Minivans---> confusing SC

[atulmangal]

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less, get better gas mileage, allow passengers to get in and out more easily, and have a smoother ride.
A. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
B. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, they cost less,
C. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, in comparison with most sport utility vehicles, and have a lower cost, they
D. Minivans, carrying as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
E. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles the cost is lower, and they

[champmag]

IMO: D

[clock60]

while D is perfect in grammer issue, it has wrong meaning, implying that
Minivans.... compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,.......-only when they-minivans carry 7 passngers, but intended meaning is that minivans are efficient in comparison with other cars in general terms, (of course they can carry seven passengers)
to me A is the only possible answer

[atulmangal]

@clock

You are right about the OA..and OE...this question is scary man at least for a non native like me...I picked D, if you look at the construction in A and D...D seems better and the difference in meaning is so small that its even more hard to pick the correct answer...I saw a post where Ron said its tough for a non native to identify the difference in meaning b/w two options..and he is right... definitely a tough one for non-native

[champmag]

I agree with clock and Atul. A conveys a better meaning than D. But is the structure of A

IC+ And+ Comma +IC correct?

[HSPA]

Opinion: Minivans when compared with/to sports utility vehicles cost less, gives more milage

choices have no idiomm.. hurrah
Now...D is okay for me but did not match my opinion...can anyone help me bring the delta...
carrying as many as seven guys, Minvans when compared with cars give better milage or Minivans get better gas milage compared with car's

[aspirant2011]

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less, get better gas mileage, allow passengers to get in and out more easily, and have a smoother ride.

A. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less, --------> this option is using the concept of "compared with" in the right format
B. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, they cost less,
C. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, in comparison with most sport utility vehicles, and have a lower cost, they ----------> awkward
D. Minivans, carrying as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less, ---------> usage of "ing" form is not right over here
E. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles the cost is lower, and they ----------> awkward

[sanabk]

So, the structure is:
Minivans X and, non-essential phrase, Y(a, b, and c).
X=carry as many as seven passenger
non-essential phrase=compared with most sport utility vehicles
Y=get better gas mileage, allow passengers to get in and out more easily, and have a smoother ride.

Mind wobbling stuff!!!

[atulmangal]

@aspirant2011

I don't think that the use of "compared with" in OP D is wrong, it just, the change in meaning which makes Op D incorrect and Op A correct.