|
Minivan Madness
|
| Your Favorite 2001 Minivans |
|
| Updated |
Jul 7, 2004 20:36:37 |
| Rating |
 123 ( -14 -11.38% ) | | Author | Tara Baukus Mello |
|
|
Description:
Over the last few years, as SUVs grew in popularity, minivans became the outcasts---with a reputation as being driven only by the most "un-cool" moms. After spending five weeks in the driver's seat of five of the best-selling minivans, it's clear that the "un-cool" had the right idea all along. For transporting five or more, particularly if there are kids involved, a minivan is the hands-down winner in my book any day. Large sliding doors, second row bucket seats and the rear seat entertainment systems make minivans an appealing choice over a mid-size SUV. Here's what our seat time uncovered.
Dodge Caravan
The Dodge and Chrysler minivans have been completely restyled for 2001 are loaded with new features that are firsts in the minivan segment. Siblings Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, as well as their cousins the Chrysler Voyager and Town & Country, feature a host of new comfort and convenience features that will excite driver and passengers alike. Among the features not found in any other minivan are a removable center console with power outlet, dual power sliding rear doors with manual override and an obstacle-detection system, a pop-up rear cargo organizer, and, my personal favorite, a power up and down rear liftgate. One touch of a button on the remote will open or close the liftgate on its own, a huge convenience when your hands are full. Like many other minivans, the Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan offers an optional rear seat entertainment system with a 6.4-inch LCD screen, but unlike the others, the system comes with two wireless headphones. Other entertainment features include a four-disc in dash CD player.
All passengers will be super-comfortable in the 2001 Dodge Caravan, which starts at $24,165, with a three-zone automatic climate control system---another minivan first. Behind the wheel, drivers will appreciate the increased power from both engines, with the 180 horsepower 3.3-liter V-6 (up from 158 hp) or the 215 horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine (up from 180 horsepower). Our test model, the larger Dodge Grand Caravan ES priced at $35,670, came with the 3.8-liter engine, leather seating, traction control, an AutoStick auto-manual transmission, side air bags, heated front seats, power liftgate, security system with alarm, four-disc in-dash CD changer and a roof rack.
Ford Windstar
Although the Ford Windstar received only minor changes for 2001, the most prominent have been in the safety arena. Standard for 2001 are a Low Tire Warning System and Ford's Personal Safety System. The Personal Safety System adjusts the front air bag deployment by using several factors, such as crash severity, seat position and safety belt usage, to determine the level the airbags should deploy---or if they should deploy at all. Also new on the safety side is AdvanceTrac Interactive Vehicle Dynamics System, which controls yaw and improves stability by sensing oversteer or understeer---common, but potentially hazardous conditions during extreme driving.
All 2001 Ford Windstars now have a 200 horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine and an electronically controlled four-speed automatic overdrive transmission. A 26-gallon fuel tank provides a 500-mile driving range. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and all-speed traction control help ensure that the Windstar stays on course. For in-vehicle entertainment, the 2001 Ford Windstar has the optional AutoVision Family entertainment System, with a 6.4-inch color monitor that pulls down from the overhead console, a removable videocassette player and two headphones with eight-foot cords for when others in the vehicle want some quiet time. Other features include power adjustable accelerator and brake pedals, reverse sensing system, electronic speed control, dual power sliding rear doors, power windows, door locks, mirrors and seats and side airbags. The 2001 Ford Windstar starts at $22,740 for the LX 3-door base model, while our test vehicle, a Limited, with the optional Family Entertainment Center, was priced at $35,105.
Honda Odyssey
It's the hottest selling minivan with wait-lists in some parts of the country and it's no surprise with the number of awards the Honda Odyssey has earned. For 2001, the popular Odyssey gets some added features but is otherwise largely unchanged. All models come equipped with a 210-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. With fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, the Odyssey offers respectable power around-town and improved acceleration off the line for a starting price of $24,340.
Capable of seating seven passengers comfortably, the 2001 Honda Odyssey features dual sliding doors to ease ingress and egress to the vehicle. When cargo carrying capability is the top priority, the second-row seats can be folded or removed while the third row can be folded to create a flat floor wide enough for stowing a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood. For 2001, all LX and EX Odysseys receive the "LATCH" system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) to the second row seats, as well as child safety seat top tether anchors in the third row. Both models now feature an intermittent rear wiper, driver's seat adjustment, traction control and anti-lock brakes. Our 2001 Honda Odyssey EX, priced at $28,840, came equipped with the optional navigation system, offering video and audio driving directions for 48 states on a single DVD.
Nissan Quest
After undergoing a major redesign in 1999, the Nissan Quest has been updated for 2001 with a mild makeover and some new features. Among the changes for the 2001 Quest, which starts at $22,979, are a new layout for the gauges and controls, heated front seats and a new message center with outside temperature display. Perhaps the most outstanding change is the factory-installed Family Entertainment System, which replaces the floor mounted video entertainment system that was optional in the 2000 Quest. The new Family Entertainment System features a ceiling-mounted 6.4-inch LCD screen, concealed video cassette player and rear seat remote control. For Quests with sunroofs, the traditional floor-mounted system is still available. Our test model, the top-of-the-line GLE, which was priced at $28,376, sees additional interior features on the 2001 model including an in-dash 6-disc CD changer, a rear cargo shelf and a wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel.
All Quests seat up to seven passengers in a variety of seating configurations with the QUEST TRAC flexible seating system, in which the second row seats can be removed and the third row can be slid forward or backward on a set of integrated rails. The Quest gets its power from a 170-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 engine, which is paired with a four-speed automatics overdrive transmission. Other features include 6-way power driver's seat with dual position memory, four-way power front passenger seat, power outside mirrors, door locks and windows, anti-lock brakes, automatic on/off headlights, dual front supplemental air bags and integrated second-row child seats.
Toyota Sienna
Four years after its introduction, the Toyota Sienna continues to be a top seller for its reputation for reliability and excellent performance. Starting at $24,385, the 2001 Sienna is offered in the CE, LE and XLE models, all of which are powered by a 210 horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 engine with Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i) technology. For the 2001 model year, the engine is improved to obtain an additional 16 horsepower and an 11 more foot-pounds of torque. Safety features are plentiful including standard anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, child protection locks on the sliding door, a tire pressure warning system and three-point seatbelts and adjustable headrests on all outboard seats. Front seat side airbags, vehicle skid control, electronic brake distribution and brake assist are all optional.
For 2001, the Sienna received a mild restyling with a redesigned front grille, bumper and lights to convey a slightly sportier look. On the inside, the instrument panel has been redesigned and while switches for the climate control and audio systems have been moved for easier access. The rear seat entertainment system in the Sienna is a roof-mounted, flip-down 6.8-inch LCD screen with VCR, remote control and video game system capability. Our test Sienna, an XLE priced at $35,101, came equipped with a six-way adjustable driver's seat and second row bucket seats, leather seating and steering wheel, dual climate control, side airbags, a power moonroof, dual power sliding rear doors, cruise control, power door locks, windows and mirrors and the premium sound system with AM/FM/Cassette with CD changer.
Ó Copyright 2001, Tara Baukus Mello. |
| Similar news: | - 2001 Slump May Not Have Been Recession at All - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Not only was the US recession in 2001 the shallowest on record, it may not have been one at all -- at least in the classic sense of two straight quarterly declines, new government data show.
- SEC tethers Google float: IPO weighed down by new woe - Google's gaffe-prone initial public offering hit another hitch last night, when regulators refused to give it the final green light.
- Ministries in drug price control row - Two central ministries are at war over the drug pricing control issue. While the health ministry feels the number of drugs under price control should be reduced to encourage expansion of the pharmaceutical industry, the ministry of chemicals and ...
| | Find all news similar on Minivan Madness |
|
