Minivans: Reviews

Updated June 2011
 

Best minivan

2011 Honda Odyssey Base MSRP: $28,075 to $43,250 Learn More

Edmunds Inside Line: Edmunds Inside Line compares the 2011 Honda Odyssey with the 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE, providing an excellent summary of the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Motor Trend: This lengthy evaluation describes the revised features, technical advancements and driving characteristics of the new Honda Odyssey.

Cars.com: In this extensive review, Cars.com writer David Thomas is impressed with the level of quality in the Odyssey.

MotherProof.com: Reprinted at Cars.com, MotherProof.com writer Lori Hindman states that the new Odyssey's "reign as Supreme Minivan continues undisturbed." She is impressed with all the family-friendly features, and offers a few suggestions for improvements.

CNET: CNET gives extra attention to a vehicle's electronic technology, and also provides an excellent road-test review.

Edmunds.com: This descriptive review includes a list of pros and cons, along with a thorough description.

Automobile Magazine: With plenty of behind-the-wheel description, this thorough review by David Zenlea gives an excellent picture of the new Odyssey and how it is to drive.

The Wall Street Journal: The Wall Street Journal's Dan Neil admits to owning a 2008 Honda Odyssey, and is pleased that many of his gripes about that model seem to be addressed.

USA Today Magazine: Adhering to a standardized road-test evaluation format, auto writer James Healey itemizes the good and bad features of the Honda Odyssey.

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com summarizes the Honda Odyssey in its standardized evaluation, rating an EX and a Touring Elite test vehicle in a variety of categories.

Business Week: Business Week writer Thane Peterson points out the advantages and drawbacks to the Honda Odyssey, which he calls a top choice along with the Toyota Sienna.

Car and Driver: In a somewhat succinct review, Car and Driver writer David Gluckman discusses the highlights of the Honda Odyssey.

ConsumerSearch.com: ConsumerSearch automotive editor Alex Nunez describes the Odyssey's driving characteristics and many features during a short introductory drive.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2011 Honda Odyssey its highest rating in front impact, side impact and roof strength tests, naming it a 2011 Top Safety Pick.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The 2011 Honda Odyssey earns the highest possible ratings, 5 stars, in front- and side-crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

All-wheel-drive minivan

2011 Toyota Sienna Base MSRP: $25,060 to $40,570 Learn More

TheCarConnection.com: TheCarConnection.com veteran Marty Padgett provides a comprehensive and extremely informative review of the 2011 Sienna including insights into performance, features and how the new Sienna compares to the competition.

Inside Line: This highly informative road test between the new Sienna and the current Honda Odyssey provides a wealth of insight as to the comparative strengths and weaknesses of both models.

Autoblog.com: After a brief history of the minivan, Frank Filipponio provides impressions from his first drive of the 2011 Sienna, ranging from exterior and interior styling, to trim levels and a thorough description of the seating options.

TheCarConnection.com: TheCarConnection.com's Marty Padgett follows up on his initial review of the new Sienna with additional discussion of the minivan's performance, design and interior features.

LeftLaneNews.com: Mark Elias offers a discussion of the minivan and Toyota's take in general, noting the carmaker has "added a few niches" to the minivan playbook.

Edmunds.com: The editors of Edmunds.com conduct a thorough first drive audit of the new Sienna, noting that Toyota offers "a little 'same-old, same-old' (not a bad thing) and something of a shocker -- a sport-tuned minivan." The various trims, features and options are discussed, as are the minivan's road manners with both the four-cylinder and V6 engines.

Inside Line: Inside Line's Chris Walton reports from behind the wheel of a new 2011 Sienna SE. He includes insights from Toyota's chief engineer, his own observations on handling and styling, plus detailed information about the minivan's versatile seating options, standard equipment and available options.

Car and Driver: Car and Driver's Tony Quiroga provides a thorough review of the 2011 Sienna, offering buyers practical information regarding trim levels, features, performance and handling.

Motor Trend: Kim Reynolds offers a largely complimentary but objective review of road testing the 2011 Sienna, noting that the Sienna line-up is "a dream team of players, each one just as capable in its own, diverse way."

PopularMechanics.com: This comprehensive review addresses virtually every nook and cranny of the new Sienna, including performance, comfort and convenience features, as well as its cool technology.

U.S. News Rankings and Reviews: U.S. News Rankings and Reviews, a website run by U.S. News and World Report, does not conduct its own testing.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's independent crash-test regimen results in the highest rating of "Good" for the 2011 Sienna in front- and side-impact collisions.

MSN Autos: Kirk Bell of MSN Autos reports on a first drive of the 2011 Sienna, and provides detailed performance, features and safety information.

Best budget minivan

2011 Kia Sedona Base MSRP: $24,595 to $29,195 Learn More

Edmunds.com: For explanation of model-year revisions and additions, as well as trim-level descriptions, driving impressions and styling critiques, Edmunds.com is hard to beat as a succinct and informative source.

ConsumerSearch.com: Our last full review of the Kia Sedona covers the 2009 model.

FuelEconomy.gov: The official EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2011 Kia Sedona are 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined driving.

SaferCar.gov: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration overhauled its crash-test procedures for 2011, and at the time we checked only rollover-resistance results were available for the Kia Sedona.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts its own independent crash tests and gives the Kia Sedona its highest rating for front- and side-impact tests.

Small, sporty minivan

2012 Mazda Mazda5 Base MSRP: $16,878 to $21,265 Learn More

AOL Autos: AOL Auto's easy-to-navigate interface is a handy tool for shoppers who want to compare one vehicle's multiple trim levels and/or two or more vehicles side by side.

Autoblog.com: Autoblog.com is an excellent resource for auto enthusiasts.

Edmunds.com: Reviews from Edmunds.com are consistently helpful and fair.

Car and Driver: This review may be called a short take, but it is in no way lacking in detail.

Motor Trend: Similar in form to the Car and Driver article, Motor Trend divulges a great deal of information in its brief introduction to the Mazda5's driving dynamics, quality and livability.

WindingRoad.com: WindingRoad.com delivers its reporting with beautiful images and honest impressions.

Minivans Runners Up:

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan Base MSRP: $23,995 to $30,695

1 pick including: FuelEconomy.gov, Car and Driver…

2011 Chrysler Town & Country Base MSRP: $30,260 to $39,825

1 pick including: FuelEconomy.gov, Cars.com…

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