For some people, the minivan is a stigma, a vehicle to be shunned as if it were infected with the bird flu and leprosy at the same time. They go for the big and bold SUV and, in hopes of softening its image, add a trendy stick-figure nuclear family sticker to the back window. While we're fine with all of this, we test enough vehicles to know that the minivan, whatever perceived stereotypes it seems to incur, is still the ultimate family- and gear-hauling machine.

If you prioritize utility, safety and refinement, then your next vehicle purchase could very well be the 2007 Honda Odyssey. This minivan, much like Tiger Woods (but without the incongruous Buick endorsements), is at the top of its game. Starred qualities include a roomy and easily accessed interior, seating for seven or eight passengers, agile handling and plenty of convenience and safety features. Though there are other worthy minivans on the market, none of them can quite match the thoughtfulness that Honda seems to have put into the design of the Odyssey.

Over the years, this Honda minivan has been a near-perennial winner of an Edmunds Editors' Most Wanted award, and the same holds true for this year. If you're shopping for a minivan, the 2007 Honda Odyssey is simply the best choice overall. The only thing that might give you pause is price. Top-shelf Odysseys are priced close to $40,000. This could seem like a lot for a family hauler, but sticking with the midgrade EX is an easy way to get nearly all of the Odyssey's best features without going over budget.

The 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan is available in four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L and Touring. The base-level LX model comes standard with items like manual-sliding rear doors, power front- and second-row windows, cruise control, air-conditioning, keyless entry and a CD player. The EX trim level adds alloy wheels, power-sliding doors, a power driver seat, an in-dash six-disc CD changer, automatic climate control and additional interior convenience and storage features. There's also an Odyssey EX-L version that provides a leather-trimmed interior, heated front seats and a power moonroof. For the EX-L, Honda offers a navigation system with a rearview camera and a DVD entertainment system for rear passengers. For an Odyssey with all the toys, go with the Touring trim. It has a power liftgate, parking sensors, fully automatic tri-zone climate control, power-adjustable pedals and an upgraded audio system with satellite radio.

The front-wheel-drive Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 capable of 244 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard. For EX-L and Touring models, Honda also adds a cylinder deactivation feature to the V6 to slightly increase fuel economy. So equipped, the Odyssey has an EPA fuel economy rating of 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway, which is slightly above average for the minivan segment.

Standard safety features on the 2007 Honda Odyssey include antilock disc brakes with brake assist, traction control, stability control, front seat-mounted side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor. All 2007 trim levels also have a tire-pressure monitor. For the Touring trim, Honda adds Michelin PAX run-flat tires, a technology that allows punctured tires to be driven on for more than 100 miles.

In terms of crash safety, the 2007 Odyssey earns five out of five stars in all NHTSA front- and side-impact tests. IIHS test results are equally impressive; the Honda minivan has a "Good" rating (the best possible) for performance in frontal-offset and side-impact crashes.

The Odyssey has always been highly regarded for its carlike driving characteristics. A high seating position, tight turning radius and nimble suspension make the 2007 Honda Odyssey easy to pilot, though its bulk can be a hindrance if you're never taking extra passengers or gear along. The V6 complements the van's likable road manners, providing satisfying acceleration in virtually all situations.

The Odyssey can seat seven or eight passengers. Enabling the latter is a stowable middle seat in the second row on EX and EX-L models. This optional seat can be converted into a center tray table or removed and stored in the vehicle's in-floor storage area, which can be made even more functional with a rotating "lazy Susan" feature hidden inside. Touring models forgo the bonus seat in favor of a removable second-row center console. Additionally, the second-row captain's chairs can be pushed together to form a two-passenger bench. In the far back, the third-row seat remains a fold-flat 60/40-split bench. Primed for cargo transport, the Odyssey can hold up to 91 cubic feet of cargo volume behind its second-row seats. Remove the second-row chairs and this minivan can hold up to 147 cubic feet.