2017 Honda Odyssey-J EX Automatic

Most minivan buyers place an emphasis on versatility and comfort before style and performance, but thankfully Honda has put thought into all of the above. The Odyssey's shape is well-known by now: it's the one-box van with a so-called "lightning bolt" along the side. That character line actually serves a purpose (it helps with rear-passenger visibility) and fits with the overall shape. The Odyssey carries forward with the same powertrain as before, a 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a 6-speed automatic. The V-6 churns 248 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque and motivates the Odyssey up to speed without much of a fuss. Although Honda has more advanced transmissions on the shelf, the 6-speed in the Odyssey stays the same this year—along with its indecision while cruising.

Here's the Odyssey's wheelhouse. With seating up to eight and creature comforts aplenty, the Odyssey carries, fetches, moves, and transports like a champ. Adults can fit in any of the van's eight seats with relative comfort thanks to adjustable seats. Rear seats are a 60/40-split folding affair in the third row, and the Odyssey can open up to swallow more than 90 cubic feet of gear when all the seats behind the first row are gone.

The Odyssey sports some of the convenience features we like to see in a minivan: an in-car vacuum, rear-seat entertainment, and even a rung to hang a trash bag. Odysseys were built for families.