1997 GMC Safari

It probably comes as no surprise that lots of American families are thinking about a new minivan. But it is surprising that so few think about the GMC Safari or its mechanical twin, the Chevrolet Astro. Maybe it's because we've been conditioned to think of minivans as front-wheel-drive vehicles that behave like cars. That's been the ethic since Chrysler invented these versatile station wagon substitutes back in 1984, and Chrysler still owns the segment. Built on a truck-style chassis, the Safari and Astro are rear-drive and not very carlike. But they are robust and rugged, offering a combination of capabilities that most of the smaller, lighter front-drive minivans simply can't handle. The overall package is still well within the minivan size category, but the appetite for hard work exceeds anything in this class.