2006 Honda Odyssey

What's new for the 2006 Honda Odyssey: EX-L models get a leather steering wheel and shift knob. Touring models get XM radio, and its DVD entertainment system can now be purchased as a standalone option without navigation.

In most vehicle segments, you can only be king for so long before someone better comes along to dethrone you. That said, Honda can kick back and get comfortable in its castle, for the Odyssey has reigned supreme among minivans since 1999 and is in no danger of being defeated anytime soon.

Honda's success comes from a combination of doing everything right and, somehow, everyone else making at least one screwup. Ford and GM's vans were lazy efforts, eventually dying from a lack of performance, comfort, and user-friendliness. The Dodge/Chrysler and Hyundai/Kia lag in the driving experience. Nissan keeps fumbling with the quality of its Quest. Toyota comes close with the Sienna, but its seats aren't as convenient, it's not as agile, and its price is too high.

By comparison, the Odyssey hardly makes a single misstep. Performance is at the top of the class thanks to a strong, smooth, efficient 244-horsepower V6, and the Odyssey is the ace of ride and handling. All three seating rows fit humans of all sizes, and as the minivan that pioneered the disappearing third-row seat, the Odyssey makes sure its seats are either easy to fold (third row) or easy to take out (second row). It doesn't hurt that Honda also has the best navigation system, and according to a recent consumer survey, the best DVD entertainment system as well. Probably the niftiest interior storage solutions, too.

Finally, this is one of the only two vans with a positive reliability record (the Sienna's being slightly better). All things considered, anyone whose automotive standards are as high as their need for utility should check out the Honda Odyssey first. And possibly last.