Buick's new Terraza minivan, one of several new minivans introduced this model year by General Motors, has features and qualities that make it a standout, both for GM and for the minivan field.

With its new entry, Buick avoids the "me too-ness" of other minivans such as the Chevy Uplander, Saturn Relay and Pontiac Montana SV6.

It's the only one of the GM minivans to feature "Quiet Tuning," Buick's exclusive package of sound-deadening materials such as acoustic engine cover, forged crankshaft and sound absorbing and dampening. It has a much nicer interior with different leathers and contrasting stitching than other GM minivans. It has a standard sport suspension, providing a better, more controlled ride.

	Buick Buick's new Terraza is one of the most luxurious minivans on the market. Click photo for larger image.

And in an industry where first impressions are important, the Terraza looks quite different from the other GM products. It has the ovoid, heavily chromed grille and shiny chrome wheels and tasteful chrome exterior pieces.

Inside, you'll find lots of dark wood grains on the dash and steering wheel, chrome rings around gauges and little cues that let you know you're driving a Buick.

It all makes Terraza one of the most luxurious minivans on the market. Only Honda Odyssey's Touring edition minivan and Toyota's Sienna XLE Limited can match the Terraza on this score.

Driving the Terraza was like piloting a living room. It was quiet except for the sounds that came from the rear seat DVD entertainment system watched by my children, and there are plenty of storage trays and nooks.

Controls are for the most part easy to find, and for once GM used sturdy, chunky chrome trimmed dials -- not cheap-looking, flimsy designs. It was a pleasure to drive, particularly because it's so well-behaved and controlled over the road.

But there were problems, including a lack of power. The 200-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 really struggled in some situations, particularly going up hills. Mileage is 17/24 on this engine. Base price range on the Terraza is $28,825 to $34,570.

I also disliked the way the third-row seat operated. It has easy-to-use latches on the seat backs, but it was a long stretch to reach those latches if you were standing in the rear of the car. It's also awkward to place luggage or parcels in the back when the third-row seats are folded flat.

Another problem is that windows in the back doors don't lower. In hot weather, you roast in the second row waiting for the air conditioning to crank up. My kids hated it, and car savvy as they are, they can tell you which vans do have windows that lower.

Overall, the Terraza is a capable minivan. It doesn't have some of the features found on the other minivans, and that's to its detriment when people shop comparatively.

On the other hand, rebates and other incentives are not available on some of those other minivans, making the Terraza a hit and a "must see" for value-conscious consumers.

	Buick Terraza	Chrysler Town and Country	Honda Odyssey
Price	$28,825 to $34,570	$21,145 to $35,940	$25,195 to $36,000
Engine	3.5 liter, 200 hp. V-6	3.3 liter, 180 hp. V-6 or 3.8 liter, 207 hp. V-6	3.5 liter, 255 hp. V-6
Mileage	17/24	19/26 (3.3L); 18/25 (3.8 L)	19/25 or 20/28, depending on model.
Traction control	standard	n.a.	standard
Stability control	standard	n.a.	standard
Side air bags	optional	n.a.	dual front
Basic warranty	4 years/ 60,000 miles	3 years/ 36,000 miles	3 years/ 36,000 miles
Cargo room (behind third/middle /front seats)	26/9/74.0/ 136.5 cu. ft.	26.4/54.9/ 160.7 cu. ft.	91.0/ 147.4 cu. ft.