Minivans Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Minivans. See our ratings criteria

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Minivans Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Minivans Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Recommended models: Minivans Editors of Consumer Reports As of Jan. 2008		Editors at Consumer Reports magazine have great coverage of minivans. Along with a helpful summary page, a detailed road-test report for each model outlines handling and comfort features, along with reliability data based on annual subscriber surveys. This publication covers the less exciting minivan category better than publications like Road & Track and Motor Trend.

Minivans Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Minivans Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. Consumer Guide.com	New Car Reviews and Ratings: Van Reviews Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Jan. 2008		Consumer Guide's editors have written a fine buyer's guide, which we found useful for its detailed pricing and options information. However, no head-to-head tests are conducted. Not all 2008 models appear to have been reviewed at this time, but of those that have been covered, the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan and Honda Odyssey all receive "Best Buy" ratings. "Recommended" status is granted to the Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona and Toyota Sienna.
3. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety	Top Safety Picks 2008 Editors of IIHS.gov As of Jan. 2008		The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash-tests cars and trucks using three impact scenarios. Cars then receive ratings based on the results for each position. In order to merit recognition as a top safety pick, a car must earn the highest rating of "good" in all three crash tests, plus offer electronic stability control. This year, three minivans – the Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona and Honda Odyssey – are awarded the 'Top Safety Pick' rating.
4. CarCritic.com	Ratings and Reviews Don Vorderman As of Jan. 2008		CarCritic.com is an unusual car-review site. Rather than a lengthy write-up, readers get a short synopsis along with a "RuthlessReview" evaluation and bottom-line assessment. Each review costs $1 to read (with a $5 minimum). Reviews are based on hands-on testing, along with user reviews, repair and reliability data and vehicle history. Among 2008 minivans, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are highest rated. The Kia Sedona and Hyundai Entourage are also said to be good choices, with lots of safety features and a powerful engine. This site is less enthusiastic about the style of the new Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, but states that their functionality trumps concerns about their appearance.
5. Edmunds.com	2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT vs. 2007 Honda Odyssey Touring John Pearley Huffman Sep. 2, 2007		At Edmunds.com, the redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan is pitted against the perennial Edmunds favorite, the Honda Odyssey. Both minivans are evaluated on aspects of performance and design such as power, comfort, maneuverability and quality. The Honda emerge the victor, edging out the Grand Caravan by virtue of its roomier interior, sporty handling and lower sticker price. Although the Odyssey tested was a 2007 model, reviewer John Pearley Huffman notes that the new features planned for the 2008 model year will only serve to widen the gap between the Odyssey and its competitors.
6. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	First Drive: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Editors of Motor Trend Dec. 2007		This test-drive-based review also compares the new Dodge Grand Caravan to a 2007 version of the Honda Odyssey; Motor Trend includes a 2007 Toyota Sienna, as well. Editors are thrilled with both the aesthetics and the utility of the Grand Caravan. They claim, "The only missing detail is an onboard popcorn machine." Not much detail is included about the results of their road tests, which they acknowledge as limited, but editors assert that the only area in which the Grand Caravan does not either meet or exceed the quality of the other two minivans is in the interior fit and finish.

Minivans Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Minivans Ratings Comments on Reviews

7. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration	NCAP Ratings for 2008 Vans Editors of SaferCar.gov Not Dated		NHTSA crash-test ratings for most 2008 vans and minivans are included here in a simple chart format. Vehicles are assigned a rating of 1 to 5 stars based on performance in front-impact, side-impact and rollover tests. Of the nine models featured in our report, only two -- the Chevy Uplander and the Toyota Sienna -- did not score five-star impact and four-star rollover ratings, though the Sienna's ratings weren't much lower. No ratings are available for the Mazda5 for any model year.
8. Edmunds.com	Edmunds 2008 Car Buying Guide: Top Recommended Minivans/Vans Editors of Edmunds.com Not Dated		Four 2008 minivans are displayed here, with links to reviews of each. Road test information for the Sienna and Odyssey doesn't appear to have been posted for the 2008 models yet, but readers can still draw enough information from the reviews to make a useful comparison. Editors praise the exclusive features of the redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country minivans and appreciate the power of the Sienna's engine. Their overall favorite is still the Honda Odyssey, however. The reviews do note that the other three are certainly worthy of consideration, and may offer features that are more useful to some families than those provided by the Odyssey.
9. Kelley Blue Book	Recommended Shopping Lists -- Minvans Editors of Kelley Blue Book Not Dated		Kelley Blue Book offers a list of five recommended minivan models; however, only the Town & Country's review has been updated for 2008. Still, the available reviews may be useful to many buyers, as the Town & Country is the only model of the five that's seen a major overhaul for this model year. The editors here don't name a favorite or rate the minivans comparatively, but the reviews are thorough and easy-to-read.
10. J.D. Power & Associates	Segment Dependability Ratings – Vans Editors at JDPower.com Aug. 2007		J.D. Power and Associates is well-known for its consumer satisfaction and product quality research, which is based on responses to consumer surveys. Dependability ratings for automobiles are represented on a scale of 2 to 5, and can be viewed by make or market segment. The van segment survey data is only applicable to 2007 models right now, and doesn't include the Mazda5, Dodge Grand Caravan, Hyundai Entourage or Chevy Uplander, but buyers interested in new minivans can still get an overall impression of reliability either from previous model years' ratings or from ratings associated with each make. In the segment-based ratings, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna scored the highest.
11. Automobile.com	2008 Grand Caravan Road Test Trevor Hofmann Oct. 26, 2007		Reviewer Trevor Hofmann offers an extensive description of the redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan, based on his experience driving this minivan in and around San Diego. Overall, he's highly complimentary of the Grand Caravan's features and performance; he declares that the new Grand Caravan and the Chrysler Town & Country have once again claimed the top spot in the minivan market.
12. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	Van, Mini -- Car Reviews Editors of Car and Driver As of Jan. 2008		Car and Driver doesn't cover minivans as extensively as other types of cars. The narratives are also fairly brief and there's not a great deal of road test information available for the 2008 models at this time. Several models have sizable numbers of user ratings, however, and pricing and specification information is helpful. Although most models aren't compared to each other, the Honda Odyssey is still labeled Car and Driver's top pick in the minivan category.

Minivans Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Minivans Ratings Comments on Reviews

13. Auto123.com	2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country First Impressions Justin Pritchard Aug. 9, 2007		This independent Canadian site offers a number of resources for car owners and prospective buyers, including road test results of new vehicles. Although both the Grand Caravan and the Town & Country are named in the title of this review, it appears that author Justin Pritchard drove only the Grand Caravan. The subtle, but noticeable, variations in the design of the Town & Country as compared to the Grand Caravan aren't even mentioned, nor is the Grand Caravan evaluated against any other minivans. The review describes the redesigned Grand Caravan in glowing terms, however, and may be helpful to shoppers who want to learn more about how the Grand Caravan's new upgrades function on the road.
14. Canadian Driver	Test Drive: 2007 Hyundai Entourage GL with Comfort Package Jil McIntosh Aug. 1, 2006		Canadian writer Jil McIntosh conducts what she describes as "purely unscientific" automotive studies, located in grocery store parking lots. Her position is that minivans are work trucks for families, and as such, they must be cost-efficient. Unfortunately, this review only refers to the 2007 Hyundai Entourage, but McIntosh's impressions are likely to be relevant to 2008 models. She likes the fact that the Entourage is a good value, has a long warranty period and earns top scores in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash testing. She is favorably impressed with seating and engine power. McIntosh recommends the Entourage, and feels buyers should also test drive the Kia Sedona, a sister vehicle. She suggests that the Sedona and Entourage are similar enough that a decision between the two may simply come down to which dealer is most convenient.
15. Canadian Driver	Day-by-Day Review: 2007 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD James Bergeron Feb. 26, 2007		Reviewer James Bergeron praises the 2007 Toyota Sienna minivan as being "feature rich and comfy." The tested Limited XLE AWD model seems to have everything, with the only options being navigation and DVD entertainment systems. Bergeron notes that the Sienna can be ordered with seating for eight and that, with standard seating for seven, the Sienna is not really "mini." He describes the Sienna as comfortable for long hauls, but describes the driving experience as "vague," while noting that the AWD system works well in slippery conditions. Though this review covers the last year's Sienna, it may be useful to those seeking more in-depth information about this minivan as no major changes were slated for the 2008 model year by Toyota.
16. Cars.com	Hot Vans for 2008 Mike Hanley Not Dated		Four minivans make this brief list: the 2008 Grand Caravan, 2008 Town & Country, 2007 Hyundai Entourage and 2007 Nissan Quest. There's no clear favorite here and the reviews are very short. Readers do have the option of clicking on each minivan for links to more extensive reviews and owner ratings, however, which makes this list a decent starting point for first-time buyers.
17. IntelliChoice.com	Best Car Values 2007 Editors of IntelliChoice.com Not Dated		IntelliChoice.com uses an analysis of relevant data -- but no actual testing -- to predict, recognize and award vehicles that promise low long-term costs and high resale value. For 2007, the Honda Odyssey wins title of Best Minivan Value. Though this article isn't applicable to the 2008 model year, we appreciate IntelliChoice's careful analysis, which also allows the consumer to see how earlier models stack up for retained value and actual operating costs.
18. Cars.com	New Minivans Editors of Cars.com As of Jan. 2008		You won't find road tests here, but Cars.com does have some good information on pricing, options and available variations. There's also a brief history of each model. Cars are not rated or reviewed, but Cars.com is a good informational resource.