Edmunds Minivan Comparison

[ifcar]

I'm posting the overview here, any minivan enthusiasts on the board can find all the details and additional photos at http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ageId=104292#3



If there's an ever-changing segment of the automotive industry, it's the family-friendly world of minivans. In the 29 months since our last hard look at the segment, it has completely turned itself over. The Kia Sedona and Honda Odyssey have been overhauled, while the Nissan Quest and Chrysler Town & Country have been given thorough once-overs. To see which is the king of the modern mommy-mobiles, we brought the four together, along with the winner of the 2004 comparison test, the Toyota Sienna.

Each of the five vans packs a V6 engine, an automatic transmission and two power-sliding doors. Since the Sienna is the only one of the five available with all-wheel drive, we asked for one so equipped. The other four vans are front-wheel drive.

As tested, prices ranged from $31,595 for the Kia to $43,523 for the Toyota. Both the Nissan and the Honda showed up with the expensive run-flat-tire option (see sidebar) which didn't do their sticker prices any favors. At $38,125, the Chrysler was cheaper than both.

The wringer
Despite their accommodating intent, these vehicles are the products of ruthless competition for loyalty and dollars, each manufacturer vying for dominance by trying to out-convenience, out-versatility, out-feature, and lately, out-coddle one another.

So in addition to our usual test battery of acceleration, handling and braking, we lived with all five minivans for three weeks, filling them with the screaming kids and screaming adults of our daily lives. We crept in L.A. traffic to and from the office, and exercised them on hours-long trips through the mountains. Last, we evaluated their composure in swallowing and hauling a load of cargo and five passengers over a driving route consisting of freeway travel, rough surface streets and urban city roads.

Here's how they finished.

5th Place: Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Originator of the breed




To get a flavor of the unique "Stow 'n Go" fold-flat second row seating, a feature introduced in 2005, we tested a long-wheelbase Chrysler Town & Country dressed in the top-tier Limited trim level.

Twin to the Dodge Caravan, the Town & Country is the elder statesman of the pack. With the explosive growth of the segment it created, the Town & Country has seen incremental revisions in an attempt to keep pace with its younger rivals. Despite riding on the same fundamental platform that debuted nearly 10 years ago, the Chrysler has enjoyed tremendous popularity over the years. Stow 'n Go in particular is an ingenious system, allowing a flat floor without the hassle of removing the second-row seats. Doubling as storage, Stow 'n Go can ingest more cargo than any other minivan we tested. A heart transplant wouldn't hurt, as the Town & Country's four-speed automatic transmission and 215-horsepower engine turned in the weakest performance of all.

Ultimately, the Town & Country's ongoing updates and innovative seating aren't enough to hide the fact that it's a relic from a bygone era. It is simply outclassed by the rest.


4th Place: Nissan Quest 3.5SE: Livin' in style



The Quest's nontraditional approach to the world of minivans has historically polarized opinions. For 2007, Nissan revamped the Quest with a new interior and an updated features list.

Screw the minivan stereotype. Nissan wants to change the long-standing notion that minivans are bland appliances for bland people. This approach is obvious from its daring exterior styling, and the Quest's new interior offers a unique blend of ambience and elbow room. Driving enthusiasts in particular will appreciate the Quest's behavior at the helm, strong performance numbers from its 235-hp power plant notwithstanding.

Although the 2007 Quest 3.5 SE we tested is dynamically strong and has a sharp style, it still needs to function as a minivan. A few shortcomings like a one-piece third-row seat, limited cargo capacity and crummy seats were dings it couldn't quite recover from. As such, the better versatility of its stiff competition at the front of our rankings left the Quest fighting for scraps.


3rd Place: Toyota Sienna XLE Limited: Looking down the barrel of four guns



Toyota's Sienna is left to do battle with these upstarts armed with the same basic platform that topped our finishing order in 2004. It was all-new back then, and the second-generation Toyota Sienna enters 2006 with a face-lift and revisions to its standard equipment.

More than just a basic minivan, the 215-hp Sienna excels at mixing practicality and feature content. Long trips bring out the best in the Sienna, providing high levels of comfort in all three rows, a spacious standard cargo area, and a fluid, accommodating ride. The Sienna is the only minivan offered with all-wheel drive, and although it didn't help its scoring in our dry, warm Southern California climate, it offers snowbirds an extra degree of security.

Our Sienna XLE AWD Limited tester has a lot to offer and continues to play a strong role as the do-gooder of the bunch, but its high price kept it out of 1st place. The standard of the segment is an ever-moving target.


2nd Place: Kia Sedona EX: New kid, familiar name



Kia's Sedona arrived this year as an all-new model, available in LX or EX trims. For this comparison test we included our long-term EX model, which offers more standard equipment and options than the LX model but is otherwise similar.

Full of surprises, acceleration from the 244-hp 3.8-liter V6 was tops in this crowd, and the Sedona's stopping power was equally reassuring, requiring the shortest length of road. The Sedona doesn't trade practicality for performance either, and its feature content is comprehensive.

What really tipped the scoring scales in the Sedona's favor, though, was its low sticker price. Combined with consistently good, if not chart-topping, evaluation scores, the Sedona was armed with a recipe for a competitive result.

With its stout value, strong performance and impressive warranty, the larger and better-equipped 2006 Sedona pulled out a 2nd-place finish.


1st Place: Honda Odyssey Touring: The other new kid with an even more familiar name



Honda introduced a fresh Odyssey in 2005, replacing the outgoing model we ranked in 2nd place in our 2004 comparison test. Our test Odyssey was a top-of-the-line Touring with navigation, which is, like the other minivans here, the most deluxe model available.

The price of doing business in the minivan segment is to be all things to all people, and no other minivan came close to the Odyssey in meeting that challenge. Viewed from any perspective, be it ease of use, comfort, performance or utility, the Odyssey was at or near the top of the rankings. Plenty of cargo space, clever touches and the reassurance of 244 hp don't hurt either. Honda nailed it with this one.

The Odyssey has been a strong contender in the past, and based on our experience with a 2005 long-term tester, our expectations were high. The 2006 model delivered. With an interior that would make a Bentley blush and road manners not found in many sedans, the Odyssey claims the top spot.

[paul8488]

I've never seen one in person, but the interior of the Odyssey in that pic looks straight out of 1992. Is it just a bad picture?

Sad that the 'originator' of the breed is relegated to last place, and Ford and GMs minivans aren't even worthy of testing. Ah well, nice to see Toyota midpack... beat by Kia! Ouch! Hope someone gets fired.

[camaro chris]

the fact that comparos never include GM minivans anymore should tell the general somethings seriously wrong

[02Trailblazerls]

Good think the GM CSVs were not compared...that would have been embarrasing.

It's best that the public not know that GM sells minivans, instead of buying one and getting so turned off to American cars like early Chrysler minivans did for this country.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Sad that the 'originator' of the breed is relegated to last place, and Ford and GMs minivans aren't even worthy of testing. Ah well, nice to see Toyota midpack... beat by Kia! Ouch! Hope someone gets fired.

Well, the Sienna would have done better if it was cheaper. But people are willing to pay top dollar for the Sienna, so Toyota keeps the price high.

When Edmunds does comparisons, usually they include the winner, second place, and occasionally third place entries of the previous comparison whether or not they have been updated, and all competing vehicles that have gotten updates. The GM minivans and Freestar haven't gotten any major updates (aside from the GM vans getting the larger V6) since Edmunds' 2004 minivan comparison.

[Strapping.Young.Lad]

The Hyundai has the best interior.
The Honda's looks so 1990's!

[Tiger]

$45,000 for a Honda/Toyota minivan? Gulp.

It is obvious why DC absolutely owns this segment sales # wise. Most people don't compare drag strip times in these. It's all about efficient transportation ($25,000 is more like it) and saving $20,000 for your kids college tuition!

[guitarlix]

The Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are the best minivans by far. The Sedona's strong selling point is it's low price. The Quest is the most modern minivan as far as design is concerned. I love the seats in it. The Chrysler gives you stow-and-go seating which no other company does.

The Odyssey's interior is far from dated. My brother-in-law owns a 2006 model and after riding it, I became a fan of minivans. Their practicality is unmatched. While I love almost everything about the Odyssey, I noticed rattles in the interior during the course of a 13 hour road trip and that's a sign of less than ideal build quality.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by paul8488

I've never seen one in person, but the interior of the Odyssey in that pic looks straight out of 1992. Is it just a bad picture?

I think it's just the dark monochrome color. And, the Odyssey probably has the highest quality interior of the bunch.

I actually like Honda's the best, followed by Nissan's... and Kia looks like it did a botched job trying to rip-off the Odyssey's dash and center stack.

[autofan]

Originally Posted by paul8488

I've never seen one in person, but the interior of the Odyssey in that pic looks straight out of 1992. Is it just a bad picture?

I've been saying that since the new one came out. It looks like something from a concept car designed in 1988 - what everyone thought then looked futuristic and "spacey". I also think that the exterior of this generation and the last look very "whale-like" in person. The Sienna's wretched peeled back eyes look is terrible too. The Nissan's proportions are awkward, the Sedona is dull and the T&C looks like a suppository. Why oh why can't anyone design an attractive minivan???

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by genjy

I think it's just the dark monochrome color. And, the Odyssey probably has the highest quality interior of the bunch.

I actually like Honda's the best, followed by Nissan's... and Kia looks like it did a botched job trying to rip-off the Odyssey's dash and center stack.

No, Toyota has the highest quality interior out of all of them. (but the design in the Sienna is slightly dated)

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by autofan

I've been saying that since the new one came out. It looks like something from a concept car designed in 1988 - what everyone thought then looked futuristic and "spacey". I also think that the exterior of this generation and the last look very "whale-like" in person. The Sienna's wretched peeled back eyes look is terrible too. The Nissan's proportions are awkward, the Sedona is dull and the T&C looks like a suppository. Why oh why can't anyone design an attractive minivan???

I actually find all those minivans good looking in their own way. Here's the Japanese market Odyssey. I don't know if the US will get this model but maybe the future Odyssey will take styling cues from this minivan

[Ach]

Originally Posted by paul8488

I've never seen one in person, but the interior of the Odyssey in that pic looks straight out of 1992. Is it just a bad picture?

Sad that the 'originator' of the breed is relegated to last place, and Ford and GMs minivans aren't even worthy of testing. Ah well, nice to see Toyota midpack... beat by Kia! Ouch! Hope someone gets fired.

"With an interior that would make a Bentley blush?" LMFAO, that's a good one. Agreed paul8488, the controls in the center stack look like those from the Pilot, which in turn look like an early 90's Accord with tons of cheap, hard, black plastic. Bentley-esque, indeed.

[grumbles]

^^ the JDM Odyssey is the best looking minivan I have ever seen, holy crap that thing is hot.

And it's a minivan.

[BrickTamland]

Originally Posted by genjy

and Kia looks like it did a botched job trying to rip-off the Odyssey's dash and center stack.

That, or the Kia's looks just like the last generation Sedona's interior. Is it just me?