Personal Rating: Purely subjective. After the test, each participating editor was asked to rank the vans in order of preference based on which vans he would personally buy if given the chance. Scoring was calculated on a point system, and the scores listed are an accumulation of all of the participating editors' opinions.

Recommended Rating: After the test, each editor was asked to rank the vans in order of preference based on which vans she thought would be best for the average consumer shopping in this segment. Scoring was calculated on a point system, and the scores listed are averages based on all participating editors' opinions.

20-Point Evaluation: Each editor ranked every van based on a comprehensive 20-point evaluation sheet. The evaluation covers everything from exterior design to cupholders. Scoring was calculated on a point system, and the scores listed are averages based on all participating editors' opinions.

Performance Testing: Each van was put through a battery of instrumented testing. For the minivan test, we evaluated the vehicles via 0-to-60 mph acceleration, quarter-mile acceleration, 60-to-0 mph braking and speed through a 600-foot slalom. For each test, the van that obtained the best result received a maximum score. The remaining vans received scores based on how closely their results matched the top van. The final number shown is an accumulation of results from each test.

Feature Content: For this category, the editors picked the top 14 features they thought would be most significant to the consumer shopping in this segment. For each van, the score was based on the amount of actual features the van had versus the total possible (14). Standard and optional equipment were taken into consideration.

Safety Feature Content and Crash Test Scores: A safety features list was compiled but was not voted on by the editors. Rather, all relevant features were included and were scored in a similar fashion as the regular features. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash-test scores were also factored into the overall score in the area of safety features. The safety features list and the crash-test scores were weighted equally in the overall outcome for the category.

Price: The numbers listed are the result of a simple percentage calculation based on the least expensive van in the comparison test. Using the "as tested" prices of the actual evaluation vehicles, the least expensive van received a score of 100, with the remaining vans receiving lesser scores based on how much more each one costs.