The minivan became a part of the American automotive culture in the mid-1980s with the introduction of the Dodge Caravan. In subsequent years, these people and cargo movers became a symbol of suburban life and helped supplant the station wagon in defining the "soccer mom."

And why wouldn't they? Most minivans can carry at least seven passengers. If space for stuff is needed, the two rows of rear seats can be removed, opening up a cargo hold of 100 cu ft or more.

For more than 15 years, the minivan was the king of family movers. Enter the SUV. While somewhat less capable as people and cargo haulers, their rugged images proved to be a fly in the minivan's ointment. Though a stogy stigma made minivans fall out of favor, automakers haven't stopped freshening designs, refining powertrains, and offering more innovative features. It also has brought in competition from companies who have not typically played in this segment.

Model-Year Make-Overs
Model-year 2007 brings new, notable changes to this stalwart segment, particularly from import brands. The Hyundai Entourage is a new model, but is essentially a clone of the Kia Sedona. Speaking of Kia, Sedona adds a short-wheelbase model to its lineup for '07. Nissan's Quest receives an exterior freshening and a revamped interior. Toyota's Sienna gets more power this year, thanks to a 266-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine that replaces the 215-horsepower 3.3 V6.

Due to lagging sales, Ford is dropping its Freestar and similar Mercury Monterey vans after a short '07 production run. General Motors is phasing out its minivans as it prepares to close the assembly plant that produces them. The Pontiac SV6 is gone for '07. The Saturn Relay and Buick Terraza likely will follow after this model year, and the Chevrolet Uplander will depart after 2008 or 2009. As they await their demise, the GM vans get a 240-horsepower V6 engine to replace the 201-horsepower V6 found in previous models.

DaimlerChrysler is staying in the minivan game. While the '07 models are unchanged, the company unveiled redesigned versions of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. The twosome will receive more power, a 2nd-row seat that can swivel backward, and of course, more cupholders. They are scheduled to go on sale in calendar '07 as 2008 models.

Get 'em in, Move 'em out
Though the players in this class look different, are priced differently, and offer varying levels of equipment, minivans from all manufacturers share some common traits. Powertrains consist of V6 engines and automatic transmissions. Access to rear seating is through sliding doors on the passenger or both sides of the vehicle. Power operation for these doors, as well as the tailgate, is commonly available.

Standard seating is for seven passengers on all minivans. This means bucket seats for the first two seating rows and a 3rd row, three-passenger bench. Some models, such as the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, are available with eight-passenger seating via a three-person 2nd row.

In order to get the most cargo flexibility out of a minivan, the back rows of seats have to disappear. Minivans of yore required owners to engage in a back-breaking process of removing, carrying, and storing rear bench seats. The advent of rear bucket seats, lighter weight materials, and new removal procedures have simplified this process across the board.

Some minivans today offer a 3rd-row bench seat that splits, folds, and tumbles into a well in the cargo floor, creating a flat surface. The Nissan Quest has a 3rd-row bench that folds in one piece, using a one-hand operation. Disappointingly, no General Motors minivan offers this functionality. Instead, their 3rd-row buckets fold flat atop the cargo floor and need to be removed in order to create a level loading deck.

The original minivans, the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, up the ante by offering a seating system the company dubs Stow 'n Go. In addition to 3rd-row seats that fold into the cargo floor, the 2nd-row buckets also have this capability. The floor wells double as covered storage bins when the seats are upright.

Playing It Safe
Since people are among the most precious cargo a minivan can carry, these vehicles place a high priority on offering lots of safety features. Antilock brakes are available across the board, and often standard equipment.

Airbags are plentiful. In addition to the standard ones for the front passengers, those traveling in the rear rows benefit from curtain side airbags. These are standard on the Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, and Toyota Sienna. They're optional on the Chrysler Town & Country (except the Limited model) and Dodge Caravan. GM's vans don't offer curtain airbags, only airbags that provide torso protection for the front two seating rows.

Traction control is available on nearly all entrants. Stability control, also known as an antiskid system, is available on certain trim levels of GM's entries, the Odyseey, Entourage, Sedona, Sienna, and Quest. Sienna is available with all-wheel drive to help improve traction on slick surfaces.

People not even riding in a minivan can receive protection. Most models are available with a rear-obstacle detection system that sounds an alert when the vehicle is close to an object the driver can't see. Odyssey and Quest can be outfitted with a rearview camera that shows a picture of what's behind the vehicle while it's in reverse. The images appear on the navigation system's screen.

Just Playing
Few things aggravate parents more than their kids sitting in the back seat, screaming at each other, or shouting out the legendary question, "are we there yet?" Most minivans are equipped to help occupy antsy kids.

Nearly all can be had with a rear DVD entertainment system. A small Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen pops out of the ceiling. The DVDs play through a mount that's also in the ceiling or in the center console. So as not to annoy front-seat passengers, most minivans allow audio to pipe through included sets of wireless headphones. Most of these entertainment systems have composite audio and video connections to allow youngsters to hook up their favorite video game consoles for viewing.

Down, but Certainly Not Out
While all the choices in this segment are competent in the minivan mission, the Consumer Guide(r) Best Buy pick is the Honda Odyssey. The Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, and Toyota Sienna are our Recommended choices. That seems like a lot of selections, but remember that the Chrysler/Dodge and Hyundai/Kia are mechanically similar.

They don't have the rugged looks or off-road capability of an SUV. They don't have the athletic performance and handling of a sporty sedan. Enthusiasts may be loathe to drive them, but a minivan's combination of people and cargo hauling ability, safety features, and (in most cases) reasonable pricing are tough to beat for families on the go.