What year vehicles or budget are you looking at? There are some great hatchbacks out there recently if you're not set on up sizing to a minivan.
I'm not actually looking at anything. But here goes:
I drive a 2006 Matrix with 135,000 miles on it. It's our "big" car. Our "road trip" car. Our "camping" car. And...it's not that big. We have a Thule box for the top, but for an actual camping trip, it's pretty packed. Thus, the kids and hubs aren't really into camping or road trips.
It's also wearing out. You know, parts inside are breaking. We've replaced a handle already, the floor carpet is wearing, the clock is intermittent, the dome light is intermittent. It squeals (some sort of belt) and is kind of loud. It also wears through tires quickly, but that might be the driver not the car.
But...it's a Toyota. So, at 135k miles, it's basically an adolescent, just like my 12 year old. I figure it will last until he goes to college. At that point, I won't need a minivan!
So...why minivan -
Sliding doors, much more people/ cargo space (for carpooling with kids around town, to school - we have a neighborhood with a lot of kids at the same schools). We used to carpool, but when the family with 3 kids had their 3rd start school, we couldn't fit them all anymore.
Why not minivan-
Gas mileage. Harder to maneuver and park in our little spot.
Why slightly larger hatchback/ mini-SUV
Better for camping trips
More leg room and cargo space
Maybe can find one that's a hybrid
Why not
Gas mileage on most is no better than the Matrix.
The most powerful force in my life is inertia. I will probably have this Matrix in 6 years. And I probably won't have that bathroom.
Budget: we don't have one. We could write a check for a Tesla if we wanted. But you know, the reason why we could do that is because we don't do that.