2010 Toyota Sienna

The 2010 Toyota Sienna, which one reviewer calls "reliable and oh-so-easy to drive," places a strong second behind the 2010 Honda Odyssey (Base MSRP: $26,805 to $40,755). The Sienna and the Odyssey are still the only minivans to offer seating for eight passengers (it's optional on the Sienna). However, the Sienna, which is essentially unchanged for 2010, still lags behind other minivans in both front- and rear-crash tests, earning only 4 out of 5 stars for driver safety from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. In addition, the Sienna is the only minivan to receive a rating of "Poor" in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's rear-crash tests. Since the 2010 Toyota Sienna is essentially carried over from the previous model year, consult our page on the 2009 Toyota Sienna (Base MSRP: $24,540 to $37,865) for a detailed review of the vehicle.

The Toyota Sienna continues to be the only minivan to offer the option of all-wheel drive, an attractive feature for buyers who deal with harsh winters and may desire the added traction. Some reviewers say handling is uninspired, but Edmunds.com editors offer a more realistic assessment, noting "no minivan is going be purchased on the strength of its corner-carving ability." Still, they point out that the Honda Odyssey delivers "responsive handling with a reasonably smooth ride."

With the 2011 Toyota Sienna (Base MSRP: $25,060 to $40,570) now in showrooms, reviewers will likely find much less to complain about. Mark Elias, writing for LeftLaneNews.com, says the fourth-generation Sienna offers ride and handling that's "greatly improved over its predecessor." The 2011 version sports retuned MacPherson struts in the front and a more traditional rear torsion bar setup. Elias also says the ride is quiet and "all the goodies are top shelf."