panel van
*Supermini car