Minivans

First Drive: 2011 Nissan Quest

Nissan has had a tough time cracking the minivan nut. While Honda, Toyota and of course Chrysler have dominated with their vans, the Nissan Quest has unintentionally played the role of the anti-establishment alternative, scooping up buyers who maybe needed a van, but didn't want to succumb to the everyone-else-has-one feel of the big three. Problem is, minivan buyers aren't exactly an anti-establishment crowd, and Nissan stepped out of the minivan market after the 2009 model year.

That'll change at the end of January, 2011, when Nissan jumps back in with the all-new 2011 Nissan Quest. Except this time, Nissan seems to be embracing a smaller role in the market. Sales targets are modest, and rather than go head-to-head with Toyota, Honda and Chrysler, Nissan is offering up a mix of clever cargo management, distinct styling, a and a luxurious and sporty driving experience. After spending a day driving the 2011 Nissan Quest around San Diego, I think Nissan may be on to something.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness:

First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna

The 2011 Toyota Sienna is all new this year, and a lot more has changed than just the styling. For starters, Toyota now offers more standard equipment on all models, and introduces a new model, the sporty SE. New features like eight-passenger seating are sure to excite family-oriented buyers, and a new four-cylinder engine instantly appeals to anybody who wants to avoid the gas pumps. In addition, the Sienna remains the only minivan in the U.S. that's available with all-wheel drive. It all sounds good, but the previous Sienna was already state-of-the-art, and we wondered: Is Toyota adding more substance, or do the new features and styling detract from the core minivan needs of families who just need to carry their kids in comfort? Toyota invited us to be one of the first to drive the 2011 Sienna, and we have the answers.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 9.5

Review: 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Limited

After a decade of declining sales, minivans look like they're making a comeback. The 2011 Toyota Sienna is already here, and both the 2011 Honda Odyssey and the 2011 Nissan Quest could shake up the minivan world when they debut this fall.

But what about the company that started it all? The 2010 Chrysler Town & Country -- along with its counterpart, the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan -- were fully redesigned a couple of years ago, and together they account for nearly half of all minivans sold in the U.S. But today's competition is fiercer than ever, and after the updated Odyssey and Quest go on sale the Chrysler and Dodge twins will be among the oldest minivans on the market. Can they handle the coming competitive onslaught? I spent a week hauling the family in a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country, and while the van boasts unique and compelling features, it also suffers from some shortcomings that made me stop and think hard about endorsing this particular people mover.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.8

Review: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

Even though it was in its fifth model year, the 2010 Honda Odyssey was at the top of its class despite tough new competition from Toyota, Nissan and Dodge. Its eight-passenger seating, comprehensive set of optional and standard features, excellent crash test and safety scores and numerous other strengths begged the question: What will Honda do for an encore?

Honda's answer? Make everything a little better. The all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey addresses its predecessor's few shortcomings, improves on its strengths, and adds an important new twist on second-row seating that its competition can't match. In fact, after spending a week behind the wheel, it's really a no-brainer: The 2011 Honda Odyssey is the best minivan on the market.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 9.6

Review: 2012 Mazda Mazda5 Touring

Americans have a problem with portion control. Take bagels, for example. Just 25 years ago, they were smaller than your average cruller. Today they're loaded with eggs, sausage, bacon, cheese and butter, and usually bigger than your head.

Our minivan portions have increased, too. That same 25 years ago they were small, four-cylinder, five-passenger wagons. Today, most minivans are as long and wide as a Chevy Tahoe. Where'd the "mini" van go?

It's at the Mazda store, in the form of the 2012 Mazda5. This bite-size family hauler seats six, but without a lot of extra mass. The question is, does this compact people hauler make sense in the Land of the Giants? Only a week behind the wheel of a 2012 Mazda5 would answer that.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.1