USED CARS - Minivans

Best 2007 minivans

The Honda Odyssey (*est.$25,645 to $39,095) remains the number one minivan on nearly every reviewer's list -- but not by a wide margin. Most reviews concede that the redesigned Toyota Sienna (*est. $24,155 to $37,665) is also an excellent choice.

According to reviews, the Honda Odyssey minivan offers a smooth ride, car-like handling and the high resale value that stems from Honda's reputation for reliability. The Honda minivan has a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine with 244 horsepower, an engine that's only very slightly bested by the Toyota Sienna's new 266-hp 3.5-liter V6. On the higher-priced Touring and EX-L (leather) Odyssey minivans, a Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system discreetly shuts down three of its six cylinders while cruising to increase fuel efficiency, gaining drivers about one more mile to the gallon. Real-world mixed driving results in about 18 mpg in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway for the Odyssey. The VCM-equipped Odyssey adds an extra mile per gallon to those figures. However, these numbers are no longer good enough to rate the Odyssey the mileage king, since all Toyota Sienna minivans now get the same mileage as the VCM-equipped Odyssey. Honda Odyssey minivans with VCM also are equipped with an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system to reduce engine noise in the cabin.

The 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan is highly regarded at IntelliChoice.com, where cost of ownership and value are analyzed. The 2007 Odyssey also wins a Best Buy designation at Consumer Guide. It also makes the Most Wanted list at Edmunds.com, and scores as the best minivan overall at Car and Driver. Reviews at Automotive.com and Edmunds.com say the Odyssey is just fun to drive -- a tough goal for any minivan. Handling is agile and responsive, and the ride is stable. IIHS crash-test scores are just behind those of the Kia Sedona/Hyundai Entourage minivans, with the highest ratings in front and side impacts, and a score of "marginal" for rear impacts. Additional safety features for the Honda Odyssey minivan include antilock brakes, electronic stability control, traction control and rear-seat head restraints.

All Honda Odyssey minivans feature standard curtain-side airbags for all three rows of seats -- a real bonus over minivans like the Buick Terraza and Chevy Uplander, where side airbags for front and second rows are only optional and third-row airbags aren't offered at all. In 2006, reviewers at Road and Track claimed that the Odyssey was the class leader in terms of "plywood space," meaning it's slightly more utilitarian for those visits to Home Depot, with the most flexible cargo area. The third row of seats folds into the floor in sections, increasing cargo flexibility. (This claim has not been reviewed since the introduction of new models from Kia, Hyundai and Toyota.)

The 2007 Toyota Sienna (*est. $24,155 to $37,665) has received a major update, not the least of which is a more powerful engine -- a point of criticism in the past. The new engine is now a bit more powerful than the Honda Odyssey's V6; a 266-hp 3.5-liter V6 replaces last year's 215-hp, 3.3-liter V6. The '07 Sienna wins awards from Consumer Guide, and it's the best-in-class minivan at Kiplinger's magazine. Nearly all other reviews say the Toyota Sienna runs neck and neck with the Honda Odyssey on engine power, reliability and fuel economy. One area where it falls a bit behind is IIHS crash-test ratings. The Sienna receives the highest scores of "good" for front and side impacts, but a score of "poor" for rear impacts. Front airbags plus side airbags for all rows are standard. All Sienna minivans now include a standard tire-pressure monitoring system. Traction control and stability control are available options.

Edmunds.com describes the Sienna's engine as "superb." A five-speed automatic transmission is the only option. The Sienna remains available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and it's one of the only minivans that offers all-wheel drive at all -- it's not an option on the Odyssey, which could make a difference to those living in areas with harsher winters.

In a real coup for Toyota, the gas mileage for the front-wheel-drive Sienna has caught up to the Honda Odyssey. EPA mileage estimates for FWD Siennas are 19 mpg/city and 26 mpg/highway. Only the Honda Odyssey with extra-cost VCM engine achieves this mileage, and the EPA actually lowered their mileage estimates for 2007 vs. 2006 for the Odyssey, a fact that many reviewers have failed to pick up on. AWD Siennas take a slight dip in fuel economy, however.

Kiplinger's magazine editors are most impressed with the Toyota Sienna, awarding it Best New Minivan, Best in Class Minivan and Most Fuel-Efficient Minivan. Editors Mark Solheim and Jessica Anderson praise the Sienna's powerful new engine, saying that the standard Sienna "leapfrogs" the Odyssey as far as engine power, while delivering the same fuel economy as the extra-cost VCM-equipped Odyssey.

The Sienna retains a stowable split-folding third-row rear seat that is light and easy to fold, and a telescoping steering wheel, which many critics miss on the Odyssey minivan. Critics note that the Sienna rides exceptionally smoothly and delivers performance on par with the best minivans in this class. It handles about as well as a family sedan. Toyota offers all-wheel drive Sienna minivans for those who deal with snowy or slick conditions; the all-wheel drive variant is slightly slower and less fuel efficient, but has better traction. The Odyssey minivan isn't available in an all-wheel drive version, which may sway your decision towards the Sienna if you live in an area with harsher winters. Altogether, most reviews say the Toyota Sienna is on par with the Honda Odyssey. The Toyota minivan has a slightly lower starting price. We think that if you're looking for a new minivan, both deserve a test drive.

Best entry-level minivans: Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona

If a starting price of just over $24,000 (for the Toyota Sienna) is more than you want to spend on a minivan, the new-for- 2007 Hyundai Entourage (*est. $23,795 to $28,795) and its near clone, the introduced-in- 2006 Kia Sedona ($20,495 to $26,195) get excellent reviews, and both are cheaper than the Odyssey or Sienna minivans.

The Kia Sedona ($20,495 to $26,195) was a brand-new design for 2006. It earns an Honorable Mention rating on Edmunds.com's Most Wanted list, and at Motor Trend, reviewer Mark Williams describes the Sedona in glowing terms. According to Williams, the Sedona "isn't just a huge improvement over the first, but it now contends for highest honors in its class." The Kia Sedona was a finalist in the Motor Trend Car of the Year competition for 2007 (a first for any minivan), and at Consumer Guide, the Kia Sedona earns a Recommended rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Sedona and Entourage a rating of Top Safety Pick as the only minivan to score the highest ratings of "good" in all three of its crash tests.

Standard features for the Kia minivan include fold-flat 60/40 third-row seating, ABS and side airbags. The 244-horsepower V6 engine gets just slightly less mileage than the competing Sienna and Odyssey minivans -- about 17 to 18 mpg in mixed real-world driving. Safety features for the Kia Sedona include antilock brakes, traction control and stability control in addition to a full complement of front and side airbags. In addition to top crash-test scores at the IIHS, it receives top 5-star ratings in all NHTSA front- and side-impact crash tests.

The Kia Sedona is less expensive than either the Sienna or Odyssey, and it gets great safety ratings. So what's the tradeoff? Reviewers, including those at Edmunds.com, say that handling and agility just isn't up to the level of the more responsive Sienna and Odyssey. Even though engine power is comparable, steering response isn't as crisp. Reviews also say the interior isn't as refined or nicely constructed as the class leaders. Several reviews say the third-row seat isn't comfortable for adults since the cushion sits rather low to the floor. Lastly, the Sedona (as well as the Hyundai Entourage) doesn't offer some of the more popular options, such as a rear-view camera or navigation system, both of which are options on the Sienna and Odyssey. These factors keep the Sedona from competing on the same level as the Sienna and Odyssey, but if price and safety are primary considerations, the Kia Sedona is an excellent value.

The 2007 Hyundai Entourage (*est. $23,795 to $28,795) is a brand-new vehicle, and is the first minivan offered by Hyundai. It is based on the Kia Sedona platform, with similar performance, features and options in reviews. We saw a little bit more coverage of the Entourage this year since it's a brand new model, but most reviews cover the Entourage and the Sedona as nearly identical minivans, and the Entourage gets the same excellent crash-test ratings from the IIHS. Like the Sedona, the Hyundai Entourage is clearly a good value. Standard safety features include side airbags for all three rows of seats, and stability control. Seating includes a 60/40 split third-row bench that drops into the floor and removable second-row seats -- features also available in the Sedona.

In a comparative test of the Hyundai Entourage and the Dodge Caravan (*est. $19,055 to $22,995) at PaddockTalk.com, the Entourage wins top scores from all eight of the judges. Along with the Sedona, it also earns an Honorable Mention rating on Edmunds.com's Editors' Most Wanted list. The Hyundai Entourage also wins Road and Travel's 2007 Minivan of the Year award.

The 242-horsepower V6 minivan gets the same gas mileage as the Sedona. The main difference between these two minivans is styling, along with interior fit/finish. According to a review by Jil McIntosh in Canadian Driver magazine, Hyundai (which makes both minivans) says the Entourage has a higher price tag due to its higher predicted resale value and higher quality materials. McIntosh does say she noticed more rattles and squeaks in the Sedona compared to the Entourage she tested. Test driving both is probably the way to go. McIntosh suggests your choice may come down to dealership location more than anything.

More 2007 minivans

The Buick Terraza (*est. $26,660 to $30,780) is a sister vehicle to the Chevrolet Uplander and the Saturn Relay minivans discussed further below. This is the last year for the Buick minivans, as GM plans to drop out of the minivan marketplace in 2008. While many features about these minivans are similar, Buick engineers added a feature they call QuietTuning to make for a quieter cabin. The Terraza's interior also comes with touches like wood grain and leather. The standard or base trim level Buick minivan offers a bunch of extras as standard equipment, including leather seats, air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, audio system with MP3 and CD player, trip computer, rear-seat entertainment system, OnStar communications, keyless entry, power driver's seat and auto-leveling rear suspension. However, crash-test ratings are low compared to the top minivans, and long-term reliability has been low, according to Consumer Reports.

The Chevrolet Uplander (*est. $20,205 to $33,050) doesn't come with as many standard features as the Terraza, which shares its platform. For 2007 Chevrolet has dropped the base 3.5-liter V6 found in 2006 models, and has discontinued the all-wheel-drive option. Reviews praise the Uplander minivan for its smooth ride and interior innovations. Automotive.com comes on strong, claiming that "The Chevrolet Uplander is hands-down the best minivan GM has ever offered." The Uplander benefits from nicer styling inside and out, and more comfort features like the PhatNoise entertainment system (which includes a removable hard drive). Also noteworthy are available heated leather seats, overall safety improvements, power sliding doors and optional all-wheel drive. Crash-test and reliability scores are the same as for the Buick Terraza -- which is to say they are lower compared to the likes of the Entourage/Sedona, Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey minivans. Noteworthy for 2007 is that the Uplander's V6 engine is a flexible-fuel engine that can run on E85 (a blend of 85 percent ethanol) as well as regular gasoline.

The Saturn Relay (*est. $21,570 to $27,860) is a sister vehicle to the Chevrolet Uplander and Buick Terraza. Buyers may have trouble finding a Relay at their local dealer, as this is the last year for the Saturn minivan. Some reports indicate that production was stopped in late 2006. Many features about this van are similar to sister vehicles such as the Chevrolet Uplander. The Relay is not as luxurious as the Buick Terraza, and is closer to the Chevrolet in features. Performance and safety scores are similar.

DaimlerChrysler minivans, which include the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans (*est. $20,890 to $27,775) , started the minivan revolution in the 80s. These minivans last received major revisions back in 2001. A brand-new model will be on sale in showrooms in the fall of 2007, and it has already been on display at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show (the NAIAS North American International Auto Show).

Critics say the current DaimlerChrysler minivans have good looks, decent ride and handling, good visibility, strong brakes and a kid-proof interior. Edmunds.com describes them as having "agile handling and supple ride characteristics." Editors also note that these vans have roomy and luxurious interiors, including fold-flat second- and third-row seats. However, no stability control system is available and some safety features are extra-cost options on lower-level minivans. Edmunds.com's editors also recommend purchasing an extended warranty if you plan to keep the minivan past the standard three-year/36,000-mile warranty period.

The Ford Freestar minivan (*est. $19,700 to $29,575) and sister van, the Mercury Monterey, were introduced in 2003 as replacements for the Ford Windstar, and are most noteworthy for offering good safety features. When equipped with the optional side airbags, IIHS crash-test scores are good for front and rear impacts, and "acceptable" for side impacts. This is the last year for the Freestar, as Ford plans to drop out of the minivan marketplace in 2008. Automotive.com describes the Freestar as "A capable minivan that performs well and offers all the latest safety features." Engines include two V6 options, including a 3.9-liter and 4.2-liter.

The Ford Freestar has seating for seven and ample cargo room. A unique feature is the third-row seats, which can be reversed to face the rear. The Ford Freestar minivan's strong point when compared to other vans is safety, and most features come as standard equipment. These include dual-stage front airbags. The "Safety Canopy," an optional feature, minimizes head injuries. This feature provides head injury protection to all outboard passengers. Antilock brakes and a tire-pressure monitoring system are standard. Options include self-sealing tires and an electronic stability control system.

The Mercury Monterey (*est. $28,595) is typically more expensive than the Ford Freestar, but due to a high level of standard equipment might be a better value. This is the last year for the Monterey as well. The Mercury minivan is available with some features that are not available from Ford, such as a special seat-cooling system. Automotive.com claims that the Monterey "is an extremely competent minivan." It has seating for seven and ample cargo room. As with the Ford minivan, the third row of seats can be reversed to face the rear.

The Mazda 5 (*est. $17,635 to $21,300) is the smallest and lightest of the minivan crowd -- it's actually considered a station wagon with some minivan features. It is almost 1,000 pounds lighter than most competitors. The 2007 model remains the only minivan with an available manual transmission. A 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine with 153 horsepower provides its power. Fuel economy is excellent, with EPA estimates of 27 mpg/highway and 22 mpg/city for the manual transmission model, and 21 mpg/city and 26 mpg/highway for the automatic transmission model. But of course this is due to its smaller engine, lighter weight and much smaller interior compared to standard minivans -- it's a full two feet shorter than the Honda Odyssey.

Edmunds.com quips, "If ever the time was right for a compact minivan like the 5 to break into the U.S. market, it's now." They praise the Mazda 5 for its low price, excellent fuel economy, sporty looks and handling, and long features list. The Mazda 5 minivan has twin sliding rear doors that can be operated by the push of one finger. The seats in the second row both recline and fold flat. Front side airbags and full-length head-protecting side-curtain airbags are standard. Other safety features include standard antilock brakes, but traction control and stability control are not available. Crash-test results are not available for either 2006 or 2007 models, however.

The Nissan Quest (*est. $24,350 to $33,900) benefitted from major upgrades to the interior for 2007. Some minor exterior changes were made as well. Nissan chose to retire the controversial pillar-style center stack in favor of a more traditional instrument panel. The Quest benefits from new air conditioning and heating controls and a larger glovebox. Other improvements include changes to the third row of seats that make them easier to lower.

In a review of the Nissan Quest minivan at Car and Driver, editors describe as "welcome" the changes to the center console and interior. The Quest seems to have earned the respect of some critics, but not as much as the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna overall.

The Quest minivan is built on a heavily modified Altima platform, and is powered by a 3.5-liter 240-horsepower engine. Editors at Automotive.com love the Quest, claiming that the powerful 3.5-liter V6, the same as that in the Nissan 350Z, enables it to outperform all other minivans, and that the five-speed automatic is quite smooth. They claim the Quest is fun to drive, with responsive handling, crisp steering and excellent high-speed stability. One problem spot is that reviews say overall reliability has been low relative to the competition.

Important Features: Minivans

Here's what the experts say to look for in a minivan:

• Pay attention to how easily (and quickly) the interior space can be used and reconfigured. Minivans are designed for seven to eight passengers. Reviewers generally favor second- and third-row bench seats that fold entirely into the floor. Most minivans have a third-row split seat that folds flat, but not as many have fold-flat second-row seats.

• Passengers (usually children) who'll be sitting in the rear seats should be part of your buying and testing process. All the vans reviewed have comfortable driver and front passenger seats, but there's some variation in rear-seat comfort.

• All minivans have dual front airbags, but side airbags aren't always standard. Options include side airbags and sensors to detect objects behind the vehicle when backing up. Rollover protection systems (also known as stability control) are finally becoming a standard safety feature in minivans and should be taken into consideration when purchasing. Some models offer an optional rear-view camera.

• Minivans should drive more like a car than a truck. One of the reasons minivans have become so popular is their car-like ride and handling. Obviously, a test drive is necessary to determine if a van's ride is acceptable to you.

• Almost all minivans today are front-wheel drive, but reviewers say all-wheel-drive models have better winter traction. If you want all-wheel drive, the Toyota Sienna is your best bet. GM minivans no longer offer all-wheel drive.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	details from Edmunds.com
6	2007 Honda Odyssey (*est.$25,645 to $39,095)	details
5	2007 Hyundai Entourage (*est. $23,795 to $28,795)	details
5	2007 Toyota Sienna (*est. $24,155 to $37,665)	details
3	2007 Kia Sedona (*est. $20,495 to $26,195)	details
1 each	2007 Ford Freestar , 2007 Mercury Monterey , 2007 Chrysler Town & Country , 2007 Dodge Caravan

The Honda Odyssey remains the favorite choice among automotive experts as the best minivan on the market, and most reviews rate the Toyota Sienna as its near equal in terms of engine, handling and refinement. The two minivans get almost equal fuel economy. One area where the Sienna trumps the Odyssey is the availability of all-wheel drive.

Sister vehicles Kia Sedona and Hyundai Entourage score big points this year for their fresh designs, value and general roadworthiness, although reviews say handling and interior refinement don't match that of the Odyssey or Sienna, and some upscale options, like a navigation system, aren't available on the Sedona and Entourage. Still, these two minivans get the best ratings for value. The Kia has a lower base price; reviews say the tradeoff is in the quality and fit/finish of the interior, as well as predicted retained value.

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