Best in class: Minivans over $25,000By
Terry Jackson • Bankrate.comThey
may still carry the "soccer mom'' social stigma, but minivans in this price category
are really refined highway cruisers. They offer leather-clad interiors, enough
entertainment options to keep Steven Spielberg in business and can carry a family
of seven or eight plus their luggage or sports gear almost anywhere. And a few
of the latest entries in the market have even managed to bring some style to the
box-on-wheels concept.
Honda Odyssey
Click image
for larger view | Honda Odyssey:
By now it sounds like a broken record to repeat what most buyers already know
-- the Odyssey is the top-notch choice in this price range. For 2005 it received
some notable improvements to what was already an outstanding vehicle. The interior
has been configured to provide a few more inches of space and an eight-person
seating option is available. Other optional features: a DVD entertainment system,
a power lift gate, navigation system, adjustable pedals, three-zone air conditioning
and a wide range of seating and storage configurations. Power in the base model
is a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 255 horsepower. It's coupled to a five-speed automatic
gearbox. In upgraded models the same V6 gets a variable cylinder module that cuts
back on the cylinders at cruising speeds to improve fuel mileage. Honda claims
it increases fuel mileage by 12 percent. The bad news is that the best minivan
out there won't come cheap. Expect to pay more than $30,000 for a nicely optioned
model.
Toyota Sienna
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Toyota Sienna: The Sienna, redesigned
in 2004, has most of the attributes of the Odyssey and for most shoppers
it will be a coin toss between the two, with the best deal winning.
In qualitative terms, the main difference between the Honda and Toyota
minivans is one of degrees. The Sienna handles a little more like
a soft sedan and it's not quite as quiet as the Honda. The Toyota's
fuel economy is slightly better and its 3.3-liter V6, linked to a
five-speed automatic, is a tad smoother than the Honda's, but isn't
as powerful. Also on the Sienna option list is an all-wheel-drive
version. Pricing is comparable to the Honda.
Nissan Quest
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Nissan Quest: Easily the most stylish
minivan on the market, the Quest is for buyers who need the utility
of a minivan but crave something that says they don't follow the crowd.
Aside from the aggressive exterior styling, the interior is filled
with artful touches, though some, like the center-mounted instrument
stack with shift lever, put form over function. The SE model comes
with Skyview windows -- five fixed rectangular openings cut into the
Quest's roof to give the rear-seating area an open feel. It's too
bad that Nissan's use of cheap-looking plastic surfaces detracts from
what should be an upscale vehicle. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6,
delivering 240 horsepower to the front wheels through either a four-
or five-speed automatic transmission. Although there's a new entry-level
version for 2005 -- priced at slightly less than $25,000 -- expect
to find Quest sticker prices at the dealer to be closer to $30,000.
-- Updated: Feb. 15, 2005
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