Available As: Minivan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $22,825-$35,985

Pros: Price, interior flexibility, interior space, ride comfort.

Cons: Refinement and acceleration (3.3-liter), interior quality, agility, third-row seat space.

Overall: Comfortable, practical, and well-priced, but not without some junky feel.

Rating: 7/10

Recommended: YES

The Town & Country was redesigned and improved for 2008. But while a new available engine offers improves acceleration and refinement, while interior quality and ride and handling have improved, and while a few more gadgets and seat tricks are available, the new model continues to have most of the strengths and weaknesses of its even less-expensive predecessor. Its base V6, sold on most Town & Countrys, has been with the line for years, and is decidedly weak and noisy compared to every other current minivan. The interior design and quality has been upgraded, but retains too many hard, cheap plastics and a relatively junky feel. The suspension remains tuned for a comfortable ride, and handling remains somewhat sloppy. But the seats continue to do unparalleled magic tricks; depending on the option selected, either the second row seats can fold flat into the floor ("Stow N Go"), or they can be turned to face the third row with a table installed between them ("Swivel N Go"). (You can't get both capabilities on the same model, however.) So the Town & Country continues to offer class-leading versatility and resaonable comfort at competitive prices, but it cannot match the refinement, interior quality, and overall luxury feel of several key competitors.

The Nissan Quest nearly matches the Chrysler vans' Stow N Go, but its second-row seats simply drop down, rather than folding into a storage bin to make a completely flat cargo floor. Furthermore, the Nissan's one-piece third row is bulkier to raise and lower than the Chryslers' split bench, and the van costs quite a bit more. The Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona twins are more comfortable, quieter, better-finished and more powerful than the Town & Country at a similar price point, though they don't match its interior versatility. For maximum comfort and luxury, and also commendable acceleration and fuel economy, consider the  Toyota Sienna, and for a good blend of comfort and sportiness consider the Honda Odyssey, but both are rather expensive. And if you decide on a Chrysler minivan, shop both the Town & Country and the near-identical Dodge Grand Caravan for the best deal (prices are very similar).

Available As: Minivan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $21,930-$27,140

Pros: Price, interior flexibility, interior space, ride comfort.

Cons: Refinement and acceleration (3.3-liter), interior quality, agility, third-row seat space.

Overall: Comfortable, practical, and well-priced, but not without some junky feel.

Rating: 7/10

Recommended: YES

The Grand Caravan was redesigned and improved for 2008. But while a new available engine offers improves acceleration and refinement, while interior quality and ride and handling have improved, and while a few more gadgets and seat tricks are available, the new model continues to have most of the strengths and weaknesses of its even less-expensive predecessor. Its base V6, sold on most Grand Caravans, has been with the line for years, and is decidedly weak and noisy compared to every other current minivan. The interior design and quality has been upgraded, but retains too many hard, cheap plastics and a relatively junky feel. The suspension remains tuned for a comfortable ride, and handling remains somewhat sloppy. But the seats continue to do unparalleled magic tricks; depending on the option selected, either the second row seats can fold flat into the floor ("Stow N Go"), or they can be turned to face the third row with a table installed between them ("Swivel N Go"). (You can't get both capabilities on the same model, however.) So the Grand Caravan continues to offer class-leading versatility and resaonable comfort at competitive prices, but it cannot match the refinement, interior quality, and overall luxury feel of several key competitors.

The Nissan Quest nearly matches the Chrysler vans' Stow N Go, but its second-row seats simply drop down, rather than folding into a storage bin to make a completely flat cargo floor. Furthermore, the Nissan's one-piece third row is bulkier to raise and lower than the Chryslers' split bench, and the van costs quite a bit more. The Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona twins are more comfortable, quieter, better-finished and more powerful than the Grand Caravan at a similar price point, though they don't match its interior versatility. For maximum comfort and luxury, and also commendable acceleration and fuel economy, consider the  Toyota Sienna, and for a good blend of comfort and sportiness consider the Honda Odyssey, but both are rather expensive. And if you decide on a Chrysler minivan, shop both the Grand Caravan and the near-identical Chrysler Town & Country for the best deal (prices are very similar).

Available As: Minivan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $23,795-$28,795

Pros: Safety ratings, price, warranty, cargo space, ride, handling, acceleration, refinement, interior quality.

Cons: Third-row comfort, fuel economy.

Overall: A blend of most of the best aspects of pricier class leaders, along with class-leading safety.

Rating: 9/10

Recommended: YES

The Entourage is a value-priced minivan that meets or exceeds the pricier established class leaders in most ways. It is spacious and powerful, it rides and handles well, it has excellent interior quality and ergonomics, and did better in crash-testing than any other minivan. The Entourage falls between class leaders Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna in offering much of the Odyssey's driving dynamics and much of the Sienna's luxury and refinement. A few details come up short, though, such as the too-low third-row-seat, and the mediocre gas mileage. But the Entourage is clearly a top-notch minivan at bargain prices, and deserves strong consideration from all shoppers.

The primary competitor to the Entourage is its twin, the Kia Sedona. The two are virtually identical, and typically priced similarly, so which of the two you choose should depend on what deal you find at the time of your purchase. Among other vans, consider the Honda Odyssey for the sportiest feel of any van, and the Toyota Sienna for the most luxurious one. Both of those can be quite expensive, however. For an even lower price than the Entourage, and for a slick system that stows second and third-row seats into the floor, consider the Dodge Grand Caravan, though it isn't agile, powerful, or refined, and has a low-quality interior and a few mediocre crash-test scores. And for a more refined driving experience but a similar seat trick, consider the somewhat expensive Nissan Quest.

Available As: Short and regular-length minivan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $20,495-$26,195

Pros: Safety ratings, price, warranty, cargo space, ride, handling, acceleration, refinement, interior quality.

Cons: Third-row comfort, fuel economy.

Overall: A blend of most of the best aspects of pricier class leaders, along with class-leading safety.

Rating: 9/10

Recommended: YES

The Sedona is a value-priced minivan that meets or exceeds the pricier established class leaders in most ways. It is spacious and powerful, it rides and handles well, it has excellent interior quality and ergonomics, and did better in crash-testing than any other minivan. The Sedona falls between class leaders Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna in offering much of the Odyssey's driving dynamics and much of the Sienna's luxury and refinement. A few details come up short, though, such as the too-low third-row-seat, and the mediocre gas mileage. But the Sedona is clearly a top-notch minivan at bargain prices, and deserves strong consideration from all shoppers.

The primary competitor to the Sedona is its twin, the Hyundai Entourage. The two are virtually identical, and typically priced similarly, so which of the two you choose should depend on what deal you find at the time of your purchase. Among other vans, consider the Honda Odyssey for the sportiest feel of any van, and the Toyota Sienna for the most luxurious one. Both of those can be quite expensive, however. For an even lower price than the Sedona, and for a slick system that stows second and third-row seats into the floor, consider the Dodge Grand Caravan, though it isn't agile, powerful, or refined, and has a low-quality interior and a few mediocre crash-test scores. And for a more refined driving experience but a similar seat trick, consider the somewhat expensive Nissan Quest.