Gold Standards: Toyota Sienna

$24,550

The Sienna and Honda Odyssey somehow managed to snatch away Chrysler's consistent rankings at the top of the minivan charts. That's because Toyota and Honda not only out-innovated Chrysler, with smarter, more readily reconfigurable cabins, but they stayed true to what they do well: quality, fit, and finish. The Sienna is, like so many Toyotas, all about the latter promise. It's packed with clever details, with easy-to-fold-flat second- and third-row seats, but the payoff is that the car rides comfortably, drives easily for even timid pilots, and it feels solid—the doors close with the thump of quality, the switches aren't cheap and plastic to the touch. You get the idea—an eight-passenger Camry. If you want an eight-passenger Honda Accord instead, the Odyssey is a hair sportier to drive.