Editors' Choice for Families: 2004 Toyota Sienna
Best vehicle, dollar for dollar, for family use.

How boring. Really -- who wants a car that does everything? Well, families, for one. They need a car that does everything and does it well because shipping kids and dogs and parcels around town is not exactly joyful riding. So when we went looking for a vehicle perfect for families, we were thinking stringly in terms of convenience and dependability. Which really is the 2004 Toyota Sienna -- a great track record for dependability (except for the oil sludge thing a few years ago) and pretty much the most convenient and thoughtfully put together vehicle on the road. Larger and better equipped than the previous model, the Sienna takes everything that's right about minivans and puts it together in a seamless, attractive package. Highlights include a standard 3.3-liter, V6, 230-horsepower engine that gets 19-mpg in the city and 27-mpg on the highway, mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. The resulting on-the-road experience is responsive, with good handling and acceleration characteristics. Other highlights include curtain-style side airbags, versatile seating combinations and plenty of cargo room. For now, that's enough to make the 2004 Sienna class leader when it comes to hauling families and the things families bring along for the ride. Haul your own for $23k and up.