Every car should be able to stop, steer, and ride comfortably – even minivans. And usually, capable brakes, responsive steering, and a smooth but communicative ride not only contribute to safety but also make a vehicle fun to drive. Hey, even people who aren’t looking for fun like it when they find it.

4th Place – 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6
Driving excitement, fuel for the soul, action – these are just a few of the slogans that Pontiac has used to convey its stature within the General Motors hierarchy as GM’s performance division. Unfortunately, nobody has bothered to let these marketing whizzes drive the competition, which means truth-in-advertising laws are bending like cattails in a tropical storm. However, the 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 is not without merits. Our test drivers agreed that it features excellent brake pedal feel, but that pedal is hooked up to a four-wheel-disc ABS system that feels the least capable of the group. We also blasted the Montana SV6’s handling for slow steering response, P225/60R17 Continental TouringContact tires that lose grip and reach limits too quickly, a touchy stability control system that activates when trouble is not yet looming, and poor weight transition coupled with lots of body roll. All of these negative handling characteristics directly impact the Montana SV6’s behavior in emergency maneuvering, such as when a soccer ball followed by a distracted kid flies into the road in front of you. Plus, the Montana’s ride quality was busy on the rumpled and rippled freeways of Los Angeles, and the independent front/twist-beam axle rear suspension pounds hard over bumps and broken pavement. Over dips, the Pontiac suffers excessive wallow. In short, driving the 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 is more work than pleasure.

3rd Place – 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
When the Dodge Grand Caravan was last redesigned, for the 2001 model year, it became the most fun, responsive minivan on the market. Times have changed. Today, the Grand Caravan’s strength is ride quality, and even then bumps can produce a rubbery, jittery response from the independent front/twist-beam axle rear suspension, making it feel like the tires aren’t connected to the pavement. With a soft ride comes bob, float and lower handling limits, but the Dodge tracks well in corners despite 215/65R16 Bridgestone Turanza tires that fold over and play dead when the Grand Caravan is pushed. Lots of weight transitions from side to side in S-turns, but the Dodge exhibits only moderate body roll, and though the steering is both slow and numb, the Grand Caravan feels surefooted from the helm. Everyone complained about the brakes on the Grand Caravan. They work fine, but the pedal lacks responsiveness, travel, and feel, making it very hard to apply proper amounts of pressure for any given situation. In the end, we judged the Dodge Grand Caravan to be little more than Point A to Point B transportation, lacking the verve of the Honda and the nimbleness of the Toyota.

2nd Place – 2005 Toyota Sienna
Where the Dodge and Pontiac suffered significant hardware flaws, the Toyota Sienna gave us little reason to criticize, even if it didn’t stand out in any particular way. Refinement goes a long way toward making everything OK, and after driving the Sienna we agreed that, in XLE Limited trim like our test vehicle, it could easily wear a Lexus badge. The steering offers that same overboosted, leaden feel as a Lexus. The suspension features a more taut ride quality than the Dodge and Pontiac, but also feels better connected to the road and more responsive in the event of an emergency. The four-wheel-disc brakes feature brake assist technology for panic stops. When driven hard, the Sienna’s weight transitions smoothly from side to side, and the 225/60R17 Bridgestone tires provide good grip for secure handling. The closest we came to disparaging the driving character of the Toyota was in discussion of brake pedal feel. Two test drivers felt that the pedal was a little touchy in town, and one reported that the pedal sank to the floor during a lengthy wait at a long traffic light. We also felt that the front suspension transmitted an unexpected amount of impact harshness through the steering column and into the cabin. Otherwise, the 2005 Toyota Sienna was a rock solid daily driver.

1st Place – 2005 Honda Odyssey
Tautly tuned, the 2005 Honda Odyssey’s unyielding ride quality is the primary deal-breaker when it comes to driving character. We tested the Odyssey Touring, which is equipped with special run-flat Michelin tires that have stiffer sidewalls than regular rubber. Certainly, part of this Odyssey’s rather harsh ride is due to the Touring’s special treads, but Hondas generally ride stiffer than competitors. If a soft, cushy, isolated cruise down the highway is what you seek, give the Toyota or Dodge a try, because the Honda drives more like a sport sedan than a minivan. The tires feel glued to the ground at all times, the four-wheel-independent suspension capably controlling body motions like dive, squat, and lean. The four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS and brake assist are excellent, providing excellent feel and modulation at all times. This is one buttoned-down vehicle, and it communicates what’s happening under the tires through the quick and direct steering. One of our test drivers called the 2005 Honda Odyssey “the sports car of minivans.” That explains it all, right there. But that stiff ride quality is enough to make two of our test drivers recommend the Toyota Sienna as the better vehicle for most consumers.