Daybreak: Consumer News

11:27 AM CST on Thursday, March 10, 2005

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports says some of the newest minivans have features that put sedans and sport utility vehicles to shame. The minivans of 2005 are more streamlined than ever, as carmakers try to ditch their matronly image.

Inside, many minivans are going upscale. Leather seats, like you'll see on the Toyota Sienna, add a touch of luxury. So does wood trim. And the upgrades don't end there.

"The new minivans are coming with a lot of new standard features, including sunroofs, power-operating side doors, DVD players that are standard as well as dual-zone air conditioning systems," said CR's Jon Linkov.

You'll also see some improved storage options. In the Dodge Caravan, for example, both the second and third row of seats fold flat into the floor. That leaves you with more cargo space than any minivan has ever offered.

When the seats are back in place for passengers, the space below is free for whatever you might want to put there—from packages to toys.

Here's another great feature: the Honda Odyssey has a center seat that comes out.

"You can remove it if you need access to the rear row, or you can put it back in place if you need to fit eight passengers," Linkov said.

But Consumer Reports says the biggest news is that minivans are no longer a compromise. "These newest minivans have some great attributes, including powerful engines and really dynamic handling," Linkov said. "It's no longer a trade-off if you buy a minivan over a sedan. They drive just like your everyday sedan."

All things considered, Consumer Reports says these 2005 newcomers just may succeed at morphing the minivan from road dud to road stud.

Consumer Reports annual April auto issue is now available. It features the magazine's top picks in 10 vehicle categories for 2005.