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(Enlarge photo)
The players (from left to right) are from Chrysler, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Toyota and Pontiac. Which one is the best? Well, they're all good, but there can only be one winner and we're not telling you here.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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(Enlarge photo)
The pictured Ford Windstar and Pontiac Montana face tough American-built competition from Chrysler's new minivans, but all three have their strengths and weaknesses.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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Road Test: Comparison Test
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2001 Minivan Comparison Test
People Movers
By
Miles Cook
Date posted: 06-07-2001
If you ask just about any member of the Edmunds.com editorial staff what the most
practical type of vehicle out there is, chances are they'll point to a well-equipped
minivan. In other words, minivans really are the most functional means of transportation
on the road. They can usually carry upwards of 7 to 8 people, some can tow 3,500
pounds, they're not much larger than a full-size sedan and they're as easy to
own and maintain as their car counterparts.
While sure, minivans aren't the most passion-inspiring conveyances around, the
purchase of one still requires the same amount of thought as with any car, truck
or SUV, if not more so. With that in mind, think of this comparison test as a
one-stop shopping place for your minivan-purchasing decision. More so than in
our previous minivan comparison, we examined the contenders in every way we could
think of. Concerned about safety features? Look no further. Want to know the bottom
line on prices? Got it covered. Curious about performance in terms of acceleration
and braking? We ran 'em. Want an overview of features that we think are critical
and want to know which vans have these goodies? We scoured each van up and down.
Do you have a preference for those vans that might offer the most legroom or cargo
capacity? Our dimensions chart will tell you every measurement there is. And finally,
are you curious as to which van really is the best deal for your hard-earned dollar?
We answer that, too, but you'll have to read on to find out.
Before introducing the candidates, we'll note that a representative of the Nissan
Quest/Mercury Villager twins wasn't included in this test because of its lame-duck
status. Nearing the end of their life cycle, these vans won't be replaced after
the 2002 model year.
And now the contenders, which, for the record, are about as totally outfitted
as you can get them. From the Yankee side of the ledger, we have an entry from
each of the Big Three. Chrysler's Town & Country Limited is the newest van of
the six. We'll remind you that the redesigned-for-2001 DaimlerChrysler (DCX) vans
have been the segment's best-sellers for the past 15 years, and Chrysler's best
hopes lie with this new design. The Ford Windstar, an acknowledged leader in safety,
was represented in this test by a loaded-to-the-gills Limited version — the
highest of five available trim levels. Though the Windstar design is getting a
little long in the tooth as it enters its seventh year of production, it is likely
the most feature-laden van of the bunch, despite its less-than-enthralling driving
dynamics. Of the General Motors minivan triplets, which include the Chevy Venture,
Pontiac Montana and Oldsmobile Silhouette, a long-wheelbase Montana serves as
the representative for these three. If a Venture or Silhouette is high on your
list of choices, much of the same info applies to the Montana, as well.
As for the Japanese contingent, the winner of our last minivan comparo two years
ago is still a mighty tough player. Loaded with tons of practical tricks and priced
right, the Honda Odyssey in decked-out EX trim isn't going to relinquish the crown
with any modicum of ease. The other two Japanese candidates are somewhat smaller
and more compact than the other four. If a slightly more miniature minivan is
what you're seeking, then both the Mazda MPV (the only van here not built in America)
and Toyota Sienna, represented here by top-level ES and XLE versions, respectively,
are the two that will vie for your attention. Redesigned for the 2000 model year,
the MPV is a legitimate choice if you really want a 9/10s scale minivan priced
less than 30 grand. Considerably pricier than the Mazda, the Toyota Sienna still
gets you Toyota's sterling reputation for quality along with unique features like
stability control — although this will be available on the Windstar later
in 2001.
That's who the players are, and here's what we did with them. Besides our usual
battery of track testing, we had six teams of three editorial staffers each pilot
the vans on a 700-mile round trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco. With driver
and two additional staff member teams rotating through each van, we were able
to thoroughly evaluate much more than just how the vans drove. The additional
passengers provided commentary on several other areas, such as seat comfort in
the second and third rows, how well the video entertainment systems worked and
how well in general things were screwed together throughout each van's interior.
While much of the time was on the highway, we did venture onto a few two-lane
roads to get an idea of how each of the vans handled in environments other than
the open road.
While we were as surprised with some of the results as you might be, other vans
were not a big shock in terms of finishing order. But keep in mind that all six
of these vans are good vehicles and all have much to recommend them, including
lots of safety features, fair to impressive driving dynamics, comprehensive warranties
and lower prices than our test vehicles if you go easier on the options.
If you're serious about shopping for and buying the right minivan to suit your
purposes, then you'll want to scour every word, chart and spec throughout this
entire comparo. And check out the broadband video, too — you'll be glad you
did. So without further ado, let the greatest minivan shootout of all time commence
hereupon.
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