2012 Honda Odyssey

We'd like to tell you that there's one clear standout in the minivan market, but we'd be lying. The minivans from Honda, Toyota, and Chrysler have been jockeying for the top spot for years, and all are formidable competitors. Even in that esteemed company, however, the Honda Odyssey stands out as an eight-time Automobile Magazine All-Stars award winner. The Odyssey's capable 3.5-liter V-6 uses Honda's cylinder-deactivation system, which cuts the power to some of the cylinders under light engine loads, enabling the Odyssey to claim best-in-class highway fuel economy. Like any good minivan, the Odyssey's most impressive features pertain to interior versatility. The minivan can be configured to hold either seven or eight passengers, and its second-row bench can hold three child seats -- just the thing if you're bringing your new set of triplets home from the hospital. If your kids don't want to watch the same movie, an extrawide rear-seat video monitor, which can screen two movies at once, is an option in the top Touring Elite model. A removable center console has room for a purse inside, and a cooler below the center stack can hold four bottles of water. For carrying cargo, the third row now folds into the floor with the tug of a single strap. The Odyssey is a vehicle that will appeal to everyone in the family.