The competition now is formidable. There are 15 models, including the Honda Odyssey, the new benchmark for handling and innovation. Most minivans require the user to unlatch and lift a heavy, bulky seat. One must then deposit the bench in the garage or basement for storage. The Odyssey's rear seat flips down in seconds with minimal muscle.
Skeptics say they still require work.
Automotive analyst Jim Hall of AutoPacific Inc. said Chrysler's bevy of handling and performance improvements may compensate for any seat difficulty. They are conceptually similar, but the difference is execution. I like the interior of the Honda, but I like the power of the Chrysler. The minivan has been hugely important to Chrysler, which merged in 1998 with Germany's Daimler-Benz. The minivan is credited with saving the automaker from possible bankruptcy when it made its debut in 1983.