Minivan Reviews and Buying Guide:

Minivans have replaced the station wagons of a few decades ago with better gas mileage, more convenient seating interiors, and more stylish exteriors. The demand for SUV's has also dropped in the last few years as gas prices continue to climb and minivans are a great alternative compared to gas gusling SUVs. Honda and Toyota lead the field of minivans with their Odyssey and Sienna models which clearly outshine the other manufacturers in consumer reports. One of the first things that couples look for when purchasing a minivan is the safety record so that they know their family will be safe. The recent 2007 buying guide from Consumer Reports listd both the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna as the only 2 minivans with excellent ratings. Minivans have slowly risen in price over the last decade and now the more expensive models are close to $35,000.

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What should you look for when buying a minivan? Beyond crash test reports and mileage, there are countless other features to consider when purchasing a new minivan. Reliability is a huge factor for families in the minivan market as no one wants to keep fixing a broken down car. The Toyota Sienna received the highest marks amongst the minivans for "predicted reliability" which is based on customer satisfaction ratings. Other safety issues to consider are accident avoidance, rollover resistance, blind zones, and power-window switches. If you are not used to driving a longer vehicle like a minivan (as compared to smaller sedans), you may have blind spots on your sides or behind you so getting used to the car and your new field of vision may take a little while. Look for minivans that have antilock brake system (ABS) for safe and effective braking and stopping when on wet surfaces. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps drivers avoid sliding and skidding when turning. Consumer Reports also tested the Hyundia Entourage, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Chevrolet Uplander and the Saturn Relay in their annual minivan buying guide. The Nissan Quest and Chevy Uplander are the cheapest minivans in terms of price lack reliability and customer satisfaction. Saving money up front may not be the best solution when buying a minivan. The mileage ratings between the minivans was minimal - between 17 and 19 miles per gallon. Roomy interiors are what make minivans unique and the best choice for growing families that have multiple car seats and needs plenty of seating room. The open interior allows for quick access to kids seated in the second or third row of seats and parents always have great visibility when looking towards the rear of the vehicle. The latest models have improved "stow and go" seating options where seats easily fold and stow away at floor level leaving lots of storage space when needed. The next step to further enhance mileage will be a hybrid minivan, one is already available in Japan from Toyota. The Toyota Estima Hybrid is not yet available in the United States, but the model sold in Japan gets over 45 MPG with almost 150 HP. The new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country minivan ($ ) has the "Stow n Go" seating and storage system that is making soccer moms excited about this new car. With optional DVD player and GPS navigational systems, the Chrysler minivan could put some pressure on the latest models from Honda and Toyota. Below we have listed the top rated and most popular minivans on the market with websites listed for more information.

Best Minivan:

Not all minivans are created equal and the Toyota Sienna exemplifies that. Although slightly below the Honda Odyssey in terms of ranking, the Toyota minivan still shines through with features not seen on competitors models. All-wheel drive is available on the LE, XLE and Limited models from Toyota which makes this minivan stand out. The AWD models are rated with 18 MPG city and 23 highway. The V6 engine delivers 266 HP and the 5-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive transmission keeps driving this vehicle from becoming a chore. Braking and steering are excellent leaving you with a feeling of control while behind the wheel. The base model of Sienna CE starts at $24155 and the top model (Sienna Limited) starts at $35465. Having had the pleasure of driving my father in-laws Toyota Sienna, I must say I was pleasantly surprised with overall power and handling of the car. I own a Chevrolet Tahoe and always thought our SUV had lots of storage and seating options, but the Sienna would be my first choice if I ever buy a minivan. You can find out more details online for the Toyota Sienna HERE

Best Value Minivan:

The Honda Odyssey EX ($32610) was rated the highest in Consumer Reports last year and this year it ranked second only to the Toyota Sienna XLE which is over $4000 more. You can't go wrong with any Honda vehicle and the Odyssey minivan scores well in crash test ratings and very high in owner satisfaction. The Honda minivan mileage is the best in the field with 19 MPG. The accident avoidance rank was tied for first (Hyundia & Kia) which means your children will be safe when riding in this car. The third row seating in the latest model now fold into the floor making for plenty of space when hauling things around town. Owners and experts agree that the Odyssey minivan handles very nicely with smooth acceleration and precise cornering. The V6 engine is a great option for power and the mileage rating is excellent. The transmission was considered a liability in past years, but scores have steadily gone up over the past few years and now the Odyssey transmission is considered reliable once again. The base model for the Honday Odyssey starts at $25645 (LX) and the Touring model starts at $36895. Some of the models come with features like heated leather trimmed front seats and over 240 HP. The 5-Speed automatic transmission makes driving this minivan a pleasure. You can find out all the details on every model from Honda HERE.

Honda vs Toyota Minivans:

With excellent customer satisfaction rankings and minivans that are the leaders in fuel efficiency, Honda and Toyota are the clear winners in this vehicle category. Toyota may have a slightly higher reliability record than Honda, but Honda gets better "accident avoidance" ratings which means a potentially safer ride. Crash test ratings show that both the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna minivans perform admirably. The Toyota Sienna minivan does offer all-wheel drive (AWD) which the Honda does not. It may come down to pricing and incentives that make one look better than the other when it comes time to buy. The Toyota Sienna tends to hold its value a bit better than the Honda Odyssey, which should be a factor to consider since you will probably sell it one day and want the best resale value you can get. When Toyota finally releases their hybrid minivan in the US, we think they will dominate the minivan market, but they may be in a few years. The Honda Odyssey has some "road noise" as reported by Consumer Reports whereas the Toyota Sienna is quiet.

Used Minivans:

Buying used cars makes plenty of sense since you don't have to lose all your initial investment in the depreciation of a new car. They say when you walk off the car lot with a new car ($35000 or so) you immediately lose a few thousand dollars off your investment. That's the price you pay for wanting a new car, but saavy buyers will pick up used minivans that are just a few years old with low mileage and save $1000's. Once again, the top models for used minivans are similar to those in the new category. The Toyota Sienna is your best bet since their track record is impeccable, while the Honda Odyssey does well too. Some of the Odyssey problems stem from 1999-2003 and the minivans transmission, which didn't rate very high compared to the competition. The problem has been solved in the newer models, but definitely look into that issue if purchasing a Honda from those years. The Dodge Caravan is certainly cheaper than the Honda or Toyota, but you may pay for that savings in more repairs down the road. We recommend using Edmunds.com and Kelly Blue Book (Kbb.com) as two good sources on researching used cars and what they are worth.

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