This comparison test was a hard-fought battle to the very end. While some of the more fluffed-up comparos we've seen might say something like "They're all good," the truth is that none of these vans is truly horrible, and none of them would be an outright foolish purchase. But clearly some are better (in some cases much better) than others and some will appeal to a more specific audience.

For example, the Mazda MPV is a good way to go if you want the smallest and easiest-to-manage minivan on the market. The problem is that you can get an Odyssey for about the same MSRP. The Pontiac Montana and Chrysler Town & Country are the most personality-filled and emotionally appealing vans of the mid-pack finishers. But the Honda has both qualities, and it costs much less. Then there are the Ford Windstar and Toyota Sienna. Bland, yes, but they're packed with the good stuff that makes them wise choices when you go to join the rubber with the road.

But one van has to win, which leaves the clear winner the Honda Odyssey. Sure, it's not perfect, and there are some features you can't get on it that are available on the others. But it's as close to perfect as you're gonna get in this segment, and its price cements the deal even further. Unmistakably, the Honda Odyssey -- in EX or LX trim -- is still the best minivan you can buy, and we don't see that changing anytime in the foreseeable future.