Inside, the Sienna is big and roomy, but it doesn't drive bulky, and it's not hard to park. It's smooth, responsive and quiet, and it's more fuel-efficient than an SUV with comparable space for people and things. In just minutes, the Sienna switches from eight-passenger bus to cavernous cargo hauler, with room for full sheets of plywood, 10-foot ladders, or significantly more of anything else than you can put in most full-size sport utilities. With a standard 3500-pound towing capacity, the Sienna will pull a camper or small watercraft. All-wheel drive is available and it's the best choice for wintry weather, though we've found the front-drive models work just fine for suburbia in the Snow Belt.

The Toyota Sienna is available in a wide range of trim levels, making it accessible to a wide range of buyers. The base CE starts below $25,000 and is still well equipped, with a full complement of power accessories, air conditioning with separate controls front and rear, and a six-speaker CD stereo with a jack for MP3 players. The line-topping Limited approaches $40,000, but comes with leather memory seats, high-intensity headlights, and active cruise control; and offers touch-screen navigation and rear-seat DVD entertainment. All models come with a class-leading V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission.