BROWSE CAR REVIEWS BY:
MAKE
MODEL
Click on a car body type for search results.
 |
 |
| SUVs (two rows) | SUVs (three rows) |
 |
 |
| Crossover | Minivans |
 |
 |
| Sedan | Hybrids |
 |
 |
| Wagons/Hatchbacks | Just for Fun |
Story Archive: Car Reviews
of
minivans
With a whole slew of features that literally make life easier, I’d gladly (OK, maybe not gladly, but just slightly reluctantly with a mere second or two of violent kicking) trade in any leftover sex appeal in a pre-child car for a minivan that’s a friend and not a foe in this crazy life of mine as a mom.
When flipping though the pages of a parenting magazine (whose subscription I’ve been meaning to cancel since my kids are now 4 and 6 and I no longer need or want to read about the greatest new birthing techniques every month), I became intrigued by adds for the Mazda5. What is it? A miniaturized minivan? A big sport wagon with sliding doors and room for six?
OK, the issue with minivans is not new. While stopped at a light in the 2006 Chrysler Town & Country, a bus passes through the intersection with an ad on it for a burrito joint. The ad says, “There is no such thing as a COOL minivan.” Out of professional courtesy, I won’t mention my first thought about a bus dogging on a minivan.
For most of us with families, our spending habits evolve abruptly after the initial sticker shock of pregnancy. I’ve even had to sacrifice my favorite anti-wrinkle, anti-sun, anti-given-birth-twice-and-haven’t-slept-well-in-nights miracle face elixir for plain old drug store SPF. Despite the withdrawals that come with sticking to the family’s budget, the Kia Sedona is a great way for growing families to get the function they desire in a minivan without breaking the bank.
My friends call me gadget girl. Two of the top three things on my holiday list are electronics (I am not a complete tech-head, the third item is an all-day package at my favorite spa). I really find technology irresistible, so you can imagine my delight in the feature packed Honda Odyssey.
According to Buick, “the all-new Terraza crossover sport van brings a rich blend of style, comfort and elegance to the premium mid-van segment.” Style, comfort and elegance: Perfect! I’m missing all three of those.
The 2005 Toyota Sienna arrives just in time to greatly increase my quality of life during the long summer weekends. Oh sure, the kids love it too. But everyone knows that a happy mom means a happy family.
For 2005 Nissan is providing me with a loaded mid-line version of the Quest. I can’t wait to discover if I can be “bought” with the extras. Surely I’ll see through the glitz and glamour of high cost accessories and interpret the car for what it is. On second thought, I am a woman after all; a bit of bling will inevitably catch my eye.
Someone recently wrote to me griping that she’s too young to drive a minivan. Us Gen X-ers are growing up and having babies. To many of us, a minivan is what our mothers drove. Heck, my mother-in-law still drives one. We are too young to drive minivans — or are we?
At first glance the 2004 Nissan Quest appears very different from other minivans on the market. I’ll even venture to say it looks sexy. Yes, you read right. I called this minivan sexy. Nissan has done a great job at marketing this vehicle as “what women want” but did they actually have a woman test it before putting it on the market?
< 1 2
Sign up here to receive our newsletter.
