Making a dent in Chrysler's dominance of the minivan market, the stylish, angular 2009 Honda Odyssey leaves things untouched this year, awaiting a new-generation redesign for 2010. This compact minivan blends the roomy utility of this type of family hauler with quality materials, a comfortable ride, and Honda's exceptional dependability ratings.

A power tailgate, previously standard only on the top-line Touring, joins the EX-L's equipment list. In the options segment, the navigation system/DVD player bundle adds hands-free Bluetooth to its package. And revised horsepower ratings for the 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 with variable cylinder management moves up from 241 to 244. Able to deactivate two or three cylinders when not needed, this version of the V6 boosts fuel economy to 17/25 mpg over the other 3.5-liter VTEC V6, which puts out the same power, but gets only 16/23. Both engines come matched with a 5-speed automatic. The more fuel efficient V6 resides in the EX-L and Touring.

A smooth, comfortable ride for a minivan seems rare, but Honda claims its Active Noise Cancellation system and Active Control Engine Mount reduce both road noise and engine vibration in V6 trims equipped with variable cylinder management. The 2009 Odyssey seats seven passengers in three rows, but an optional second-row jump seat adds an extra spot for an eighth passenger, most likely a child. This setup is standard in the Touring. The second row is removable, while the third row split-folds 60/40 into the floor. Cargo capacity starts at 38 cubic feet and expands to 91 and 147 with the various seats down.

Base LX models come well equipped for a family vehicle, with a CD player and MP3 jack, full power features, cruise control, and manual sliding side doors. The best value for the money, the EX adds 8-way power front seats, a 6-CD changer, wheel-mounted controls, and power sliding side doors. The EX-L luxes it up with heated leather seats, a sunroof, and the just-added power liftgate. Anything missing you can find on the Touring, which features the navigation and DVD systems, memory settings, power pedals, and front and rear obstacle detection.

The 2009 Odyssey earns five stars in all NHTSA crash test categories, except for rollovers, where it earns a respectable four stars. 4-wheel ABS brakes, traction and stability control, active head restraints, dual front-side airbags, and side curtain airbags for each row keep family safety solidly in mind. JD Power ranks the Odyssey higher than the similarly equipped and priced Toyota Sienna for dependability. Some drawbacks include the lack of an AWD option (which the Sienna offers), hampered rear visibility due to the second-row headrests, and the cumbersomeness of removing the second-row seats.